Rongshe Nanyuan Inn (Lijiang Ancient Town South Gate Archway Store)

For a taste of Lijiang nightlife, staying inside the town gates is a good choice. In the evening, live music, lively bars, and glowing lanterns take over, and you're a short walk from the action after the day-trippers have left. Lijiang Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, brings together history and creativity, whether you're exploring alone or with friends. Its old wooden buildings and cobblestone lanes form a maze, with quiet bookstores and art galleries tucked off the main routes. Food and drink options include street food, local tea ceremonies, craft coffee in historic courtyards, and traditional beverages from Naxi culture. There are plenty of places to stay too, from cozy budget motels to high-end boutique hotels, often called inns or Kezhan.

The ancient town takes a full day to wander around if you want to really soak up its atmosphere and feel of ancient China. Its day mood is quite different from the evening and night. Tourists dressed in costumes from different eras and tribes add to the charm. I love the place, though all the quaint little shops can make it feel a bit commercialised. The maze of cobblestone alleys has so much to see, with little shops selling all kinds of goods, artifacts, and souvenirs appearing around every corner.

The southern gate is mainly a traditional architectural archway and a transport landmark, where some buses stop and tour pickups gather. Since this ancient city has no city wall like others do, there's not much to see there. But you can feel a marked change in atmosphere as you enter a business district set among old, nostalgic architecture.

We arrived in the afternoon in cold weather, and by night the lights brought the beautiful buildings to life. I loved it, loved it, loved it, and will definitely come again. The old tiled roofs are beautiful and really stand out as part of Chinese culture. Lijiang Ancient Town, also known as Lijiang Old Town, was recognized as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage in 1997 and awarded in 2007. The street lined with bars draws tourists in to sit for drinks and little grills. Prices are quite reasonable, though be mindful of the high altitude.