Back to top

Lanterns in Lijiang

Bite-sized trip

  • Itinerary:
    Lijiang
  • Duration:
    3 days / 2 nights (flexible)
  • Price:
    from £ 155.- per person
Amble amongst the weeping willows, stone bridges and cobbles of timeless Lijiang. Packed with lanterns and teahouses, it’s the China that you've always imagined. Nestled at the foot of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and circled by pine forests, its setting matches the beauty of its old world alleys. Lijiang is certainly no longer a secret, drawing millions of tourists to its maze of cobbled streets every year. However, if you get up early, you can beat the crowds and wander peacefully through the back lanes in the morning sun and feel lost in another world.
traditional buildings
Decorative torn edge

Day 1 – Arrival in Lijiang

When you arrive in Lijiang, you’ll be transferred into the heart of the ancient city centre. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site free of traffic; you can amble through the pedestrianised streets without the honking of a thousand horns. You’ll stay in a traditional hotel with a terrace to relax on.

You can spend the rest of the day exploring Lijiang, sifting through the souvenir shops and stopping at traditional teahouses. As you wander, you’ll see the Naxi who live in a matriarchal society where women rule the roost and are the last living people to use hieroglyphics. The centre of Lijiang is a tangle of canals, stone bridges and cobbled alleys.

Decorative torn edge

Day 2 – Lijiang – countryside bicycle tour

Today, you’ll take a bike ride through the gorgeous countryside surrounding Lijiang, with snowy peaks towering in the distance. First, you’ll reach the traditional Naxi village of Baisha, where you take a walk through the tiny cobbled streets. You’ll also visit Dr Ho, a legendary herbal practitioner who will invite you in for tea and show you the newspaper clippings about himself.

In the early afternoon you’ll arrive back in Lijiang where the rest of the afternoon is free. We recommend taking a trip to Black Dragon Pool Park, one of the most photographed places in China and as soon as you arrive you’ll understand why. Around the lake, you’ll find temples, museums and souvenir stores, so it’s a great place to spend the afternoon.

Decorative torn edge

Day 3 – Lijiang – departure

Today, you’ll can read a book in the sunshine and relax in the courtyard of your hotel before check out. Then you’ll grab your luggage and hit the road again, continuing your journey through China.

Decorative torn edge

Accommodation

torn-edge

Lanterns in Lijiang

For this bite-sized trip we offer the following options

hotel dining area
hotel room
hotel inside
Option
1

Upgrade to our In Style accommodation

  • Price:
    From £ 195.- per person
  • Included:
    In Style accommodation, excursions, transport and meals as described above

For this bite-sized trip we have an alternative option available for your accommodation. Our In-Style version is something a bit more special or unique but still with lots of local flavour! If you would like to upgrade your accommodation for this bite-size trip select our In Style option below.

Decorative torn edge
local buildings and mountains behind
Option
2

Lijiang – Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

  • Price:
    From £ 95.- per person
  • Included:
    Explore the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain by cable car

An hour from Lijiang, you’ll stumble upon the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, reaching a height of 5,500 metres. If you’re eager to explore the mountain, you can spend an extra night in Lijiang and head to the slopes by cable car during the day with a guide. Nowhere else in the world will you climb as quickly and to such heights as in these cable cars. Oxygen bottles can be purchased at the foot of the gondolas.

Decorative torn edge

This bite-sized trip can be combined well with

man with mountains
Bite-sized trip

Tiger Leaping Gorge

  • Lijiang - Tiger Leaping Gorge - Lijiang
  • 3 days / 2 nights
  • from £ 195.- per person
View bite-sized trip
Decorative torn edge
temple on river
Bite-sized trip

Classic Cuisine in Dali

  • Lijiang - Dali (or vice versa)
  • 3 days / 2 nights (flexible)
  • from £ 110.- per person
View bite-sized trip
Decorative torn edge
background-pattern