Lijiang Private Tour: Old Town, Baisha & Black Dragon Pool

Naxi culture tour: Old Town, Baisha temples, and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain pool in one day

A customizable private tour of Lijiang explores the UNESCO-listed Old Town, Baisha Ancient Town and Black Dragon Pool over 8–10 hours with an English-speaking guide or self-guided vehicle. You walk stone-paved alleys lined with 800-year-old wooden buildings, visit the Baisha Murals blending Naxi and Tibetan art, and stand at Black Dragon Pool where the snow-capped peaks reflect in clear water. The itinerary is yours to shape: add Naxi villages, the Wangu Pavilion viewpoint, or Lashi Lake's wetlands and Tea Horse Road.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Old Town of Lijiang1h
2. Baisha Ancient Town1h

Explore Lijiang and Baisha Ancient Town

• Visit Lijiang Ancient City
• Ride Jade Dragon Snow Mountain train
• Tour Mu's Mansion Palace
• Climb Wangu Pavilion for views
• Walk Baisha Ancient Town alleys
• See Baisha Murals and temples
• Explore local embroidery schools
• Visit Black Dragon Pool Park
• Photograph reflections at Black Dragon Pool
• View Five-Hole Bridge and Deyue Tower
• Visit Lashi Lake wetland reserve
• Horse ride along Tea Horse Road
• Relax by Lashi Lake
• Explore Yuhu Village and stone houses
• Visit former Naxi chieftains residence
• Enjoy panorama from Wangu Pavilion
• Learn Naxi history at Dongba culture center

The experience

Lijiang's Old Town is the only ancient Chinese city built without defensive walls, and the tour starts there among narrow lanes, small bridges and timber-frame houses that have stood for over 800 years. The Wangu Pavilion sits on high ground above the town and gives you a full panoramic view. The Mu family's mansion palace shows how Ming dynasty architecture merged with Bai and Naxi craftsmanship. From there, the route heads north to Black Dragon Pool, where the water sits so still it becomes a mirror for Jade Dragon Snow Mountain: the reason photographers come at dawn or dusk.

Baisha Ancient Town lies about 10 kilometers north and was the original Naxi capital before power shifted to Lijiang. The Baisha Murals inside Dabaoji Palace blend three artistic traditions (Naxi, Tibetan and Han), and the stone alleys pass embroidery schools and artisan shops where you can watch craftspeople at work. The town feels quieter than Lijiang's Old Town, and the Mu family's former residence anchors the cultural heritage the settlement is known for.

You choose what else fills the day. Lashi Lake, a national wetland reserve 10 kilometers away, hosts over 70 bird species and lets you ride horses along the historic Tea Horse Road. Yuhu Village sits at the base of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and was home to Dr. Joseph Rock, the botanist who documented Naxi life. The Naxi Museum next to Black Dragon Pool offers deeper context on Dongba culture. Your guide (if you book one) speaks English or Chinese and shapes the stops around what interests you most. If you go self-guided with a vehicle, you set the pace and the route.

What’s included

• Customized itinerary tailored to your interests.
• private vehicle (depending on option chosen).
• English or Chinese-speaking guide (depending on option chosen).
• access to Lijiang Old Town, Baisha Ancient Town and Black Dragon Pool.
• introduction to Naxi history and Dongba culture (guide option only).

Options for this experience

3 options

Option 2: Private guideUp to 15 per booking · Guide in English or Chinese · 09:00 and 13:30Private guide, transport not included

Option 1: Private vehicleUp to 15 per booking · Guide in English or Chinese · 09:00 and 13:30Private vehicle without a tour guide, pickup is included

Option 3: Private vehicle with guideUp to 6 per booking · Guide in English or Chinese · 09:00 and 13:30Private guide with private vehicle, pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 13:30

AgesAdult (3 to 70 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Aether Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the guide option if you want context on the Baisha Murals, Naxi history and the sites' architectural details. Pick the vehicle-only option if you prefer to move at your own pace and explore the stone alleys and temples without narration. The 8–10 hour window lets you add or skip stops depending on how much time you spend in each place.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

What is the Baisha Murals and why do people visit them?

The Baisha Murals are painted frescoes inside Dabaoji Palace in Baisha Ancient Town that blend Naxi, Tibetan and Han artistic traditions. They are one of the main cultural highlights of the town and show the artistic heritage of the Mu family, the ruling Naxi clan.

Can I see Jade Dragon Snow Mountain on this tour?

Yes. Black Dragon Pool, one of the main stops, offers reflections of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain's snow-capped peaks in its clear water, especially striking in early morning or late afternoon light. Yuhu Village, an optional add-on, sits at the mountain's base and gives panoramic views of it.

How does the customizable itinerary work?

You choose which attractions to visit from a list that includes Lijiang Old Town, Baisha Ancient Town, Black Dragon Pool, Lashi Lake, Yuhu Village and the Wangu Pavilion viewpoint. Your guide (if booked) or your own pace shapes the day around your interests.

Is there a guide, or do I explore on my own?

You have three options at checkout: a private vehicle with an English or Chinese-speaking guide; a private guide without transport (you arrange your own); or a private vehicle alone. The guide option includes an in-depth introduction to Naxi history and Dongba culture.

What is special about Lijiang's Old Town compared to other ancient Chinese cities?

Lijiang Old Town is the only old city in China built without a city wall. It has over 800 years of history and is filled with ancient wooden buildings, stone roads and small bridges, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.