Culture of Lijiang Old Town

Lijiang Ancient Town, this shining pearl located in the Gucheng District of Lijiang City, Yunnan Province (云南省丽江市古城区), is also known as Dayan Town (大研镇). Situated in the middle of the Lijiang Basin (丽江坝) at an altitude of approximately 2,416 meters, it was built in the late Song and early Yuan dynasties (late 13th century). After centuries of weathering storms, it was successfully inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997, becoming one of only two ancient towns in China to achieve this status as an entire ancient city.

Unique Architectural Culture

The architecture of Lijiang Ancient Town blends the essence of multiple ethnic groups, including the Han, Bai (白族), Yi (彝族), Tibetan (藏族), and Naxi (纳西族), forming a distinctive style. The town lacks imposing city walls, reportedly because the hereditary rulers of Lijiang bore the surname Mu (木), and building walls around “Mu” would form the character “Kun” (困, meaning “trapped”).

The town’s layout features three mountains as a natural screen and a river connecting the area. Its water system consists of three rivers flowing through the town, with nearly every household having access to flowing water. The streets are arranged in a winding, secluded, narrow, and well-connected style, oriented northwest to southeast. The residential buildings are distinctive, often following layouts such as “three rooms with a screen wall” (三坊一照壁) and “four courtyards with five skylights” (四合五天井), as well as front and rear courtyards or multi-courtyard designs. These structures are vital heritage for studying Chinese architectural and cultural history.

The town’s alleys crisscross, with streets mostly paved in stone slabs and houses primarily built with wooden structures, preserving the ancient town’s rustic charm.

Dynamic Water System Culture

Water is the core and soul of Lijiang Ancient Town, shaping its unique canal-based spatial layout. The town is renowned for its dense concentration of bridges, with over 340 stone and wooden bridges of various designs. The Yu River (玉河), Dong River (东河), and Zhong River (中河) flow through the town, providing water for daily use, firefighting, and environmental beautification, creating a distinctive waterscape that imbues the town with a lively beauty.

Vibrant Ethnic and Folk Culture

Dongba Culture (东巴文化)

An essential part of ancient Naxi culture, Dongba Culture is named after the Dongba religion and has a history of over 1,000 years. It encompasses Dongba script (东巴文字), Dongba scriptures (东巴经), Dongba paintings (东巴绘画), Dongba music (东巴音乐), Dongba dance (东巴舞蹈), Dongba ritual objects (东巴法器), and various sacrificial ceremonies. Dongba script is the world’s only surviving pictographic writing system, even more primitive than oracle bone script (甲骨文). Traces of it can be seen throughout Lijiang Ancient Town, adding a mysterious and ancient charm.

Dongba Music

The chants and instrumental accompaniments performed by Dongba (Naxi priests) during religious rituals are a key component of Dongba Culture. Its unique melodies carry the Naxi people’s beliefs and emotions, conveying reverence for deities and prayers for life.

Lijiang Ancient Music (纳西古乐)

A legacy of ancient music from Dayan Ancient Town and surrounding Naxi settlements, Lijiang Ancient Music consists of three parts: Benshi Xili (白沙细乐, “Baisha Fine Music”), Lijiang Dongjing Music (丽江洞经音乐), and ritual music. Primarily instrumental ensemble music, it also includes songs and dance tunes, some incorporating lyrics from the Tang, Song, and Yuan dynasties. Its unique melodies have earned it the title of a “living fossil of music,” as its soothing tunes seem to recount the Naxi people’s long history and legends.

Lijiang Murals (白沙壁画)

A product of the Naxi society’s openness during the Ming Dynasty, these murals are mainly found in Dabaoji Palace (大宝积宫) and Liuli Hall (琉璃殿). During the Ming Dynasty, the Mu chieftains (木氏土司) of Lijiang flourished, with stable politics and a prosperous economy. To display their wealth, they constructed grand palaces, and mural painting continued for over 300 years. These murals blend elements of multiple religious cultures, showcasing the era’s multicultural integration and possessing immense artistic value.

Famous Attractions Carrying Historical Memories

Mu Residence (木府)

Some say, “If you haven’t visited Mu Residence, you haven’t truly been to Lijiang,” highlighting its cultural significance. The Mu chieftains ruled across the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, and Mu Residence features magnificent and intricate architecture, with grand halls like the Assembly Hall (议事厅), Wanxuan Tower (万卷楼), Guardian Hall (护法殿), and Guangbi Tower (光碧楼) arranged along a central axis.

It was a filming location for Mu Residence: The Storm (木府风云) and bears witness to the Naxi people’s development. From the first Lijiang chieftain, A Cong A Liang (阿琮阿良), enfeoffed during the Yuan Dynasty, to A Jia A De (阿甲阿得), who submitted to the Ming Dynasty and was granted the surname Mu, to the Qing Dynasty’s policy of replacing native chieftains with state-appointed officials, Mu Residence’s history reflects half of the Naxi people’s ethnic history.

The wooden archway “Tian Yu Liu Fang” (天雨流芳) in the residence is a homophone for the Naxi phrase meaning “go study,” reflecting the Naxi people’s reverence for knowledge. The Loyalty Archway (忠义牌坊) bears the words “Loyalty” (忠义) bestowed by the Wanli Emperor and is a masterpiece of Chinese stone architecture. Wanxuan Tower houses rare books and was where Mu descendants studied. The Jade Sound Tower (玉音楼) was used to receive imperial edicts and host banquets.

Mu Residence also preserves many stories, such as the deep friendship between the Mu chieftains and the traveler Xu Xiake (徐霞客), the scholar Yang Shen (杨升庵) inscribing the plaque “Guardian of the Nation” (为国干城) for the Guardian Hall, and Mu Zeng (木增) overseeing the printing of the Kangyur (甘珠尔) Buddhist scriptures. These stories highlight the Mu chieftains’ promotion of Central Plains culture and their interactions with renowned Central Plains scholars.

Naxi Pictographic Script Painting Experience Hall (纳西象形文字绘画体验馆)

A key cultural courtyard where traditional Naxi art returns to the ancient town, it showcases the UNESCO Memory of the World-registered “Dongba Script” and “Dongba Paintings.” Here, visitors can learn and write pictographic characters under the guidance of instructors, deeply experiencing the unique charm of Dongba Culture.

Dayan Naxi Ancient Music Association (大研纳西古乐会)

An excellent place to listen to Naxi Ancient Music. The music’s unique melodies, performed by elderly musicians, transport listeners through time, allowing them to appreciate the Naxi people’s historical legacy as if hearing echoes of ancient times.

Dongba Culture Museum (东巴文化博物馆)

Comprehensively displays the origins, development, and applications of Dongba Culture, offering deep insights into this unique and mysterious Naxi tradition, as if touching the veins of an ancient civilization.

Hengyu Folk House Museum (恒裕公民居博物馆)

Preserves the traditional residential style of Lijiang, exhibiting local ethnic minority clothing, weapons, tobacco pipes, and various cultural artifacts and handicrafts. Its rich cultural atmosphere immerses visitors in the charm of traditional Lijiang life.

Lijiang Long Street Banquet (云上盛宴丽江长街宴)

As night falls, this event gathers authentic Naxi cuisine, along with ethnic song and dance performances and bonfire parties, allowing visitors to savor delicious food while fully experiencing the Naxi people’s warmth and cultural allure.

Lijiang Ancient Town’s culture is rich and diverse, from its architecture and water systems to its ethnic customs and historical attractions. Every corner exudes unique charm, attracting visitors from around the world to explore and savor its beauty. It is a dazzling gem in the treasury of human civilization.