Lijiang Things to Do

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Also called Sifang Jie, this is the main square in town. What is most sad about the square is that it was once the stomping grounds of Naxi traders, though now it holds Naxi and Han souvenir stalls that don't all sell real Naxi crafts, but stuff you find all over China, in each place called the craft of the local people. But, there's often a lot going on in the square: you can catch a dance, don some furs, grab a terribly fake long gun and get on a horse for a photo, or avoid the scene like the plague.

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While there really isn't much to do here and no photos are allowed inside, I suppose it's worth a visit, if for no other reason than it's a Daoist Temple, which is kind of neat. But realize it is set up for tourists these days. The following set of images is from the "no photography" area, taken with permission from one of the monks.

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A Daoist Temple on the same hill as the Wangu Tower, this is actually a real place, and, while it doesn't cost anything to get in, once you do, the monks will be very friendly and tell you about the place, act as your guide and have you spin something to pick out a fortune, after which they'll tell you your family is lucky, you are lucky and please to be donate 10 yuan. It's a scam. If you don't mind paying, so be it. But if you, like me, have little enough money as it is... let me put it this way- I don't mind paying a donation to help keep a place like this running- just don't wrap it up in a nice tourist bundle which makes it feel like a scam. I don't like that, and few other do either.

I asked a monk if I could take photos, he said I could. (No photos are allowed.) I was then yelled at by some other woman who I told that I had been given permission. She would hear none of it. So I got my shots and left... I can't really recommend this place- there's very little to see and it just felt like a tourist scam. I understand why they don't want photos taken and I respect that, however, I had been given permission...

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Rising out of the underlit trees, from the dark of night, stands the Wangu Tower, a place of peace and reflection, a place from which you can see the whole city, a place that was purpose-built just for tourists in 1997. It's a fake. It's beautiful, in some ways, and is called, "Looking at the Past Pavillion" or something, but it's made for tourists. It's not a real tower, not a real place, but it's peaceful enough up the hill in the trees and costs (May 2008) 15 yuan to get in. Coffee is 30 yuan a cup at the restaurant near the entrance, and any food around the area is expensive as well- it's all designed to make money. Sad.

They have a free tasting area nearby, though I don't know what they offer, and on the top levels of the tower there are gift shops. Rake it in, China. It's sad because of the fact that this is a place, or the idea of the place should be a place of religion, reflection, peace and all that, but it's really little more than another money-making scheme.

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If you're at the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, go to this place where the water is so clean and clear that it sparkles. I'm so sorry, I followed my tour guide blindly to this place. hence I do not know what is it called.

This water landscape was very beautiful. Water was so cooling and with the ever cold weather at the snow mountain, it's really very relaxing, just to laze around the river.

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

If you are going to Lijiang's Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, I would recommend you to watch a live performance performed by more than 500 actors from 10 ethnic groups of Yunnan and around 100 horses. The most spectacular thing about this performance, to me, is that the background of this 360 angle view performance stage, is the awesome Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. This performance is "Impression Lijiang"

Directors of this performance includes famous Zhang Yimou, Wang Chaoge and Fan Yue. This performance is about lives of the ethinc groups in Yunnan and their deep strong bonding with the Lijiang's land, sky, nature. From this performance, you get to see different ethnic costumes, their customs, their love for singing and dancing and much more.

Personally, the performance marginally met my high expectations. I reasoned it as maybe the open air stage was simply too big. Audiences may not feel the strong wow feeling when the 500 men rushed into the stage or when the horses gallop around it. BUT! It is definitely a show worth watching. Definitely.

For a price of $190rmb, you will be watching a live performance directed by famous director,involve more than 500 actors and the most beautiful thing, simply breathtaking, is the snow mountain being the backdrop of the stage.

They have this performance everyday.

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En Lijiang son famosos los frescos , sobre todo los de Baisha , pero en la mansión Mufu también hay unos frescos , de estilo Tibetano , que son interesantes


Lijiang is famous by its frescoes, especially those of Baisha, but in the mansion Mufu there are also some frescoes , Tibetan style, which are interesting

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La mansión Mufu ( mansión de madera ) fue la residencia de los emperadores Naxi . El gobernador mu de la dinastía Ming edificó estos edificios copiando el estilo de la ciudad prohibida , pero imprimiendo detalles de su cultura Naxi
Rodeados por unos jardines muy agradables , hay dos zonas claramente definidas , la que se dedicaba a vivienda de la familia de las autoridades y la parte dedicada a gobernar donde impartía justicia y recibía a las autoridades .
Estos edificios han pasado por una buena restauración en 1999 , y es muy agradable dar un paseo por sus pabellones , con alegres pinturas , y por sus jardines


The Mufu Mansion (wooden mansion) was the residence of the Naxi emperors . The governor Mu , in the Ming dynasty , built these buildings copying the style of the Forbidden City, but printing details of Naxi culture
Surrounded by some very pleasant gardens, there are two clearly defined areas, one devoted to housing the family of the authorities and the other section dedicated to govern , make justice and to receive the authorities
These buildings have gone through a good restoration in 1999, and it is very pleasant to stroll for their pavilions, with cheerful paintings, and their gardens