Lijiang Old Town lies in Lijiang, Yunnan, about 500 km from Kunming and roughly 3 hours away by train. Founded in the late Song to early Yuan period as a Naxi settlement, it centres on Sifang Street, with waterways winding through the alleys and houses built beside the water; it was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1997.
The Mu Mansion, Wufeng Tower and Dongba culture courtyards display the history and script of the Naxi people. At night, lights and songs fill Sifang Street, the best time to soak up the old town's atmosphere. At about 2,400 metres, it is best to take things easy on arrival.
