Old Town of Lijiang

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The Old Town of Lijiang, also called Dayan, is the historic center of Lijiang City in Yunnan, China. It has a history of over 1,000 years and was part of the Old Tea Horse Caravan Trail. In 1997, Greater Lijiang, including Dayan, Baisha, and Shuhe, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Dayan is famous for its network of canals, waterways, and bridges. Today, the underground water level is dropping, a sign that the area may be affected by over-building in surrounding areas.

Culturally, the town blends Nakhi traditions with influences from Han Chinese traders who settled here long ago. The Nakhi built timber and mud-brick houses, often with windows carved in flowers and birds. Bai artisans now craft many of these carvings. The Nakhi preserved Chinese classical music from the Ming era, known as Dongjing Music, and local musicians still perform it. Circle dances in Nakhi costumes are common, and Tibetan and Bai dances can also be seen in the region.

Many visitors come to Dayan, along with nearby Baisha and Shuhe. Since UNESCO listed the area in 1997, tourism has grown, and the town has been redeveloped to attract visitors. This has led to more shops and hotels and higher rents, causing some Nakhi residents to move to newer parts of the city.

Performances of Nakhi Dongjing music are available for a fee in Dayan and sometimes in Shuhe and Baisha. There is also a music show about the Tea and Horse Caravans linked to a Zhang Yimou production. While tourism brings benefits, it also brings changes that make preserving the traditional life and old buildings more challenging.