Lijiang Old Town In-Depth Walking Guide｜Avoid the Crowds, Touch the Real Soft Time

🧭 Core Highlights: Three Flavors in the Texture of the Old Town Day and Night at Sifang Street (📍 Key Landmark, but not the only destination) At dawn: Arrive at 7 AM, before the wave of tour groups. Watch Naxi mothers carrying bamboo baskets walk across the polished stone slabs, water flowing by the Three-Eyed Well, where the daily life of locals begins. Not a tourist spot, but an authentic life scene. At dusk: Lanterns light up one by one, music flows like water. Avoid the noise of the main street bars, slip into a small bar in the backyard of Wuyi Street, order a craft beer and listen to original folk songs. Lion Hill High Point (📸 Visual Feast, no need to stay long) Wangu Tower (ticket 35 RMB) offers a bird’s-eye view of the sea of black tiles, with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain hanging like a screen. Or choose a free view: order a cup of Yunnan small bean coffee at the mid-mountain café, fewer people on the terrace but the same view. (Best to arrive before 8 AM for dreamy light and fewer tourists) Don’t repeat the downhill route! Walk along the small path at the lower section of Huangshan Mountain, where hidden alleys conceal intangible cultural heritage craftsmen’s courtyards. Shuhe Ancient Town’s Slow Beat (🚖 15 minutes by taxi, escape the hustle) A quieter version of Dayan. Qinglong Bridge has been polished bright as a mirror for a hundred years, afternoon tree shadows dapple like a dream. Order a pot of Pu’er tea at a riverside teahouse and watch the mule caravan’s copper bells bring dusty stories from afar. Bonus: Every Friday at the Qinglong River local market, wild mushrooms, tie-dye, handmade copperware... the lively atmosphere touches the heart.  🚶 Secret Route: From the edge of the hustle to the soul’s depth 🍵 One-day Essence Version (Warning: over 10,000 steps) North Gate Waterwheel → (turn left into 🌊) Wuyi Street (drink a can of roasted milk tea) → 🎎 Xianwen Alley (oil-paper umbrella sky) → Mu Mansion (learn about the rise and fall of the Naxi, 2 hours) → Lion Hill Viewpoint → Sifang Street → 🤎 End of Wuyi Street (dinner: Naxi cured pork rib hotpot) → Bar Street (taste lightly) → South Gate Zhongyi Market (digest and experience nightlife). Key tip: Explore alley branches! Many surprises hide in alleys on the right side of the main street, such as the handmade rice cake shop by the Three-Eyed Well in Guangbi Alley, where locals queue for authentic goods. ☕ Three-day Deep Dive Experience Day 1: Half day in Shuhe Ancient Town (listen to music in teahouses + sunbathe at Sifang Listening Square) + Baisha Ancient Town (see 800-year-old murals, buy embroidery) Day 2: Deep exploration of Dayan Old Town (refer to one-day route) + Shopping for wild mushroom dried goods at Zhongyi Market Day 3: Xiangshan Morning Market (6:00-8:00 exclusive Naxi local life) + Black Dragon Pool Park to photograph snow mountain reflections (requires old town maintenance ticket) → Buy handmade silverware at Baisuifang before leaving (remember to bargain!) Avoid pitfalls: Be cautious when choosing photography packages! Skip any over 300 RMB that don’t include eyelashes, costumes, or negatives.  🏡 Stay in the Scenery · Guesthouse Pitfall Guide Preferred Areas South Gate area: Luggage-friendly, easy access, Zhongyi Market nearby, suitable for early risers who like to shop. Along Wuyi Street: Convenient nightlife without being overwhelmed by noise, morning window views of misty green tiles. Avoid the core circle of Sifang Street: Stone slabs make dragging luggage frustrating, bar noise lasts all night. Recommended Stays Naxi old courtyard guesthouses are the soul! Choose one with flowers in the courtyard and a chatty owner. I once stayed at “Yinyue” courtyard at the foot of Lion Hill, where the owner invited me for morning tea and late-night story sessions, making the room part of the journey.  🍲 Naxi Cuisine on the Tongue · 5 Local Favorite Small Shops 🥣 Ama Yi Naxi Dining House Three generations of inherited flavors, must-try mule caravan grilled fish, crispy fish skin, wild herbs and Yunnan chili intertwined, conquered the judges of "A Bite of China." 📍Address: No. 18, Lower Xingren, Wuyi Street 🍜 Hobbit Castle Crossing-the-Bridge Rice Noodles Terrace with a "The Hobbit" vibe, paired with a ceremonious bowl of crossing-the-bridge rice noodles, the old town clouds swirl in the bowl. 📍Address: Lower Huangshan Section, Xinhua Street 🥓 Yujie Cured Pork Rib Hotpot Local favorite stall in Zhongyi Market, copper pot boiling with cured meat fragrance, ribs tender and oily dipped in spicy fermented bean curd, truly worth it! 📍Address: Inside Zhongyi Market (opens after 5 PM) 🌮 Miraculous Stinky Tofu on the Tongue Street stall miracle! Crispy outer shell like a thin crust, bursting with soy milk inside, paired with Dai-style spicy sauce that makes your soul soar. 📍Stall guide: Appears at dusk at the entrance of Xianwen Alley pushed by an old lady ☕ Tiandeng Coffee Memorial Hall A century-old house hiding Yunnan’s oldest coffee shop, antique equipment hand-brewing small bean coffee, paired with homemade tiramisu. 📍Address: No. 71, Upper Xingren, Wuyi Street  📜 Essential Travel Notes Category Practical Info🔖 Transport Sanyi Airport → City: Airport shuttle 20 RMB/person; Didi about 80 RMB. Only walking inside the old town 👣, stone slabs reject suitcase wheels! Tickets Old town maintenance fee 50 RMB (some attractions require ticket checks), Mu Mansion 40 RMB (worth it), Wangu Tower 35 RMB (good view but pricey, free viewpoints optional) Sun Protection SPF50+++++! Plateau UV rays are like knives, hats and sunglasses 🕶️ physical sun protection is most reliable Clothing Flat shoes! Stone slabs in the old town are tough on heels, big temperature difference morning and night, thin jacket essential Payment Although most places support mobile payment, still carry some cash 💴, some Naxi grandma’s grilled rice cake stalls only accept cash 📯 Finally: Put down your phone map and let getting lost be a travel bonus! Every alley branch hides unexpected beauty: maybe the scent of old carpenter’s shavings, the silhouette of Naxi ladies sitting and embroidering, or the sound of wind chimes drifting from the Tea Horse Road. Rather than rushing to your destination, let the old town guide your senses. This ancient town is like a bowl of Naxi chicken bean jelly—sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, salty intertwined, “five flavors mixed” (Naxi language: rich and wonderful). When you touch the worn curve of a wooden door or lock eyes with a cat napping on the windowsill, the old town truly opens its dimension to you.