The Lijiang Ancient Town

The Lijiang Ancient Town, also called Dayan Old Town. It is located in the Lijiang City of Yunnan Province in southwest China. It is famed as one of four best-preserved ancient towns along with Langzhong Old Town, Pingyao Old Town, Shexian County. Lijiang Old Town’s history goes back to 800 years ago as it was an important town of Song Dynasty.  This Old Town takes up an area of 3.8 square kilometers and was first built in late Song Dynasty (860-1279). It is located on Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau with an elevation of 2400 meters. Most of its dwellers are Naxi people. There are about 4,200 original families living in the old town today. The village's layout is unique, being a perfect fusion of Han Chinese, Bai, and Tibetan styles. It is an old city with shinning culture of ethnic groups. On December 4, 1997, Lijiang Ancient Town was included into UNESCO's World Heritage Lists. With ubiquitous bridges and canals, elegant wooden houses, charming inns and bars, Lijiang Old Town is hailed as the ''Oriental Venice'' and "Suzhou in Highland". It is a very comfortable site which can be visited all year round. Usually, half day tour will be suggested for visiting here.