The enchanting Old Town of Lijiang in China
Old Town of Lijiang Overview
The Old Town of Lijiang, located in the Ancient City District of Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, sits in the Lijiang Basin. In a narrow sense, the term “Old Town of Lijiang” specifically refers to Dayan Old Town. The UNESCO World Heritage Site “Old Town of Lijiang” encompasses Dayan Old Town (including Black Dragon Pool), Shuhe ancient buildings, and Baisha ancient buildings.
Covering an area of 7.279 square kilometers, the Old Town of Lijiang was first established during the late Song and early Yuan dynasties when the Mu clan, the ancestors of the ruling family, moved their center of power from Baisha to Lion Hill and began building houses and city structures, calling the area “Dayechang.”
*A view of YuLong Snow Mountain from old town of Lijiang.
*A stream in the old town of Lijiang.
During the Ming dynasty, the establishment, consolidation, and perfection of the Tusi (native chieftain) system marked the beginning of a golden era in the town’s history. By the Qing dynasty, with the advancement of agricultural productivity and the development of handicrafts, Lijiang gradually grew into a commercial hub. By the Republic of China era, the Old Town boasted over 1,200 shops of various sizes. In December 2002, the State Council officially approved the establishment of Lijiang City, placing the administrative area of the Old Town within Lijiang’s Ancient City District.
The Old Town of Lijiang showcases a blend of architectural and cultural elements from the Han, Bai, Yi, Tibetan, and Naxi ethnic groups, from its overall city layout to individual buildings. Unlike traditional Chinese cities, it lacks a rigid road grid and imposing city walls. Streets in Dayan Old Town were built along the contours of the land and water channels, paved with red conglomerate rocks, and feature notable sites such as Wangu Pavilion, Mu Mansion, Wufeng Tower, Black Dragon Pool, Wenchang Palace, Fang Guoyu’s former residence, Puji Temple, Sifang Street, Kegong Archway, and the Snow Mountain Academy.
On December 4, 1997, during the 21st session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, the Old Town of Lijiang was inscribed on the World Heritage List for its unique combination of local ethnic culture and natural beauty, as well as its historical significance. Despite experiencing the “2.3 Lijiang Earthquake” in 1996, the town’s basic structure remained intact, with core buildings preserved, and restoration efforts maintained the original style, preserving its historical authenticity.
*Old Town of Lijiang.
Location and Region🌏
The Old Town of Lijiang is located in the Ancient City District of Lijiang City, in the southwest of China’s Yunnan Province, positioned centrally in the Lijiang Basin on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. Its geographical center lies at 26°52′50.43″N latitude and 100°13′27.70″E longitude, covering a total area of 7.279 square kilometers.
Topography
The Old Town sits on a plateau beneath the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, at an elevation of 2,416 meters. It is bordered by Elephant Hill and Jinhong Mountain to the north and Monkey Hill to the west. The region’s topography features a mix of high plateaus, valleys, and gorges, making it susceptible to humid monsoon climates. It is classified as a mid-subtropical humid zone.
The terrain is generally higher in the northwest and lower in the southeast. The Old Town, along with Baisha and Shuhe, stretches across the Lijiang Basin, with the highest point at Black Dragon Pool in Dayan Old Town and the lowest at its southern gate. The water system of Black Dragon Pool flows from the northwest to the southeast.
Climate🌦️
The climate of the Old Town of Lijiang is influenced by the winds of the South Asian Plateau, with distinct wet and dry seasons and minimal temperature fluctuations throughout the year. Although situated on a plateau, snow-capped mountains can be seen year-round, and the area receives abundant rainfall. Characterized by the southwest monsoon climate, the area predominantly experiences northwest winds, followed by southwest winds, with the former being stronger.
The average monthly low temperature is 7.75°C, and the average high is 19.33°C, with the highest reaching around 24°C. Annual precipitation stands at 950 mm, ensuring moderate rain levels throughout the year. Summer temperatures remain mild, while winters are not excessively cold. Due to its unique geographical location, the Old Town enjoys sunshine throughout the year, with an average of 2,530 hours of sunlight annually, the highest solar radiation in Yunnan Province, measuring 146.5 kcal per square centimeter.
*A view of YuLong Snow Mountain from Lijiang Ancient Town.
*A nighttime street view of Lijiang Ancient Town.
Hydrology
Rivers and Water System💧
The main sources of water for Lijiang’s rivers and water systems are the highland wetlands, underground springs, and glacial meltwater from the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The Black Dragon Pool water system originates at the foot of Elephant Hill in northern Lijiang and serves as the primary source of the Jade River water system in the Old Town. There are numerous springs around Elephant Hill, with crystal-clear water seeping from the rocks, forming the Black Dragon Pool.
Rivers and Water System🌊
The main sources of water for Lijiang’s rivers and water systems are the highland wetlands, underground springs, and glacial meltwater from the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The Black Dragon Pool water system originates at the foot of Elephant Hill in northern Lijiang and serves as the primary source of the Jade River water system in the Old Town. There are numerous springs around Elephant Hill, with crystal-clear water seeping from the rocks, forming the Black Dragon Pool.
The spring water flows rapidly down from Lockui Bridge, continuing south to Yulong Bridge. Within the Old Town, the water divides into three streams—western, central, and eastern—collectively known as the Jade River system. The central stream is a natural river that rushes eastward to Daba. The western stream, an artificial river first excavated during the Yuan Dynasty, flows southward from Yulong Bridge to Sifang Street, then to the southeastern part of the Old Town.
The eastern stream, also an artificial river dug in the Qing Dynasty, flows eastward. Within the Old Town, the Jade River splits into numerous smaller channels, crisscrossing throughout the town. The widest part of the Jade River is about 5-6 meters, while the narrowest points measure less than a meter. These three streams converge at the southern entrance of the Old Town, flowing into the Yangong River and eventually into the Jinsha River.
Groundwater🥏
Various types of groundwater are distributed across the plateaus, mountains, and intermountain basins within the Old Town. The differences in geological and topographical conditions lead to varying recharge, flow, and discharge characteristics, but there are some common features due to the same factors.
Recharge Areas
The recharge areas of the intermountain basins are located at the top cones of inclined plains. Larger basins, like the Lijiang Basin, have extensive recharge zones, with no surface runoff, uneven groundwater distribution, and depths exceeding 30 meters with hydraulic gradients above 30‰.
Smaller basin recharge zones are narrower, with hydraulic gradients ranging from 2 to 10‰. The recharge areas of plateaus and mountains are primarily at altitudes of 2,800 meters, 3,200 to 3,400 meters, and 3,700 to 4,000 meters, particularly in karst areas featuring flattened surfaces, depressions, and sinkholes, with no surface runoff and groundwater depth exceeding 100 meters.
*Sakura Restaurant in Lijiang Ancient Town.
Runoff Areas
Runoff areas in intermountain basins have shallower groundwater, distributed more evenly, with hydraulic gradients generally between 2 and 10‰. On plateaus and in mountains, runoff areas are located along valley slopes, characterized by well-developed underground rivers in karst regions, with gradients ranging from 30 to 100‰.
Discharge Areas🏞️
Closed intermountain basin discharge areas mainly feature confined water, with limited natural discharge, and it is difficult for groundwater to flow upward through the thick, relatively impermeable layers of sandy clay. In open basins, where aquifers are exposed, discharge areas often appear as linear distributions, such as the spring outflow zones in the Yongsheng Basin.
In plateaus and mountainous regions, discharge areas also show linear patterns, typically found at the edges of intermountain basins, such as the concentrated convergence zones of Black Dragon Pool, deeply incised valleys like the Heibaishui Spring discharge zone, fault zones such as the Tojiao water-bearing fault, and interfaces between soluble and non-soluble rock formations like the Zili Fuxiang syncline discharge zone.
Dayan Ancient Town🪭
The main part of Lijiang Old Town is Dayan Ancient Town, surrounded by mountains and covering an area of 5.39 square kilometers. According to the “Lijiang City Chronicles,” the town was founded in the late Song and early Yuan dynasties and flourished during the Ming and Qing periods, with nearly 800 years of history. It got its name, “Dayan,” because the shape of the town resembles a large jade inkstone.
Centered around Sifang Street, the town is encircled by numerous ancient buildings, including the Black Dragon Pool ancient architecture complex. The Mu chieftains of the time, seeing it as an auspicious sign, did not build city walls. The Mu Residence was lavishly constructed, prompting the explorer Xu Xiake to marvel at its “palatial grandeur, comparable to that of royalty.”
The streets within the town were built along the contours of the landscape and water, paved with red breccia. Notable sites include Wangu Pavilion, Mu Residence, Wufeng Pavilion, Black Dragon Pool, Wenchang Palace, Fang Guoyu’s Former Residence, Puji Temple, Sifang Street, ancient bridges, Kegong Archway, the Wang Pizhen Memorial Hall, Xueshan Academy.
Wangjiazhuang Christian Church, Baimalongtan Temple, Guo Bide’s Former Residence, Jinglian Temple, Puxian Temple, Jiefeng Tower, October Literature Museum, the Red Army Long March Command Post Memorial Hall, Lijiang Old Town Historical and Cultural Exhibition Hall, and the Xu Xiake Memorial Hall.
*Night view of Lijiang Ancient Town.
Wangu Pavilion⛩️
At the southwestern corner of Dayan Ancient Town lies a mountain resembling a crouching lion guarding the town—this is Lion Hill, developed into a park in 1998. Atop the hill is Wangu Pavilion, a five-star, classical all-wood structure, standing 32.8 meters high with 16 wooden pillars, each 24 meters long, extending from top to bottom. The pavilion is adorned with 12,600 dragon heads in Naxi style, a world record.
*Wangu Pavilion.
Mu Residence🏮
The Mu Residence within Lijiang Old Town was originally the administrative office of the Mu chieftains. Located on the eastern slope of Lion Hill, it was built during the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) and was reconstructed in 1998 as a museum. The residence covers 46 mu (about 30,667 square meters) and includes 162 rooms along a 369-meter central axis.
The buildings, such as the Sanqing Hall, Yuyin Pavilion, Guangbi Pavilion, Hufa Hall, Wanjuan Pavilion, Assembly Hall, and Zhongyi Archway, are arranged in an orderly fashion from west to east. Eleven plaques, bestowed by emperors of different dynasties, hang within, reflecting the rise and fall of the Mu family.
*Mu Residence.
Wufeng Pavilion🛕
Wufeng Pavilion, located within Fuguo Temple, was built during the 29th year of the Wanli reign (1601) of the Ming dynasty. Standing 20 meters tall, it is named after its resemblance to five colorful phoenixes. The pavilion’s ceiling is adorned with intricate patterns. It blends the architectural styles of the Han, Tibetan, and Naxi peoples, making it a precious and exemplary piece of ancient Chinese architecture.
*Wufeng Pavilion.
Black Dragon Pool🌅
Commonly known as Dragon King Temple or Jade Spring Park, Black Dragon Pool lies at the northern end of Lijiang Old Town, at the foot of Elephant Hill. The Naxi people established the Jade Spring Dragon King Temple here, and Emperor Qianlong inscribed it as “Jade Spring Dragon God.” Black Dragon Pool serves as the location of the Lijiang Dongba Culture Research Institute, where ancient Dongba texts of the Naxi people are preserved.
*Black Dragon Pool.
Wenchang Palace
Wenchang Palace is located at 29 Shizi Road in Lijiang Old Town and is a key cultural relic protection unit. Built in the first year of Emperor Yongzheng’s reign (1723) of the Qing dynasty by Lijiang’s first prefect Yang Bi, it was restored and reopened in 2017. Wenchang Palace became a place for discussions and performances of Dongjing music after its introduction to Lijiang.
*Wenchang Palace.
Fang Guoyu’s Former Residence
Located at 71 and 72 Wuyi Street, Fang Guoyu’s Former Residence consists of a multi-courtyard structure featuring two quadrangular courtyards with covered walkways, two study courtyards with three rooms and a screen wall, and a rear garden. Covering an area of 1.98 mu (about 1,320 square meters).
it is one of the best-preserved large-scale residential compounds in Lijiang Old Town and has been designated a key protected residence. It was opened as Fang Guoyu’s Memorial in 2002 and listed as a provincial patriotic education base in 2009. A plaque inscribed with “Shi Gong Di,” dating from the 10th year of the Guangxu reign (1884), hangs at the entrance.
*Fang Guoyu’s Former Residence.
Puji Temple
Located 6 kilometers northwest of Lijiang Old Town on Puji Mountain, Puji Temple was built during the 36th year of Emperor Qianlong’s reign (1771) and is one of the five major Lama temples on the outskirts of Lijiang. It is famous for its main hall, which is covered with copper tiles. The courtyard comprises a gateway, protective deity hall, main hall, and side rooms forming a quadrangle.
The main hall was originally covered with earthen tiles but was later re-roofed with copper tiles through donations raised by Saint Lu Lama during his teachings across southwest China in 1936. Puji Temple was designated a provincial cultural relic protection unit in 1988. Two Yunnan cherry trees, planted in 1771, stand within the courtyard, considered the oldest of their kind.
*Puji Temple.
Baisha Old Town🎋
The residential building complex in Baisha Old Town is located at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, covering 1.06 square kilometers and under the administration of Yulong Naxi Autonomous County. The buildings are arranged along a north-south axis, centered around a trapezoidal square with four alleys leading out.
Shops line the streets, and a stream flows from the north into the square, threading its way through the residential area, creating a distinctive ambiance. Baisha Old Town, an ancient Naxi settlement, retains its original look to this day. It was the early form of Lijiang Old Town, laying the foundation for its later layout.
During the Song and Yuan periods, Baisha was the political, economic, and cultural center of the Lijiang area, and over the centuries, it has preserved many historical relics. Notable structures include Dabaoji Palace and the Glazed Hall, which house the famous “Baisha Murals.”
*Baisha Old Town in Lijiang old city.
*Street in Baisha Old Town.
Shuhe Old Town🚩
The residential building complex in Shuhe Old Town consists of 5,598 structures, covering 0.83 square kilometers within the ancient city area. Known as “Shaowu” in the Naxi language, meaning “a pile of hills,” Shuhe is one of the earliest Naxi settlements in Lijiang. Due to its favorable location, buildings were constructed using locally sourced materials, harmonizing naturally with the surrounding environment.
The village is built along a watercourse, with Qinglong River flowing through the center, linking the settlement. Qinglong Bridge, constructed during the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty, spans the river. The “Baisha Murals,” an essential part of Naxi cultural heritage, are also found in Shuhe, particularly in the Dajue Palace.
During the Tang and Song dynasties, Shuhe was a crucial trading hub on the Tea Horse Road, facilitating cultural exchange and trade among different ethnic groups. These historical relics serve as a record of the Naxi people’s transition from an agrarian to a commercial society.
*Shuhe Old Town Gate.
*Shuhe Old Town Street View.