Your English-speaking guide will meet you at your Lijiang hotel lobby or Lijiang Railway Station at your preferred time. This tour is fully customizable—feel free to share your interests with your guide to adjust the itinerary to your liking.

Kick off your adventure with a stroll through Lijiang Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site brimming with Naxi ethnic charm. Wander along cobblestone lanes lined with traditional wooden houses, flower-bedecked balconies, and gurgling streams.

Historical Fact: Founded in the late Song Dynasty (960–1279), Lijiang Old Town has a history of over 800 years, with architecture blending Han, Bai, and Tibetan styles to form a unique Naxi aesthetic.

While exploring the old town, stop at the Museum of Naxi Dongba Culture—the ultimate spot to dive into Naxi heritage. Discover exhibits about their ancient pictographic language (one of the world’s last surviving hieroglyphic systems) and animist Dongba religion, with your guide explaining the stories behind sacred artifacts and rituals.

Historical Fact: The museum preserves the world’s largest collection of Naxi Dongba manuscripts, documenting the ethnic group’s 1,000-year-old culture and wisdom.

Next, visit the grand Mufu Palace—the former residence of the Mu clan, rulers of Lijiang for 22 generations and 470 years (from the Yuan to Qing Dynasty). Marvel at its architecture, which fuses Ming Dynasty imperial grandeur with Tang and Song Dynasty elegance, plus Bai and Naxi decorative details. Wander its lush gardens (a mix of imperial and Suzhou-style design) and spot ancient trees and exotic plants.

Historical Fact: Originally built in the Ming Dynasty, Mufu Palace was destroyed in the 1960s and rebuilt in 1996, restoring its status as Lijiang’s most iconic historical palace.

Refuel with a delicious Yunnan-style lunch at a local restaurant, then head to Lion Hill Park. The park gets its name from the mountain’s shape, which looks like a sleeping lion from a distance—offering a perfect natural backdrop for photos.

Climb to the mountaintop and visit Wangu Pavilion, a stunning five-story all-wooden tower with elegant upturned eaves, hailed as China’s No.1 domed wooden structure. Bring your camera—this is the best spot for panoramic views of Lijiang Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and the surrounding Naxi villages.

Historical Fact: First built in the Qing Dynasty, Wangu Pavilion was rebuilt in 1999 and has since become Lijiang’s most popular viewpoint for sweeping landscape shots.

Continue to Wenchang Palace, a historic building constructed in 1725 during the Qing Dynasty. Once a venue for imperial exams and folk lectures, it now stands as a symbol of Lijiang’s ancient education system. Then wander to Twin-Stone Garden, home to a giant waterwheel and bas-reliefs celebrating Naxi civilization.

Historical Fact: Wenchang Palace played a key role in Lijiang’s intellectual development during the Qing Dynasty, shaping the region’s cultural and educational legacy for centuries.

End your day at Black Dragon Pond Park, a serene oasis dotted with ancient monuments—including Longshen Temple, Deyue Pavilion, Suocui Bridge, and Hanyue Stage. The park’s calm waters mirror the snow-capped peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain on clear days, creating a postcard-perfect scene.

Historical Fact: A sacred site for Naxi people since the Ming Dynasty, Black Dragon Pond Park once hosted traditional water-worshipping ceremonies to pray for good harvests.

After the tour, your driver will transfer you back to your Lijiang hotel.

Meals Included: Lunch

Meet your guide at your hotel lobby early for a 1-hour drive to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain—the southernmost glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. Sit back and enjoy the scenery as the landscape shifts from lush valleys to snow-capped peaks. Your guide will share Naxi myths and legends about the mountain, which locals consider a sacred guardian.

Historical Fact: Revered by the Naxi people for over 1,000 years, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is home to half of Yunnan’s plant species, including rare medicinal herbs and alpine flowers.

Upon arrival, take a scenic cable car up to the 4,506-meter viewing platform, where you’ll be awestruck by sweeping views of glaciers, rugged cliffs, and snow-capped peaks. For the adventurous, hike the wooden stairs up to 4,680 meters for an even more breathtaking panorama of the mountain’s highest accessible point. Descend by cable car when you’re ready.

Enjoy a hearty lunch at a mountain-side restaurant, then head to the unforgettable Impression Lijiang open-air show. Set against the stunning backdrop of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, this performance features over 500 non-professional peasant actors from 16 local villages and 10+ ethnic minorities, plus more than 100 horses. Their authentic movements and folk songs bring the region’s culture, history, and traditions to life. You can choose your preferred seat when booking.

Historical Fact: Directed by renowned filmmaker Zhang Yimou, Impression Lijiang has been captivating audiences with its raw, unscripted charm since 2006.

After the show, head to Blue Moon Valley—a magical spot where a crystal-clear blue river meanders through Jade Dragon Snow Mountain’s lush valleys. The water’s striking blue hue comes from glacial sediment, creating a fairy-tale landscape. Stroll along the riverbanks, snap photos of the turquoise pools, and soak up the peaceful mountain atmosphere.

Historical Fact: Blue Moon Valley’s waters flow from Jade Dragon Snow Mountain’s glaciers, and its name comes from the valley’s crescent shape and the river’s vivid blue color at certain times of the year.

After exploring the valley, your driver will transfer you back to your Lijiang hotel, wrapping up your unforgettable 2-day Lijiang adventure.

Meals Included: Lunch