Shuhe Ancient Town

Shuhe Ancient Town lies 4 kilometres northwest of Lijiang's Dayan Old Town and shares its UNESCO World Heritage designation. Originally a staging post on the Ancient Tea Horse Road — the trade route connecting Yunnan's tea-growing regions with Tibet — Shuhe retains an unhurried character that many visitors find more authentic than the busier Dayan quarter. The town's stone lanes wind past traditional Naxi courtyard houses, small canals crossed by arched stone bridges, and quiet temple courtyards. Qinglong (Blue Dragon) Pool at its heart reflects the surrounding mountains. The town was historically the home of leather craftsmen and silversmiths; today its workshops produce quality Naxi jewellery and embroidered goods. With fewer visitors and no entrance fee, Shuhe is an excellent half-day excursion from Lijiang — especially pleasant on a weekday morning when the lanes are calm.