Section / where to stay

Where to stay in Lijiang

Old town, new town, Shuhe, Baisha, and the villages: six bases with different mornings.

6 bases / old towns, new town, and villages

In this section

entries in the ledger

Where you sleep changes the trip more than which courtyard you pick. Dayan buys convenience and atmosphere, Shuhe buys quiet, Baisha buys village calm, and the new town buys heating and transport. Each guide states who the base suits and who should choose elsewhere.

Field desk / updated 14 Nov 2026

A courtyard guesthouse in the lanes of Lijiang Old Town

Where to stay / the classic base/ 01

Staying in Dayan Old Town

Courtyard guesthouses inside the old town: atmospheric, central, and noisy if you choose the wrong lane.

Altitude: 2,400 mAirport: 40–50 min

Tiled roofs spread across the Lijiang basin beneath dry hills

Where to stay / the quiet old town/ 02

Staying in Shuhe

Eight kilometres northwest: old-town atmosphere, better sleep, and a shorter run to the mountain.

Distance: 8 km NWAirport: 50–60 min

The main street of Baisha village with the snow mountain behind

Where to stay / the village base/ 03

Staying in Baisha

The quietest base in the basin: murals, fields, and a handful of small guesthouses under the mountain.

Distance: 10 km northAltitude: 2,500 m

Tiled old-town roofs with modern Lijiang buildings spreading beyond them

Where to stay / practical comfort/ 04

Staying in Lijiang New Town

Chain hotels, good bathrooms, and taxi access: the unromantic base that works for early departures and older travellers.

Altitude: 2,400 mAirport: 30–40 min

A produce market in the Xiangshan district of Lijiang

Where to stay / the local market district/ 05

Staying around Xiangshan

South of the old town, a working neighbourhood of markets and noodle shops with easy access and local prices.

Altitude: 2,400 mOld town: 10–15 min walk

Farmland and wetlands around Lashihai lake south of Lijiang

Where to stay / the rural basin/ 06

Staying in Lashi Valley

Farmland, wetlands, and a quiet lake south of Lijiang: the rural base for birders and slow travellers.

Distance: 15 km southAltitude: 2,450 m