Home to the Naxi People descended from the ancient Qiang People, and known for a long history and a breathtaking natural beauty, the city of Lijiang (formerly Lijiang Naxi Autonomous County) is situated in the upper reach of Yangtze River. Its central part called the Old Town of Lijiang located approximately 2,400 meters above sea level is a key scenic attraction and one of the historically/culturally famous cities in China.
Geographically, Lijiang lies in the northwest of Yunnan Province, connecting the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. It has a total land area of 20,600 square kilometers and a population of over 1.2 million, 57 percent of which is made up of 12 minority groups, including Naxi (233,700), Yi (201,400), and Lisu (106,200). Approved by the State Council, the prefecture- level city of Lijiang was established on December 26, 2002 to replace the former Lijiang County, governing one district, i.e. Gucheng District, and four counties, namely Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, Yongsheng County, Huaping County, and Ninglang Yi Autonomous County.
Set in China's western monsoon climate region, Lijiang has a low atmospheric temperature, with a large difference in temperature between day and night. Yearly temperature variations are small but daily variations are somewhat large. Its record high atmospheric temperature is 25.1 degrees Celsius and low is -27.4 degrees Celsius. In each year, May to October is the rainy season, with the most precipitation occurring in July and August. There are five types of climate here, i.e. northern sub-tropical, moderate temperate, warm temperate, cold temperate, and alpine, In addition, Lijiang weather is a typical vertical climate, as best described by the local people in saying that "one may see four seasons in one single mountain, and can experience weather change in just 10 miles." Sunny days dominate throughout a year. The average annual sunshine is 2321-2554 hours, and average annual rainfall is 910-1040 mm.
The shaping of Old Town of Lijiang can be dated back to China's Southern Song Dynasty about eight to nine hundred years ago. Ancestors of the Naxi People moved here for living around the Southern Dynasties. The town came into being in the Song Dynasties. It is said that in a war to conquer the Kingdom of Dali, Kublai Khan's army swim across the Jinsha River on their leather bags and stationed here for drilling. A site called A-Ying is said to be the place of the army station and drilling. The number of households in the town at that time already exceeded one thousand. The town was named Lijiang in the 13th Year of the Yuan Dynasty, after the Lijiang River (old name of Jinsha River). In 1961, it became the central city of Lijiang Naxi Autonomous County under the Lijiang Prefecture. Historically the town was a key pass on the prosperous Southern Silk Road and the Tea Horse Road. In Dec. 1997 the Old Town of Lijiang became a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Nowadays Lijiang has become more open and internationalized. Attracted by its long history and brilliant culture, beautiful landscapes, special local foods, and rich folk customs and festivals, each year a great number of tourists, including many foreign travelers, come to Lijiang to explore the remarkable ancient Chinese civilization and amazing oriental way of life.