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Lijiang Old Town

Lijiang, China
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Ranked #2 of 60 attractions in Lijiang
Type: Historic Sites
1,156 visitor photos
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3,482 reviews from our community

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singapore
Senior Contributor
25 reviews 25 reviews
14 attraction reviews
Reviews in 11 cities Reviews in 11 cities
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 22, 2013 NEW

Rule of game is to get away from the main tourist crowd. There are quieter alleys and corners at the back of the town which were good for exploration. If you are lost, just keep walking and you will discover something new.

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Brooklyn, New York
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews 6 reviews
4 attraction reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 18, 2013 NEW

I loved the quaintness and pedestrian streets. It was very relaxing to roam around even though much of the old city is new and that many of the items in the shops can be found all over China. I loved the old market at the south end of the old city--very lively!

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Dublin, Ireland
Senior Contributor
23 reviews 23 reviews
11 attraction reviews
Reviews in 15 cities Reviews in 15 cities
12 helpful votes 12 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 12, 2013

Maybe a little too crowded, bu who would like to miss it while visiting this part of China? Beautiful, well preserved, full of traditions. You need to purchase some kind of "admission ticket" which is valid for one week and entitles you to enter all the "cultural and natural" spots in Lijiang and its surroundings like Black Dragon Pond or... More

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Perth, Australia
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews 6 reviews
4 attraction reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 12, 2013

My wife is Chinese so a lot easier for me as my Mandarin is limited. Many old Guesthouses to chose from with courtyards. Expect to pay between $30-$50per night for a good double room with western toilet-ask to check room before you take it. Outside there are the modern Chinese tourists on a quick visit rushing from shop to shop,... More

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Chiang Mai, Thailand
Senior Reviewer
9 reviews 9 reviews
6 attraction reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
2 of 5 stars Reviewed May 7, 2013

The old town has unashamedly been set up for Chinese tourists. There are endless shops selling the same trinkets over and over. The food in the restaurants is expensive and not brilliant. It took us several days to find areas which were not so crowded and not so touristy.

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Shanghai, China
Contributor
11 reviews 11 reviews
5 attraction reviews
Reviews in 7 cities Reviews in 7 cities
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 5, 2013

We travelled to Lijiang on our south China tour as a couple. Pro: Lijiang old town offers many courtyard hotels / hostels, cozy cafes and romantic restaurants, a gigantic maze of little alleyways with open water channels and a vibrant nightlife with live music and a great beer selection. All buildings are kept in the original state and architecture so... More

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Singapore, Singapore
Senior Contributor
38 reviews 38 reviews
8 attraction reviews
Reviews in 22 cities Reviews in 22 cities
19 helpful votes 19 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 30, 2013

The biggest of the old towns it was fun just wandering around the shops we finished up enjoying several cups of tea at a tea shop which capped off our day very well. We were there during the day but our guide said it really livens up at night!

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Singapore, Singapore
Top Contributor
58 reviews 58 reviews
17 attraction reviews
Reviews in 28 cities Reviews in 28 cities
28 helpful votes 28 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed April 30, 2013

Lovely ancient old town, however, its overly crowded. Hopped over to ShuHe Village for a couple of nights, and prefer our stay there, cos it's more peaceful there. Lijiang Old Town is quite a big and beautiful place, however, it's overly touristy. Every shop sells similar stuffs, the same music played over and over again.

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Salisbury
Contributor
18 reviews 18 reviews
13 attraction reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed April 30, 2013

Lijiang Old Town is good for a half-day. The town's 'bones' are beautiful and interesting to see: great old buildings, canals, flowering trees. But it is over-crowded with tourist shops and trinket stands. However, it contains one superb not-to-be-missed attraction: the Mu Mansion, a gorgeous. multi-pavilioned traditional Chinese compound, beautifully restored and maintained, which makes a trip to Old Town... More

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Shanghai, China
Senior Contributor
22 reviews 22 reviews
6 attraction reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed April 30, 2013

I have travelled in China for three years now and I can only describe Lijiang as EPIC! Tens of thousands of mainland tourists swarm into the city to snack, talk and take pictures of each other. If you dislike crowds...STAY AWAY. If you have a "roll with it" approach to life and a love of seeing people from other cultures... More

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