In the mountains of Lijiang, Yunnan Province, there is an ancient town full of historical flavor – Shuhe Ancient Town(束河古镇). It is not only an important post on the Tea Horse Road, but also the birthplace of Naxi culture.
In 1997, Shuhe Ancient Town was listed by UNESCO as an important part of Lijiang Old Town, a World Heritage Site.
Shuhe Ancient Town is an ideal destination for those who want to learn more about the culture of China’s ethnic minorities and experience the slow life in the town.
The following guide will help you to play around this ancient town easily.
Table of Contents
Day 1: Explore the ancient town for the first time and feel the Naxi flavor
How to arrive
From Lijiang Sanyi Airport or Railway Station, you can choose to take the blue No. 11 bus (the ticket price is about 3 yuan, support Alipay scanning code) directly to Shuhe Ancient Town, the ride takes about 30 minutes.
If you are carrying large luggage, you can also book a DDT express bus (cost about 20 RMB), and you can also enjoy the magnificent view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain along the way.
Accommodation Recommendations
After arriving at the town, we recommend you to stay in a Naxi style inn near Jiu Ding Long Tan, such as “Yun Shan Mei Di” or “Zi Zi Xiang Inn”. These inns are not only affordable (about 200 RMB/night in low season, including courtyard view), but also allow you to experience the Naxi way of life more deeply. Push open the carved wooden windows of the inns and you’ll be able to see the crystal clear Jiuding Dragon Pool and the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the distance.
Afternoon Stroll Route
Green Dragon Bridge
This stone arch bridge, built during the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, was an important passage on the Tea Horse Road. The bridge has become mottled after hundreds of years of weathering, but this is a reflection of its heavy history. Standing on the bridge, you can capture the beautiful image of the bridge shadow and snowy mountains in the same frame.
Sifang Street
Sifang Street is the commercial center of Shuhe Ancient Town, which retains the purest Naxi market atmosphere. You can buy Dongba paper lanterns, handmade silver jewelry and other special souvenirs here, and you can also taste a variety of Naxi cuisine.
Jiuding Longtan
Jiuding Dragon Pool is one of the landmark attractions of Shuhe Ancient Town, with crystal clear water and swimming fish passing through it. You can sit by the pool and enjoy the reflection of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and feel the tranquility and beauty of the ancient town.
Night Activities
For dinner, we recommend you to go to “Togang Tibetan Cuisine” to enjoy yak hot pot, which is one of the specialties of Lijiang. The yak meat is solid, the soup is thick, and it tastes even better with mint chili sauce and ghee cakes.
After a full meal, you can take a night tour of Qinglong River with the paper lanterns provided by the inn and enjoy the beautiful night view of the red lanterns reflecting on the water on both sides of the river.
Day 2: Cultural Exploration and Handicraft Experience
Ancient Tea Horse Road Museum
In the morning, you can visit the Museum of the Ancient Tea and Horse Road to learn about the history and culture of the Ancient Tea and Horse Road.
It displays artifacts such as gilt copper locks used by horse gangs and Pu’er tea pressing molds, as well as an immersive documentary that restores scenes of horse gangs in distress, making you feel as if you’ve traveled back in time to the era when horse gangs were prevalent.
Hari Valley
In the afternoon, you can go to Hari Valley, a complex of 37 Naxi courtyards, which is called a “living architectural museum”.
You can enjoy the Suzhou garden-style landscape and rent ethnic costumes to take beautiful photos.
In the evening, the rooftop of Hari Valley will be lit up with LED lights, and the starry night sky will be connected together, which is very suitable for taking photos.
Culinary Experience
For lunch, we recommend you to go to “Chenji Secret Fat Intestine Noodle” to taste the fat intestine rice noodle, which is one of the specialties of Lijiang.
The fat intestines are handled very cleanly and the hot and sour soup makes them very tasty.
When interacting with the lazy Samoyed in the store, you may want to learn a few phrases in Naxi, such as “A Luo” (hello) and “Tear Duo Duo” (thank you), to feel the warmth and friendliness of the locals.
Handicraft Experience
At the Naxi Handicraft Workshop next to the Three Sacred Palaces, you can experience tie-dyeing or leatherwork.
You can choose to tie-dye Dongba totems and dye blessings such as “good luck” and “peace” into a square scarf as a unique souvenir of your trip.
Observation Deck
Climbing to the Shilian Temple requires 108 steps, but the shock of overlooking the entire ancient town is definitely worth it.
It is recommended to go there in the evening, as the setting sun gilds the green tile roofs and the Naxi elders working in the farmland in the distance form the most moving silhouettes.
Day 3: Free Time and Return
Early Morning Photography
Early in the morning is the most beautiful time in the town, the main street is empty, the morning fog flows on the green stone road.
The main street is empty and the morning mist flows on the green stone road. At this time, shooting portraits under the Sifang Street pagoda, you can get the same ins.com.cn “time pause” blockbuster.
Visiting Aboriginal Villages
In the aboriginal area of Songyun Village, you will come across Naxi women returning from herding.
Wearing sheepskin hats with “seven stars” and carrying bamboo baskets on their backs, this is a more lively cultural exhibition than a museum.
Remember to prepare some sweets or stationery in advance as a friendly gift.
Shopping for souvenirs
Spirulina products (a specialty of Chenghai Lake) and Dongba paper lanterns are recommended.
You can learn how to write in Dongba script for free at the “Harmony of the Years” B&B, where you can write down words such as “love” and “home” in hieroglyphics, which is more memorable than a postcard.
Useful Information
Accommodation Options
Landscape control: inns around Jiuding Longtan (e.g. Gaye Hall), push the window to see the water, a 5-minute walk to the main attractions.
Budget Party: B&B at the north gate of Shuhe River (e.g. “Meet”), 150 RMB/night including breakfast.
Socializers: choose a courtyard with a communal tea room, where there are often three-stringed zither performances at night.
Food Recommendations
Must try: Naxi baked bait block (5 RMB/pc on the street, pickled vegetables + crushed peanuts are king).
Avoid the mine: the scenic “net red cherry blossom meal”, the price is high and the flavor is over-improved.
Hidden menu: Aan Dessert’s red bean yogurt, with rose syrup to upgrade the flavor.
Transportation Tips
Refuse any unsolicited “low-cost chartered car”, regular cab meter.
Walking in the old town, the stone road is not friendly to suitcases, it is recommended to bring a folding trailer.
From Shuhe to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Spot, you can take the No.101 special line at the “Yunnan University Tourism College” station.
Cultural Respect
Ask permission before photographing the elderly. Smiling and giving a thumbs up are common courtesies.
Hats and shorts are not permitted inside the temple, and the menorah must be rotated clockwise.
When encountering a funeral procession, you should actively avoid it, which is the reverence for life.
Best time to travel
September-October is the prime season in Shuhe every year, when the rainy season is over, the sky is as clear as a wash, and the visibility of snow-capped mountains is as high as 90%.
What’s even better is that it coincides with the matsutake mushroom season.
Fresh matsutake mushrooms with earthy fragrance can be found everywhere in the market of the ancient town, and the price is only 1/3 of that in city restaurants.
Shuhe Ancient Town is a charming ancient town with not only beautiful natural scenery and rich cultural heritage, but also hospitable Naxi people.
Hope this guide can help you better plan your trip to Shuhe Ancient Town and feel the unique charm of this ancient town.
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