Lanterns in Lijiang
Bite-sized trip
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.
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.
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.
Accommodation
For this bite-sized trip we offer the following options
Lanterns in Lijiang In Style Upgrade
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.
Lijiang – Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
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.
