Lijiang (丽江)

1. Introduction

Lijiang City is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China, located in the northwestern part of Yunnan. The city borders Diqing Prefecture to the northwest, Nujiang Prefecture to the west, Dali Prefecture to the southwest, Chuxiong Prefecture to the southeast, Panzhihua City of Sichuan Province to the east, and Liangshan Prefecture of Sichuan Province to the northeast. Situated in the transitional zone from the northern section of the Hengduan Mountains to the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, it is home to the famous Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, as well as lakes such as Lugu Lake and Chenghai Lake, with the Jinsha River flowing through the city. The city covers an area of 20,555 square kilometers, with a total population of 1.2539 million in 2020, of which ethnic minorities account for over half. The municipal government is located in the Gucheng District. Lijiang served as a transit point on the ancient Silk Road and the Tea Horse Road, and the ancient town of Lijiang was originally built during the Dali Kingdom. In 1986, the State Council designated Lijiang as a National Historical and Cultural City. Lijiang is one of China's important tourist towns and has been rated as a "Three-Star Tourist Recommendation" (the highest level) by the Michelin Travel Guide.

2. Etymology

The name "Lijiang" for Lijiang City originates from its geographical environment and historical background. According to historical records, the name Lijiang can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty. During the Tang Dynasty, due to its strategic location, the Lijiang area became an important military stronghold and economic center. The name "Lijiang" is composed of the two characters "Li" and "Jiang," symbolizing "beautiful rivers."

3. History

In the sixth year of the Yuanding era of the Western Han Dynasty (111 BCE), the Yuexi Commandery was established, and the area of the present-day city belonged to it. In the third year of the Jianxing era of the Shu Han state during the Three Kingdoms period (225 CE), the Yunnan Commandery was established from parts of the Jianning, Yuexi, and Yongchang commanderies, under the jurisdiction of the Laixiang Military Governor. During the Western Jin Dynasty, the area under the Laixiang Military Governor was renamed Ningzhou. In the Sui Dynasty, the Nanningzhou was established, and the area of the present-day city belonged to it. Later, the region came under the control of Nanzhao, and the present-day area was part of the Jianchuan Jiedushi (military governor) of Nanzhao. During the Dali Kingdom, it belonged to the Shanju Commandery, with present-day Yongsheng County serving as the commandery seat.

In the thirteenth year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty (1276), the Lijiang Route (administered from present-day Shigu Town, Yulong County) was established. It was named after the Jinsha River (Golden Sand River), which encircles the area. The ancient name of the Jinsha River was "Lishui," which later evolved into "Lishui," hence the name Lijiang. In the fifteenth year of the Zhiyuan era (1278), the Shanju Commandery was reorganized into Xuanzhou, and Shunzhou (administered from present-day Zhoucheng Town, Binchuan County) was established, both under the Lijiang Route. In the sixteenth year of the Zhiyuan era (1279), Yongningzhou (administered from present-day Yongning Township, Ninglang County) and Langquzhou (administered from present-day Ninglang County) were established, both under the Lijiang Route. In the seventeenth year of the Zhiyuan era (1280), Xuanzhou was renamed Beishengzhou, and in the twentieth year of the Zhiyuan era (1283), it was elevated to Beisheng Prefecture.

In the fifteenth year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1382), the Lijiang Route was renamed Lijiang Prefecture; Beisheng Prefecture was downgraded to Beishengzhou, and both it and Shunzhou were placed under Heqing Prefecture. In the fourth year of the Yongle era (1406), Yongningzhou was elevated to Yongning Prefecture, and Langquzhou was abolished during the Tianqi era. In the seventh year of the Zhengtong era (1442), Beishengzhou was transferred to the Yunnan Provincial Administration Commission. In the thirty-seventh year of the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty (1698), Yongbei Prefecture (administered from present-day Yongsheng County) was established by combining characters from Yongning and Beisheng. In the thirty-eighth year of the Kangxi era (1699), the former Shunzhou territory was incorporated into Yongbei Prefecture. In the thirty-fifth year of the Qianlong era (1770), Lijiang County was established as the seat of Lijiang Prefecture; Yongbei Prefecture was reorganized into Yongbei Directly Administered Subprefecture. In the nineteenth year of the Daoguang era (1839), Langquzhou was reestablished under Yongbei Directly Administered Subprefecture. In the thirty-fourth year of the Guangxu era (1908), Huaping County was established.

In the second year of the Republic of China (1913), prefectures, subprefectures, and directly administered subprefectures were abolished and converted into counties, resulting in Lijiang County, Yongbei County, and Huaping County, under the Dianxi Circuit. The following year, it was renamed the Tengyue Circuit, which was abolished in 1927. In 1934, due to repeated military conflicts and the character "Bei" (北) in the county name implying "defeat" and being considered "inelegant," Yongbei County was renamed Yongsheng County. In 1935, the area of the former Langquzhou in Yongsheng County was separated to establish the Ninglang Administrative Bureau, administered from present-day Daxing Town. In the thirty-first year of the Republic of China (1942), the counties and administrative bureaus were placed under the Seventh Administrative Supervision District of Yunnan Province.

After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the Lijiang Special District was established in 1950. It governed nine counties—Lijiang, Yongsheng, Huaping, Jianchuan, Heqing, Lanping, Zhongdian, Weixi, and Bijiang—and four administrative regions: Ninglang, Deqin, Fugong, and Gongshan. The Commissioner's Office was located in Lijiang County, and the Liangshan Yi Office was established from the southern part of the Ninglang Administrative Region. In 1952, Bijiang County and the three administrative regions of Fugong, Gongshan, and Deqin were reorganized into autonomous regions. In 1954, the Bijiang, Fugong, and Gongshan autonomous regions were transferred to the Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Region. In 1956, the Deqin Autonomous Region and the two counties of Weixi and Zhongdian were transferred to the Diqing Prefecture; Jianchuan and Heqing counties were transferred to the Dali Prefecture; Lanping County was transferred to the Nujiang Prefecture; on September 20 of the same year, Ninglang County merged with the Liangshan Office to establish the Ninglang Yi Autonomous County. On April 10, 1961, Lijiang County was reorganized into the Lijiang Naxi Autonomous County. In 1965, ten communes of Huaping County were transferred to Dukou City (present-day Panzhihua City) in Sichuan Province. In 1970, the Lijiang Special District was renamed the Lijiang Region. On December 26, 2002, the State Council approved the abolition of the Lijiang Region and the Lijiang Naxi Autonomous County, establishing the prefecture-level Lijiang City; the former Lijiang County was reorganized into the Gucheng District and the Yulong Naxi Autonomous County.

The ancient town of Lijiang (locally known as Dayan Town or Dayan Ancient Town) was initially built during the Dali Kingdom period. The surname of the Lijiang chieftains (hereditary rulers) was "Mu" (木). Building a city wall would have enclosed the character "Mu," forming the character "Kun" (困, meaning "trapped"), which is why it is the only ancient city among China's historical and cultural cities without a city wall. The famous Ming Dynasty traveler Xu Xiake wrote in his Diary of Travels in Yunnan about the Mu chieftain's mansion, "Mufu," in the ancient town of Lijiang: "The splendor of its palaces rivals that of a king." The town area was described as "densely packed with dwellings, winding through valleys" and "clusters of civilian houses with tiled roofs lining up like fish scales." On February 3, 1996, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Lijiang, resulting in 309 deaths, 4,070 severe injuries, and 12,987 minor injuries. The restored ancient town of Lijiang is a relatively well-preserved ancient town of ethnic minorities, concentrating the essence of Naxi culture and retaining the historical features formed since the Dali Kingdom and Yuan Dynasty periods. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on December 4, 1997.

4. Geography

Lijiang is situated at the transitional zone between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. The ancient urban district of the city lies within the Lijiang Basin (or Lijiang Dam area). Lijiang features diverse topography, including natural landscapes such as snow-capped mountains and meadows. Due to significant variations in terrain and thermal conditions across different parts of Lijiang, the city exhibits pronounced microclimates in its various regions.

Lijiang City is located between 25°23'–27°56' N latitude and 99°23'–101°31' E longitude. The Old Town of Lijiang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is situated in the central part of the Lijiang Basin at an elevation of over 2,400 meters. Near the urban area of Lijiang stands the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, whose main peak reaches 5,596 meters. The city also encompasses part of the Tiger Leaping Gorge, another UNESCO World Natural Heritage site.

4.1 Climate

Due to its low-latitude location and high-altitude terrain, the Lijiang Basin enjoys a pleasant climate, with spring-like weather throughout the year. It is classified as a subtropical highland climate (Köppen Cwb). The climatic characteristics of the Lijiang Basin are: mild, sunny winters without severe cold, and cool, humid summers without intense heat, often overcast but still prone to sunny days within the month.

At the Lijiang National Meteorological Reference Station located in Lijiang's urban area, the average temperature in the coldest month (January) is 6.0°C, and in the hottest month (June) it is 18.4°C.

Average Meteorological Data for Lijiang City (1981–2010) | Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|----------| | Record high °C (°F) | 22.6 | 23.6 | 26.3 | 28.9 | 30.8 | 31.8 | 31.4 | 28.2 | 28.7 | 25.9 | 23.6 | 22.8 | 31.8 | | | (72.7) | (74.5) | (79.3) | (84.0) | (87.4) | (89.2) | (88.5) | (82.8) | (83.7) | (78.6) | (74.5) | (73.0) | (89.2) | | Average high °C (°F) | 14.0 | 15.0 | 17.3 | 20.2 | 22.9 | 24.1 | 23.3 | 22.9 | 21.4 | 20.2 | 17.1 | 14.6 | 19.4 | | | (57.2) | (59.0) | (63.1) | (68.4) | (73.2) | (75.4) | (73.9) | (73.2) | (70.5) | (68.4) | (62.8) | (58.3) | (67.0) | | Daily mean °C (°F) | 6.4 | 8.0 | 10.7 | 13.6 | 16.6 | 18.6 | 18.2 | 17.5 | 15.9 | 13.6 | 9.5 | 6.6 | 12.9 | | | (43.5) | (46.4) | (51.3) | (56.5) | (61.9) | (65.5) | (64.8) | (63.5) | (60.6) | (56.5) | (49.1) | (43.9) | (55.3) | | Average low °C (°F) | 0.3 | 2.5 | 5.4 | 8.3 | 11.3 | 14.5 | 14.8 | 14.0 | 12.4 | 8.9 | 3.7 | 0.3 | 8.0 | | | (32.5) | (36.5) | (41.7) | (46.9) | (52.3) | (58.1) | (58.6) | (57.2) | (54.3) | (48.0) | (38.7) | (32.5) | (46.4) | | Record low °C (°F) | −6.1 | −5.7 | −4.0 | 0.7 | 3.5 | 6.2 | 8.6 | 6.6 | 3.4 | 1.7 | −3.7 | −10.3 | −10.3 | | | (21.0) | (21.7) | (24.8) | (33.3) | (38.3) | (43.2) | (47.5) | (43.9) | (38.1) | (35.1) | (25.3) | (13.5) | (13.5) | | Average precipitation mm (inches) | 4.0 | 5.7 | 14.6 | 18.2 | 66.0 | 165.1 | 242.3 | 215.7 | 165.5 | 66.3 | 13.4 | 3.4 | 980.2 | | | (0.16) | (0.22) | (0.57) | (0.72) | (2.60) | (6.50) | (9.54) | (8.49) | (6.52) | (2.61) | (0.53) | (0.13) | (38.59) | | Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 1.9 | 3.9 | 6.6 | 7.9 | 11.7 | 20.3 | 24.2 | 22.3 | 20.8 | 11.5 | 4.3 | 1.5 | 136.9 | | Average relative humidity (%) | 45 | 44 | 47 | 51 | 59 | 71 | 80 | 82 | 83 | 72 | 61 | 52 | 62 | | Mean monthly sunshine hours | 259.9 | 229.7 | 248.4 | 233.4 | 225.1 | 156.7 | 134.2 | 155.0 | 138.8 | 195.2 | 226.6 | 260.3 | 2,463.30 | | Percent possible sunshine | 79 | 73 | 67 | 61 | 54 | 38 | 32 | 38 | 38 | 55 | 70 | 80 | 56 |

Source 1: China Meteorological Administration Meteorological Data Center Source 2: China Meteorological Science Data Sharing Service Network (precipitation days and sunshine data for 1971–2000)

5. Administrative Divisions

Lijiang City administers 1 district, 2 counties, and 2 autonomous counties.

District: Gucheng District
Counties: Yongsheng County, Huaping County
Autonomous Counties: Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, Ninglang Yi Autonomous County

Administrative Division Map of Lijiang City

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Ethnic Townships | |-------------------|---------------------------------|-------------------------------|----------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------|----------------------| | 530700 | Lijiang City | Lìjiāng Shì | 20,555 | 1,253,878 | Gucheng District | 674100 | 10 | 24 | 32 | 15 | | 530702 | Gucheng District | Gǔchéng Qū | 1,262 | 288,787 | Xi'an Subdistrict | 674199 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | | 530721 | Yulong Naxi Autonomous County | Yùlóng Nàxīzú Zìzhìxiàn | 6,200 | 224,039 | Huangshan Subdistrict | 674100 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 3 | | 530722 | Yongsheng County | Yǒngshèng Xiàn | 4,925 | 336,832 | Yongbei Town | 674200 | | 9 | 6 | 6 | | 530723 | Huaping County | Huápíng Xiàn | 2,142 | 159,695 | Zhongxin Town | 674800 | | 4 | 4 | 4 | | 530724 | Ninglang Yi Autonomous County | Nínglàng Yízú Zìzhìxiàn | 6,025 | 244,525 | Daxing Subdistrict | 674300 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 1 |

6. Economy

According to 2020 statistics, Lijiang City's regional GDP reached 51.275 billion yuan, an increase of 8.2% year-on-year. The added values of the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries were 7.753 billion yuan, 16.550 billion yuan, and 26.972 billion yuan, respectively, with the industrial structure ratio being 15.1 : 32.3 : 52.6. The per capita GDP was 40,841 yuan, lower than the average of Yunnan Province (51,975 yuan). The per capita disposable income of urban permanent residents was 37,022 yuan, while that of rural permanent residents was 12,370 yuan. The city's fixed asset investment grew by 12.3%. The annual local general public budget revenue was 4.315 billion yuan, with a per capita amount of 3,438 yuan; the local general public budget expenditure was 17.56 billion yuan, with a per capita amount of 13,992 yuan.

7. Transportation

National Highways 214, 348, and 353 Dali–Heqing–Lijiang Highway Provincial Highway 308 China State Railway Group Dali–Lijiang Railway, opened at the end of 2009 Lijiang Sanyi Airport Lijiang Sightseeing Train (not yet opened)

8. Education

8.1 Overview

Lijiang City, located in the northwest of Yunnan Province, is a multi-ethnic region primarily inhabited by the Naxi people. Lijiang's education system is comprehensive, covering all stages from preschool to higher education, providing strong talent support for the city's economic and social development.

8.2 Preschool Education

Lijiang City's education system is comprehensive, covering all stages from preschool to higher education, providing strong talent support for the city's economic and social development.

8.3 Basic Education

Lijiang City's basic education system is well-developed and mainly includes:

• Primary Schools: Lijiang has a high enrollment rate in primary education, with continuously improving teaching quality.
• Junior High Schools: Junior high education in Lijiang emphasizes the all-round development of students, with steadily improving teaching quality.
• Senior High Schools: Senior high education in Lijiang is oriented toward further education, with teaching quality ranking among the top in the province.

8.4 Vocational Education

Lijiang City's vocational education aims to cultivate practical talents, primarily through the following forms:

• Secondary Vocational Schools: Lijiang has several secondary vocational schools offering various practical majors, such as tourism services, hotel management, and mechanical processing.
• Higher Vocational Colleges: Lijiang's higher vocational colleges aim to cultivate high-quality technical and skilled talents, offering various applied majors.

8.5 Higher Education

Higher education in Lijiang City has developed rapidly in recent years, mainly in the following forms:

• Undergraduate Institutions: Lijiang has several undergraduate institutions, such as Lijiang Teachers College, providing a large number of high-quality talents for the city's economic and social development.
• Specialized Colleges: Lijiang's specialized colleges aim to cultivate applied talents, offering various practical majors.

8.6 Education Policies

The Lijiang Municipal Government places great emphasis on education, actively promoting educational reform and development. By increasing investment in education, improving educational facilities, and enhancing teacher benefits, the Lijiang Municipal Government continuously improves education quality and promotes educational equity.

9. Population

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 1,253,878. Compared with the 1,244,769 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was an increase of 9,109 people over the past ten years, a growth of 0.73%, with an average annual growth rate of 0.07%. Among them, the male population was 646,314, accounting for 51.55% of the total population; the female population was 607,564, accounting for 48.45% of the total population. The sex ratio of the total population (with females as 100) was 106.38. The population aged 0–14 was 213,592, accounting for 17.03% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 857,987, accounting for 68.43% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 182,299, accounting for 14.54% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 132,894, accounting for 10.6% of the total population. The urban population was 597,447, accounting for 47.65% of the total population; the rural population was 656,431, accounting for 52.35% of the total population.

At the end of 2021, the city's registered population was 1.2381 million, of which the urban registered population was 350,700; the registered population of ethnic minorities was 758,900, accounting for 61.29% of the city's total registered population.

9.1. Ethnic Groups

Lijiang is a place where multiple ethnic groups live together. China's Naxi people (who have their own hieroglyphic script) are mainly distributed in Lijiang, with a population of approximately 230,000 (including the Mosuo people, who differ from most Naxi people in being matrilineal, locally referred to as "walking marriage"). There are also ethnic groups such as the Yi, Lisu, and Hua Lisu. Lijiang has China's only Naxi Autonomous County, where the residents are predominantly Naxi, along with minority groups such as Bai, Yi, Lisu, and Pumi. Among them, the Dongba culture of the Naxi people is known as the world's only complete and "living hieroglyphic script."

Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han population was 546,148, accounting for 43.56%; the combined population of various ethnic minorities was 707,730, accounting for 56.44%. Compared with the 2010 Sixth National Population Census, the Han population increased by 8,255 people, a growth of 1.53%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.34 percentage points; the combined population of ethnic minorities increased by 854 people, a growth of 0.12%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.34 percentage points. Among them, the Yi population decreased by 2,684 people, a decline of 1.1%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.36 percentage points; the Naxi population decreased by 9,426 people, a decline of 3.92%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.89 percentage points; the Lisu population decreased by 4,483 people, a decline of 3.87%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.43 percentage points.

Ethnic Composition of Lijiang City (2020 Seventh National Population Census)

| Ethnic Group Name | Han | Yi | Naxi | Lisu | Bai | Pumi | Dai | Undetermined Ethnicity | Miao | Tibetan | Other Ethnic Groups | |--------------|---------|---------|---------|---------|--------|--------|--------|--------|-------|-------|--------| | Population | 546,148 | 240,716 | 231,154 | 111,247 | 58,568 | 19,380 | 10,893 | 7,905 | 7,212 | 6,224 | 14,431 | | Percentage of Total Population (%) | 43.56 | 19.2 | 18.44 | 8.87 | 4.67 | 1.55 | 0.87 | 0.63 | 0.58 | 0.5 | 1.15 | | Percentage of Ethnic Minority Population (%) | － | 34.01 | 32.66 | 15.72 | 8.28 | 2.74 | 1.54 | 1.12 | 1.02 | 0.88 | 2.04 |

10. Religion

10.1 Overview

Lijiang City, located in northwestern Yunnan Province, is a multi-ethnic area primarily inhabited by the Naxi people. The religious culture in Lijiang is diverse, mainly including Tibetan Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, and Islam. Each religion has a certain base of followers and venues for activities in Lijiang, forming a unique religious and cultural landscape.

10.2 Tibetan Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism has a long history and widespread influence in Lijiang City. There are several famous Tibetan Buddhist temples in Lijiang, such as:

• Yufeng Temple: Located at the foot of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, it is one of the well-known Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in Lijiang City.
• Zhiyun Temple: Located near the ancient town of Lijiang, it is a historically significant and famous Tibetan Buddhist temple in Lijiang City.

10.3 Taoism

Taoism also holds a certain influence in Lijiang City. There are several Taoist temples in Lijiang, such as:

• Lijiang Taihe Palace: Located in the urban area of Lijiang, it is one of the famous Taoist sacred sites in Lijiang City.

10.4 Christianity

The spread of Christianity in Lijiang City began relatively late, but it has developed rapidly in recent years. There are several Christian churches in Lijiang, such as:

• Lijiang Christian Church: Located in the urban area of Lijiang, it is one of the main venues for Christian activities in Lijiang City.

10.5 Islam

The number of followers of Islam in Lijiang City is relatively small, but there are still certain venues for activities. There is one mosque in Lijiang, such as:

• Lijiang Mosque: Located in the urban area of Lijiang, it is the main religious venue for Muslims in Lijiang City.

10.6 Religious Activities

Religious activities in Lijiang City are rich and diverse. Various religious groups regularly hold ceremonies and events, such as Tibetan Buddhist dharma assemblies, Taoist rituals, Christian worship services, and Islamic prayers. These activities not only meet the religious needs of followers but also enrich the cultural life of Lijiang.

10.7 Religious Policies

The Lijiang municipal government respects and protects freedom of religious belief, manages religious affairs in accordance with the law, and supports religious groups in carrying out activities legally. At the same time, the Lijiang municipal government actively guides religions to adapt to socialist society, promoting religious harmony and social stability.

11. Culture

11.1 Overview

Lijiang City, located in the northwest of Yunnan Province, is a multi-ethnic region primarily inhabited by the Naxi people. The culture of Lijiang is diverse and unique, integrating various elements such as ethnic culture, religious culture, historical culture, and natural culture, forming a distinctive cultural landscape.

11.2 Ethnic Culture

Lijiang City is a multi-ethnic region, with major ethnic groups including the Naxi, Han, Yi, and Tibetan peoples. The cultures of each ethnic group are fully respected and protected in Lijiang, mainly reflected in the following aspects:

• Ethnic Festivals: Lijiang's ethnic festivals are rich and colorful, such as the Naxi's Sanduo Festival, the Yi's Torch Festival, and the Tibetan's Losar (Tibetan New Year). These festivals are not only an important part of ethnic culture but also a significant aspect of the spiritual life of the people in Lijiang.
• Ethnic Arts: Lijiang's ethnic arts include Naxi ancient music, Dongba culture, Yi songs and dances, etc. These art forms not only enrich the cultural life of Lijiang but also preserve its historical and cultural heritage.

11.3 Religious Culture

Lijiang City has a diverse religious culture, primarily including Tibetan Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, and Islam. Each religion has a certain base of followers and places of worship in Lijiang, forming a unique religious cultural landscape. This is mainly reflected in the following aspects:

• Tibetan Buddhist Culture: Lijiang's Tibetan Buddhist culture has a long history, with places like Yufeng Temple and Zhiyun Temple being famous Tibetan Buddhist sacred sites in the city.
• Taoist Culture: Taoist culture also holds a certain influence in Lijiang, with sites like the Taihe Palace being renowned Taoist sacred places in the city.

11.4 Historical Culture

Lijiang City has a profound historical and cultural heritage, mainly reflected in the following aspects:

• Historical Sites: Lijiang has multiple historical sites, such as the Old Town of Lijiang and the Mufu Palace. These sites are important carriers of Lijiang's historical culture.
• Red Culture: Lijiang is an important revolutionary base area in Yunnan Province. Red culture has a deep historical foundation in Lijiang, as seen in places like the Lijiang Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery and the Lijiang Revolutionary Memorial Hall.

11.5 Natural Culture

Lijiang City boasts a rich and diverse natural culture, mainly reflected in the following aspects:

• Natural Landscapes: Lijiang is endowed with abundant natural landscapes, such as the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Lugu Lake. These landscapes are not only tourist attractions but also an important part of Lijiang's natural culture.
• Ecological Culture: Lijiang emphasizes ecological protection and advocates green development, forming a unique ecological culture.

11.6 Cultural Policies

The Lijiang municipal government attaches great importance to cultural development and actively promotes the advancement of cultural initiatives. Through measures such as organizing various cultural activities, constructing cultural facilities, and protecting cultural heritage, the Lijiang municipal government continuously enhances the city's cultural soft power and fosters cultural prosperity and development.

12. Sister Cities

Takayama, Japan (March 21, 2002) New Westminster, Canada (January 14, 2007) Greater Shepparton, Australia (August 29, 2009) Roanoke, United States (January 15, 2016) Albi, France (December 13, 2016) Zermatt, Switzerland (July 5, 2017) Whanganui, New Zealand (February 26, 2019) Bad Homburg, Germany (December 30, 2019)

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Ancient City District

Ancient City District

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