Escape from the furnace and travel to Lijiang with your child

Number of days：3 days
Time: August
Average cost: 2500 yuan
With whom: and friends
Updated: 2024.08.10

Day 1 Lijiang Ancient Town

It was the first time I brought my 8-year-old daughter out for a trip alone. Ah, summer is really perfect for Lijiang, to escape from the scorching heat of Changsha with temperatures as high as 39 degrees.

The comfortable 20 degrees here during the day is simply a place where gods live.

We are really lucky. The weather in Lijiang has been amazing these days. It even rained a few days before we set off.

Considering that it was the first time I brought my child out alone and I was too lazy to bother, and she still had a cold and cough, we gave up the idea of going to Dali and Shangri-La and just spent two or three days in Lijiang.

On the first day, I flew directly from Changsha to Lijiang and arrived at Sanyi Airport at 3:30 pm. The owner of the B&B arranged a pick-up. It cost 70 yuan per car (plus 10 yuan for the highway toll, which was originally 60 yuan). This price is very reasonable during the peak season. After arriving in the ancient town, the owner of the guesthouse drove a small tricycle to help with our luggage, as the cobblestone streets wouldn't have been practically possible. Since the guesthouse is right next to the ancient town, we spent the evening strolling and dining there, which was quite pleasant. A few tips and experiences for first-time visitors to Lijiang. Weather: July and August are Lijiang's rainy and peak seasons, with occasional rain. However, the rain usually stops quickly here. The light rain forecast often translates to sunny days, and you might even see a rainbow after the rain. How wonderful! Transportation: Transportation in Lijiang is quite convenient. There are direct buses to Shuhe Ancient Town, Baisha Ancient Town, and Yuhu Village. To reach Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, take bus No. 101 from Zhongyi Market. Didi taxis are also very convenient and affordable, and you can even share rides on Didi. Since I had children with me, I always used Didi or shared rides.

Clothing: It can be a bit chilly in the mornings and evenings, so a light jacket or sun-protective clothing is sufficient. Summer short-sleeved shirts, pants, or skirts are also fine. The UV rays here are very strong in the afternoon, so remember to wear sunscreen. If you're going to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, a thick jacket is sufficient; no down jacket is necessary.

Accommodation: I was worried about not being able to find a place to stay during peak season, so I booked a B&B near Lijiang Old Town two weeks in advance. Upon arrival, I discovered there are so many B&Bs, many of which are incredibly beautiful. There are also hotels nearby, so there's no need to worry about being short of places to stay. The advantage of booking in advance is that the owner will come to pick you up, otherwise it would be difficult to carry your luggage on your own.

Accommodation: I was worried about not being able to find a place to stay during peak season, so I booked a B&B near Lijiang Old Town two weeks in advance. Upon arrival, I discovered there are so many B&Bs, many of which are incredibly beautiful. There are also hotels nearby, so there's no need to worry about being short of places to stay. The advantage of booking in advance is that the boss will come pick you up, otherwise it's difficult to carry your luggage on your own.

Altitude sickness: This was my first time visiting the plateau with my kids, and I was worried about altitude sickness, but we didn't feel any discomfort. However, you can buy oxygen in the ancient city beforehand for Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, usually for 10 to 15 yuan a bottle. I also heard that showering and washing your hair aren't allowed, but my kids and I shower every night. When I wash my hair in the morning, it gets really cold, so I have to blow-dry it immediately afterward; otherwise, I get really cold and get a headache.

Souvenir shopping: Compared to many tourist cities, Yunnan isn't expensive. However, when buying souvenirs in the ancient city, browse around and bargain; you'll always find lower prices. Those woolen shawls that almost everyone owns were only around 10 yuan.

Should I join a tour group? Lijiang isn't big, so you can travel on your own.

Day 2: Shuhe Ancient Town + Baisha Ancient Town

Day 2: Free Trip with My Daughter

Shuhe Ancient Town (Going to the Wilderness Country) & Baisha Ancient Town (Going to Jianshan Courtyard)

I had already visited Lijiang Old Town the day before and loved it, so visiting Shuhe and Baisha felt rather ordinary. Shuhe Old Town had horse-drawn carriages and horse manure on the streets, while Baisha had plenty of grilled yak skewers and a bit of a smoky atmosphere. I still preferred Lijiang Old Town.

The Wilderness Land, which my daughter was most looking forward to, is outside Shuhe Old Town. You can navigate there and find it easily. Adult tickets are 80 yuan each for those over 1.4 meters tall. There's a height measurement at the ticket counter. My daughter is just over 1.4 meters tall, so she still paid the full price.

The Wilderness Land is entirely outdoors and not very large. They're currently building new attractions, so two hours was enough for us. The weather in Lijiang has been great these days, so it's quite sunny outside, so a sun hat, sun-protective clothing, and sunscreen are essential. The scenery and decorations inside are very much like those in Hayao Miyazaki's comics. Children will love this quirky, dreamy, and imaginative fairy tale kingdom.

In Shuhe, I will never let you miss such delicious food!

Environment:

The quiet environment in Shuhe Ancient Town is very peaceful and suitable for friends and family gatherings!

Service:

The waiters are very patient and enthusiastic, and they are also very flexible. The waiting time is long, so it is recommended to book in advance!

The black truffle tofu soup is delicious.

The secret recipe of Snow Mountain Fish and Pepper Fish Fillet is a special dish, fresh and tasty.

The Naxi Dongba BBQ is fragrant and delicious.

Order the secret recipe of Snow Mountain Fish and Crispy Fish Bones, which is crispy and delicious. Order the Porcini Mushrooms, a favorite this season!

The portions are large and delicious, so don't waste them!

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Day 3: Yuhu Village

Are all tickets to Yunshanping so hard to get?

On the third day of my trip to Lijiang with my daughter, I had originally planned to go to Yunshanping.

But during peak season, tickets are nearly impossible to get for individual travelers, so I gave up and instead headed to Yuhu Village, a pristine village at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. It turned out to be a wise choice. Yuhu Village was the most enjoyable part of our trip to Lijiang these past few days, and my daughter absolutely loved it.

A taxi from the Old Town to the Yuhu Village Visitor Center took about 30 to 40 minutes, and the fare was over 40 yuan. Entrance to Yuhu Village is free, but the journey is a bit long. If you're traveling with children, it's best to queue up at the visitor center to buy a sightseeing bus ticket. Both adults and children are 30 yuan per person, and both rides are round-trip. Remember to keep your ticket. Some people will try to get you a package that includes horseback riding for 168 yuan per person, but I don't think it's necessary; the included ride is only 60 yuan. The sightseeing bus runs in sections, and the first leg only goes to Yuhu Square. The next leg, to Longnu Lake, requires queuing at the Longevity Pavilion in Yuhu Square. It's actually a 20-minute walk from Yuhu Square to Longnu Lake, and the scenery along the way is breathtaking and photogenic. There's absolutely no need to queue for an hour or so. (When you get off at Yuhu Square, an old lady will ask you if you want the 10-yuan garland. I bought one originally for taking photos, but ended up throwing it away after a few minutes. It's really heavy, and there's a lot of debris stuck in my hair. I don't recommend buying it.)

There's a special horseback riding ticket booth at Longnu Lake for 60 yuan per person. A Naxi grandmother will lead the horse for a long circuit around Longnu Lake, which takes about 20 minutes. I think it's worth it. The children had a lot of fun riding in such a beautiful scenery. Halfway through, the old lady kept asking if we wanted to add the 30-yuan horse racing, which I agreed to, as I thought it looked quite thrilling.

There's a 20-yuan activity on the grass where you can hold a lamb, but you're only allowed to hold it for 10 minutes. It's quite cute, and the children loved it and even fed it grass.

In Yuhu Village, there were puppies everywhere following tourists around, trying to eat the food they held. My daughter fed it chicken legs and yak skewers, and it kept following us. My daughter was very happy. The puppies here are very friendly and non-aggressive, and they won't bite. Children should just be a little careful, though.

Local villagers here sell fruits and local specialties at stalls. The prices are not expensive, and the taste is really good. You really can't get such authentic flavors anywhere else.

The weather has been very good these past few days, the scenery is beautiful everywhere, and my mood is great. Both adults and children will have unforgettable memories in Yuhu Village.