Lijiang Ancient Town

Lijiang Ancient Town, nestled in the Yunnan province of China, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The ancient town is built following the natural contours of the surrounding hills, with houses cascading in harmonious, tiered layers. Crystal-clear streams meander through its streets, flanked by vibrant flowers and dotted with numerous small bridges—a quintessential scene of the picturesque Jiangnan water towns. A highlight of Lijiang Ancient Town is the Naxi Dongba culture. The Dongba script, the world’s only surviving pictographic writing system still in use, preserves the Naxi people’s unique language, dances, costumes, music, and daily customs, offering visitors deep insight into their distinctive cultural heritage.