Lijiang Old Town, formerly known as Dayan Town, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site on December 4, 1997. It was first built in the late Song and early Yuan dynasties (late 13th century AD), sits at an altitude of 2,400 meters, and covers an area of 7.279 square kilometers.
The old town is quite expansive. Due to the pandemic, there haven’t been many tourists, and the much-debated Old Town Maintenance Fee from previous years has also significantly reduced visitor numbers. Currently, while the maintenance fee technically remains on the books, in practice, no one collects or checks it.
Entering the old town through the main gate at the Big Water Wheel and walking along Xinhua Street to Sifang Square takes you to essentially the most bustling area here. Especially at night, there are bonfires at Sifang Square, and the Bar Street next to Xinhua Street is also incredibly lively.
However, entering the old town from the hotel entrance leads to a very serene atmosphere; these quieter areas are generally home to various inns and guesthouses.
I visited an internet café with scenic views called Jijiao Gala. It was genuinely hard to find and required a continuous uphill climb, but the view was indeed spectacular, offering a panoramic vista of the entire ancient town. The sunshine was beautiful, and the coffee was excellent. I arrived early enough to snag a window seat just in time, but it got increasingly crowded afterward. At one point, someone was even flying a drone inside the shop~~
I feel that the development of Yunnan’s coffee farming industry in recent years has also spurred the rapid growth of the specialty coffee scene here. Even the coffee served at hotels is surprisingly good—it’s truly impressive.
I have to say, Lijiang’s bar scene is incredibly well-developed. There’s a long row of bars along the river, each with its own unique character: some feature live bands, others offer quiet acoustic singing, and some are wild dance clubs. Moreover, the lighting, sound systems, and live performances are all of a very high standard, definitely placing them at the forefront of the national bar entertainment industry.
Overall, Lijiang Old Town is undoubtedly a must-visit destination in Lijiang. Beyond the ubiquitous flower cakes, Pu’er tea, and cured pork ribs found throughout, the various uniquely styled cafés are also well worth exploring. The atmosphere differs completely between day and night—you could easily visit more than once and still want to return. When the weather is this pleasant and sunny, you could happily spend an entire day sitting out on a terrace~~~~
Support
