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Yunnan · 丽江

Lijiang

Canals thread an old town below the mountains of northwest Yunnan.

Warm light touches Jade Dragon Snow Mountain above tiled roofs in Lijiang.
LijiangJade Dragon Snow Mountain above Lijiang’s dark tile roofs.

The Old Town, Black Dragon Pool and views toward Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Lijiang through the year

UNESCO · Old Town of Lijiang

March–May

Spring

Lugu Lake

Head out to Lugu Lake on a clear spring day for blue water, wooded headlands and clouds over the ridges.

A spring view over blue Lugu Lake, with wooded peninsulas and mountains beneath banks of clouds.
Lugu LakeA sweep of blue water and forested headlands at Lugu Lake in late spring.

June–August

Summer

Lijiang Old Town

Follow the old town’s canals after dusk, when the lamps reflect in the water under the willows.

Warm windows and lanterns light a stone bridge and canal in Lijiang Old Town.
Lijiang Old TownWindow light falls across a willow-lined canal in Lijiang Old Town on a summer night.

September–November

Autumn

Black Dragon Pool

Walk around Black Dragon Pool for golden trees, tiled roofs and the reflection of the snow mountain in one view.

Golden trees, pavilions and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain reflect in Black Dragon Pool.
Black Dragon PoolAutumn trees and tiled pavilions reflect in Black Dragon Pool beneath Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

December–February

Winter

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Look toward the high ridges on a clear winter day. This photograph shows the glacier and mountain as they appeared in 2012.

A band of pale glacier ice runs between rocky slopes under winter clouds on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
Jade Dragon Snow MountainGlacier ice cuts between dark ridges on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.