Explore Lijiang | Lijiang Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Tiger Leaping Gorge Lijiang Old Town Classic 3-Day Tour

Welcome to Lijiang. Our guide will greet you at the reception desk of the airport/railway station and take you to the hotel for check-in. After a short rest, head to visit Lijiang Ancient Town. [Lijiang Ancient Town] is a World Cultural Heritage site with a history of over 800 years and was once an important town on the Tea Horse Road. First, you will visit the [Mu Mansion] in the ancient town, known as the Purple Forbidden City of the South, to learn about the local Naxi culture and the rise and fall of the Mu family, and walk to the best viewing point to enjoy the magnificent panoramic view of the ancient town with the snow mountain as a backdrop. Afterwards, you can walk to [Sifang Street] to explore Naxi specialty handicrafts and local products. Finally, if time permits, you can visit [Black Dragon Pool Park] to the north of Lijiang Ancient Town, enjoying the picturesque scenery of the surrounding mountains and waters and the magnificent view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain reflected on the water's surface. How to Get There 1. By plane: Lijiang Sanyi International Airport (LJG) has many direct flights, such as from Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Xi'an, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Changsha, Wuhan, etc. 2. By train: You can take a high-speed train directly to Lijiang Station from cities in Yunnan such as Kunming (3.5-4 hours), Dali (2-2.5 hours), and Shangri-La (1-1.5 hours), or take a high-speed train directly to Lijiang from Guilin (11.26 hours). 3. Lijiang Ancient Town: Lijiang Airport is about 28 kilometers from Lijiang Ancient Town, about 45 minutes by car; Lijiang Railway Station is about 10 kilometers from the ancient town, about 26 minutes by car. Evening Activity Suggestions 1. Best places to photograph the night views of Lijiang Ancient Town: Xianwen Lane, Zhenxing Lane, Nanmen Bridge, Fengling Street, and Sakura Restaurant, etc. 2. Best places to experience nightlife, bars, and night markets: Sifang Street (Naxi bonfire party after 7 PM), Wuyi Street, Xinhua Street, Zhongyi Market, etc.

This morning you will visit the famous Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. As the sacred mountain of the Naxi people, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain gets its name because it resembles a jade dragon in winter. You can take a cable car and, accompanied by the magnificent scenery along the way, ascend to Spruce Meadow at an altitude of 3,240 meters. This vast meadow hidden in the primeval spruce forest is the best spot to view Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. After enjoying the view, take the cable car down and transfer to a sightseeing bus to Blue Moon Valley. Blue Moon Valley has 4 lakes and 1 river in total, among which Jade Liquid Lake and White Water River are the most worth seeing. Whenever the sun is bright, the water of Jade Liquid Lake is clear and blue, just like a precious mirror, while White Water River is named for appearing entirely white as the water flows over white stones. Optional activity: If you are interested in Lijiang's culture, you can go to Ganhaizi in the afternoon to watch the large open-air performance Impression Lijiang. The performance is mainly singing and dancing and lasts about 1 hour, vividly showing the traditional lifestyle of the local Naxi people. Afterward, leave Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and head to Baisha Ancient Town, once the ancient capital of the Naxi people, to admire the time-honored Baisha Murals. Most of the Baisha Murals were created during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Their greatest feature is that on a single mural you can see images from Han Buddhism, Daoism, and Lamaism and other different sects, which is very rare. Finally, return to Lijiang. If you still have energy to explore, you can stop for a while at Shuhe Ancient Town along the way, stroll through the peaceful and tranquil ancient town, and taste local specialty snacks.

This morning, you will admire the magnificent First Bend of the Yangtze River, where the mighty Yangtze makes a rare V-shaped turn due to the obstruction of the mountains, and ascend the viewing platform to overlook the spectacular panorama of the turn of more than 100 degrees. Afterwards, continue onward to the Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge. Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest gorges in the world, where you can enjoy the breathtaking sight of the roaring Jinsha River surging downward, and you may also descend along the plank road/elevator (extra charge applies) to feel the surging river and the immense power of nature up close. After the visit, you may continue on to Shangri-La, or return to Lijiang and leave by plane or train. If you wish to extend this trip and explore more popular Yunnan destinations, such as Kunming, Lijiang, Xishuangbanna, etc., you may also contact our customer service to arrange it for you.