Lijiang doesn’t need you to rush, it just needs you to “waste time.”
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Lijiang, the city most deeply misunderstood. Some say it’s too commercial, some say it’s too expensive. **Totally wrong! ❌**
As long as you avoid peak season and choose the right way to play, **a 4000 RMB trip for two** can not only get you to the glaciers of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain but also let you relax and daydream in the soft time of the ancient town!
Here is a **[Lijiang 3 Days 2 Nights · High Cost Performance + Anti-Scam Guide]**, focusing on **“Snow Mountain Pilgrimage + Ancient Town Stroll + Local Cuisine”**, without wasting a single penny! 👇
💰 Budget Breakdown (for two · careful budgeting)
*Total budget: 4000 RMB (traveling in the off-season is just awesome!)*
1. **Major transportation (round trip): 1000-1500 RMB**
*Direct flights to Lijiang Sanyi Airport are usually expensive. **Money-saving tip**: fly to Kunming Changshui Airport, then take the high-speed train to Lijiang (about 3 hours, ticket around 200 RMB), saving over 500 RMB!*
2. **Accommodation (2 nights): 700-900 RMB**
*Strategy:* Don’t stay in the core area of the ancient town (dragging luggage on cobblestones will be a nightmare), stay near **Zhongyi Market** or **Lion Hill**.
*Recommendation:* Off-season guesthouse prices are beautiful, you can get a balcony view room for 150-200 RMB per person.
3. **Local transportation + tickets: 800 RMB**
*This is the big expense! Jade Dragon Snow Mountain entrance fee is 100 RMB/person, Glacier Cableway 140 RMB/person (the most expensive), Impression Lijiang show about 280 RMB/person.*
*Local taxi starting fare is 8-10 RMB, going a bit farther (like Baisha) costs under 30 RMB by taxi.*
4. **Food and drinks: 1000 RMB**
*Lijiang cuisine is flavorful (smoked ribs, hot pot), 50-80 RMB per person to eat your fill.*
5. **Spare cash: 500 RMB**
*For buying shawls (remember to bargain!), coffee, and extra taxis.*
🗺️ 3 Days 2 Nights · No backtracking route
Day 1: First encounter with Lijiang, slow sway in the ancient town
* **Morning:** Arrive in Lijiang → Airport shuttle bus (20 RMB/person) directly to **Zhongyi Market** → Drop off luggage at hotel.
* **Noon:** Eat local snacks at **Zhongyi Market**!
*Must-eats:* **Native chicken rice noodles** (recommended at Erge’s), **chicken bean jelly** (black, with garlic water and chili), **grilled rice cakes**. 20 RMB per person to eat until full.
* **Afternoon:** Visit **Mu Mansion** (ticket 40 RMB) + **Lion Hill**.
*How to play:* “In the north, there’s the Forbidden City; in the south, there’s Mu Mansion,” see the palace of the Naxi Tusi. Then climb Lion Hill (free) to overlook the entire Lijiang ancient town, especially the sunset over the blue-tiled roofs—absolutely stunning!
* **Evening:** Dance at **Sifang Street** + see lanterns at **Dayan Flower Alley**.
*Dinner:* **Grandma’s smoked rib hot pot** (definitely go to the old shop near Xiangshan Market, not the trendy ones! Pair with chive roots, it’s intoxicating).
*Avoid:* Don’t believe the “romantic encounters” on the bar street, just go to **May Day Street** to find a folk music bar and listen to some songs.
Day 2: Conquer the snow mountain, blue dream (the most expensive but most worthwhile day)
* **Morning:** **Jade Dragon Snow Mountain** (ticket grabbing tip: book Glacier Cableway tickets the night before on the “Lijiang Tourism Group” mini-program!).
*Route:* Take the cable car up to 4506 meters → hike the plank road to 4680 meters (challenge your life’s highest peak).
*Gear:* Oxygen bottle (20 RMB/bottle in the ancient town, 60 RMB on the mountain), chocolate, sunglasses (snow blindness warning). **No need to rent down jackets**, as long as it’s not windy, a windbreaker + sweatshirt is enough, or rent cold-proof clothes in the scenic area (50 RMB).
* **Noon:** Eat at the **Snow Chef Buffet** at the foot of the mountain (though average, it replenishes energy), or bring your own food.
* **Afternoon:** **Blue Moon Valley** (inside the snow mountain scenic area, no extra ticket needed, just pay for the sightseeing bus).
*Highlight:* The water here is Tiffany blue! Like Jiuzhaigou. Be sure to take photos at “Yuye Lake,” with the snow mountain in the background and blue water in the foreground.
* **Evening:** Watch the **“Impression Lijiang”** show (directed by Zhang Yimou, a live performance with the snow mountain as the backdrop, very stunning, a must-see! Ticket about 280 RMB).
*Dinner:* Return to the ancient town for **black goat hot pot** or **wild mushroom hot pot** (fresh only in the rainy season, dried goods are also tasty in the dry season).
Day 3: Naxi ancient charm, artistic relaxation
* **Morning:** **Baisha Ancient Town** (20 RMB by taxi).
*How to play:* This is the Lijiang from 10 years ago! Less commercial, you can see the snow mountain just by looking up.
*Must-see:* **Baisha Murals** (Ming Dynasty, very exquisite), have a coffee at **7 Sea Bar** and daydream while watching the snow mountain.
* **Noon:** Eat **Naxi fried rice** in Baisha Ancient Town (recommended at “Mantou Poet” shop, though it’s a steamed bun shop, their fried rice is excellent).
* **Afternoon:** **Shuhe Ancient Town** (quieter than Dayan Ancient Town).
*How to play:* Stroll **Qinglong Bridge**, find a teahouse to drink Pu’er tea (Yunnan Pu’er is a must-try).
*Alternative:* If you still have energy, go to **Wenhai Village** (a true paradise, but the road conditions are average, car hire recommended).
* **Return:** Airport shuttle bus home.
🏨 Detailed accommodation recommendations (choose according to your needs)
1. **Best cost performance (students/special forces):**
*Location: Near Zhongyi Market*
*Reason:* Close to airport shuttle drop-off, surrounded by food, many supermarkets, convenient for buying specialties.
*Recommendation:* Home Inn Select, Hanting (clean and safe), or well-reviewed hostels (50 RMB/bed).
2. **Scenic/experience choice (couples/girls trip):**
*Location: Lion Hill/Xinhua Street*
*Reason:* Mountain view from the window, panoramic view of the ancient town without stepping outside, perfect for photos.
*Recommendation:* Scenic guesthouses (off-season 200-300 RMB/night), remember to check if there’s air conditioning and electric blankets (it’s cold at night on the plateau).
3. **Escape choice (relaxation lovers):**
*Location: Shuhe Ancient Town*
*Reason:* Away from the hustle and bustle, big courtyard, perfect for sleeping in.
*Price:* 300-500 RMB/night.
🥘 Lijiang Food Red and Black List (blogger’s hard-earned experience)
**✅ Red List (go for it blindly):**
1. **Smoked rib hot pot:** Lijiang specialty, salty and rich, cooking cabbage and potatoes is the soul.
2. **Chicken bean jelly:** Black and shiny, delicious fried or cold mixed.
3. **Flower cake:** Best when freshly baked (Jiahua is a big brand, but small shops with fresh baking are also good), bursting with rose fragrance.
4. **Black coffee:** Yunnan coffee beans are famous, many independent cafes in the ancient town, 20 RMB per cup hand drip, very cost-effective.
5. **Rice sausage:** Glutinous rice stuffed into pig intestines and fried, a favorite for sticky rice lovers.
**❌ Avoid/cautious:**
1. **“Crossing the bridge rice noodles” at the ancient town entrance:** Many are tourist traps, expensive and bad. Go to the city center to eat.
2. **Silverware, medicinal materials (maca, notoginseng):** Very tricky, don’t buy if you don’t know, especially silverware, many are not pure silver.
3. **So-called “romantic encounters”:** Many scams with drinks and meals, protect your wallet and personal safety.
4. **Shawls:** Sold for 30-50 RMB in the ancient town, but only 15-20 RMB at Zhongyi Market or Baisha, remember to bargain hard!
📝 Blogger’s summary
Lijiang doesn’t need you to rush, it just needs you to **“waste time.”**
Here, sunbathing, daydreaming, and watching the snow mountain are all serious business.
4000 RMB is enough for you to check in under Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, get lost in the alleys of the ancient town, and go home smelling of hot pot and sunshine.
**Lijiang is meant for forgetting time, not chasing it.** 🌞🏔️
If you find this useful, remember to **like + save**, or you might not find your way to the snow mountain next time! ❤️