Should I stay at the South Gate or the North Gate of Lijiang

GoLijiang Old TownWhen booking accommodation, the South Gate is usually more suitable for people who bring large luggage, travel with the elderly and children, arrive from Lijiang Station, or frequently participate in trips outside the ancient city; the North Gate is more suitable for people with less luggage, who like to be lively, and want to be close to the Waterwheel and Black Dragon Pool.

However, the south gate is not always convenient, and the north gate is not always difficult. The roadside hotels outside the North Gate may be easier to check in than the inns in the deep alleys of the South Gate Ancient City. When choosing accommodation, you should first look at where the vehicle can be parked, then look at the road surface, slope and steps after getting off the car, and finally compare the south gate or the north gate.

The “South Gate” and “North Gate” mentioned in this article refer to the accommodation areas on the north and south sides of the ancient city, not a fixed city gate. The “Nanmen Branch”, “Dashui Che Branch” or “Beibei Store” in the hotel name are sometimes just the names of the areas and do not mean that vehicles will definitely be able to reach the door.

The information in this article has been updated to July 2026. Bus schedules, tourist pick-up points, parking arrangements and hotel luggage services may be adjusted. Before check-in, you should ask the hotel to send you the exact location and walking route. If you are planning your Lijiang itinerary for the first time, you can also check it out first2026 Lijiang Travel Guide, and then decide whether to stay at the south gate or the north gate according to the direction of the scenic spot.

Let’s look at the conclusion first

Travel conditions	A more suitable location	Select reason
Carry luggage larger than 24 inches	Outside of South Gate	Easier to find hotels near motorable roads
Two people carrying more than three bags	Nanmen periphery or north gate roadside hotel	The key point is whether the vehicle can be close, not just in the north and south directions
Traveling with the elderly, children or strollers	Outside of South Gate	Easier to avoid long cobblestone paths, narrow bridges and steps
Arrived from Lijiang Station	The south gate is more trouble-free	Lijiang Station is located on the south side of the ancient city, and the route is usually smoother.
Arrived after 10pm	Hotels outside the ancient city	Reduce the trouble of finding your way and contacting to pick up your luggage late at night
Driving by yourself and needing to park	Outside of South Gate or North Gate	Determine the parking lot first, then choose nearby accommodation
Continuously participate in one-day tours such as Jade Dragon Snow Mountain	Close to the actual meeting point	The meeting point is more important than the distance to Sifang Street
Want to get close to the big waterwheel	North Gate	There is no need to go through the entire ancient city after the night tour.
I want to go to Black Dragon Pond early in the morning	North Gate	Walking towards the north is smoother and is suitable for morning walks and taking photos.
Like night shopping, cafes and lively streets	North Gate	Nighttime activities are more concentrated on the large water wheel and on the north side of the ancient city.
Light sleep	Outskirts of South Gate or Quiet Lane	Avoid main streets, bars, restaurants and public terraces
Only bring a backpack or carry-on suitcase	Both the north and south gates are available	Can be selected according to tour direction, noise and room conditions
This is my first time here and I don’t know what to choose.	It takes about 5 minutes to walk inside and outside the south gate entrance.	Taking into account the ancient city experience, transportation and luggage convenience

For most ordinary tourists, a safer choice is to live near the South Gate, but don’t live too far into the ancient city. It takes 3-8 minutes to walk from the vehicle drop-off point to the hotel, there are no continuous steps, and the hotel can pick up and drop off luggage. This kind of location is usually more practical than deep in Sifang Street.

The selection order can be recorded in one sentence: vehicle accessibility is given priority, followed by road surface and slope, then luggage transfer, and finally the South Gate or North Gate is compared.

South Gate Range

The South Gate of Lijiang Old Town that tourists refer to is usually not just an entrance, but includes Nanmen Street, Nanmen Bridge, Zhaoqing Market, Zhongyi Market, Bailong Square and Xianghe Road. These locations all belong to the south side of the ancient city, but the actual traffic conditions vary greatly.

• Xianghe Road area:Motor vehicle roads are relatively clear, making it suitable for hotels with elevators, chain hotels and accommodation easily accessible by vehicles.
• Near Bailong Square:Suitable for self-driving, taking a taxi and participating in some tourist connections, but please confirm whether walking is required from the parking lot to the hotel.
• Near Zhongyi Market:Living facilities are more convenient, suitable for buying breakfast, fruits and daily necessities. It is also easy to walk to Mufu and Qiyi Street.
• Near Nanmen Street and Nanmen Bridge:It is convenient to enter the ancient city, but the stone roads and vehicle parking conditions in different alleys vary greatly.
• Direction of Qiyi Street and Bayi Section:Although some accommodations have “South Gate” in their names, they are actually inside the ancient city, and the distance to drag luggage may be longer than imagined.

When booking a room, don’t just look at “300 meters from the south gate”. The 300 meters on the map may be flat sidewalks, or may include cobblestone paths, small bridges, turns, steps and uphill slopes. You should turn on the walking navigation to confirm whether the hotel is located next to a motor vehicle road or has entered an ancient city lane with no vehicle traffic.

Roadside hotel

For hotels located near Xianghe Road, Bailong Square, Changshui Road or South Gate peripheral roads, vehicles can usually be parked at the entrance or near the hotel. The advantage of this type of accommodation is not that it has the “most ancient city feel”, but that it is easier to get in and out.

• The distance for pulling luggage is short;
• Easier to find the elevator room;
• Sound insulation is usually more stable than that of old wooden inns;
• You don’t have to go through the ancient city when you take a day trip in the early morning;
• It is more convenient to carry your luggage to the station after checking out;
• Some hotels have their own parking lots or are close to public parking lots.

The disadvantage is that when you open the door, you may not necessarily see the stone street of the ancient city, and the sense of courtyard and traditional residential atmosphere may be weak. It is suitable for tourists who only stay for one or two nights, have a lot of luggage, arrive in Lijiang late, bring their families, or need to take a car every day.

Entrance Inn

Entrance Inn is usually located about a 3-8 minute walk from the South Gate, Zhongyi Market or Bailong Square drop-off point. This type of accommodation takes into account the ancient city experience and luggage convenience, and is a more balanced choice for most independent travelers.

What needs to be confirmed is whether these few minutes of walking include continuous stone roads, uphill slopes and steps. It is easy for an average adult to walk for 5 minutes with bare hands, but dragging a 28-inch suitcase, carrying a backpack, and looking at the navigation on a mobile phone will feel significantly different.

An ideal entrance inn should satisfy:

• The drop-off point is easy to locate;
• The walking route does not have a continuous uphill slope;
• The number of steps is small;
• The inn can pick up luggage at the fixed entrance;
• There was still someone there to greet you when you arrived in the evening;
• You can also send your luggage to the drop-off point when checking out.

Shenxiang Inn

Although some inns are written as “Nanmen Gate”, they are actually located deep in Qiyi Street, Bayi Section, near Mufu, or in the alleys inside the ancient city. This type of location is convenient for visiting the ancient city during the day, but it is tiring to drag luggage during check-in and check-out.

The stone roads in Lijiang Old Town are not continuously smooth. Small-wheel suitcases tend to get stuck when passing through stone crevices, and four-wheel suitcases can often only be towed on two wheels. The stone slabs are slippery on rainy days, so holding an umbrella in one hand, dragging a suitcase with the other, and looking at the navigation on your phone at the same time will be much more difficult than walking normally.

If the hotel cannot clearly explain the luggage pick-up location, service hours and charging methods, it is not recommended to bring large boxes, strollers or multiple pieces of luggage into the Shenxiang of the Ancient City.

South Gate Advantages

Luggage saving

The biggest advantage of Nanmen is that it is easier to find accommodation close to peripheral roads, parking lots and clear drop-off points. But this only applies to the outside of the South Gate and near the entrance. It does not mean that all inns with “South Gate” written on it are convenient.

To judge whether a stretch of road is suitable for dragging luggage, you should not just look at the distance, but also look at the following conditions:

• Road surface:It is easier to smooth the sidewalk than the stone road. The more obvious the seams between the stone slabs, the harder it is to drag the small wheel box.
• Slope:Short distances uphill continuously are often more tiring than longer flat roads.
• Steps:Even if it is only a few dozen meters long, it is not suitable for the elderly and large luggage as long as the suitcase needs to be carried repeatedly.
• Number of boxes:Two small boxes are not necessarily easier than one large box. It is difficult to read the navigation at the same time when both hands are occupied.
• Weather:Towing in rainy days is slower and the slabs and steps are more slippery.
• Personnel:When taking care of children, the elderly or strollers, the walking distance should be further shortened.

Generally, adults only bring one carry-on suitcase, and short-distance cobblestone roads are usually acceptable. When carrying suitcases over 24 inches, multiple bags or strollers, it is more suitable to choose a location next to a motor vehicle road or at a hotel that provides stable pick-up and drop-off.

Walk by the station

Lijiang Station is located on the south side of the ancient city. From Lijiang Station to the South Gate, Zhongyi Market or Bailong Square, there is usually no need to continue around to the north side of the ancient city. Among Lijiang’s public bus lines, Line 4 and Line 18 connect Lijiang Station to Zhongyi Market, Bailong Square and other areas. Go to Nanmen Street to check the connecting lines that connect with the train arrival time. Specific routes, stops and operating hours should be based on the real-time bus information on the day of arrival.

With less luggage and arriving during the day, you can consider public transportation based on real-time navigation. Ride-hailing is usually more straightforward when you are carrying large suitcases, traveling with many people, when your train is delayed, or when you arrive at night.

When taking a taxi, don’t just fill in “Lijiang Old Town South Gate”, and don’t just search for the name of the inn. You should ask the hotel to send you the exact drop-off point in advance and confirm the following information:

• Which intersection or parking spot the driver should navigate to;
• A few minutes of actual walking after getting off the bus;
• Where will the accommodation staff pick up the luggage?
• Whether pick-up and drop-off are still provided after the train is delayed;
• Is there anyone on duty after ten o’clock in the evening?

If Lijiang is only one stop in the Yunnan cross-city itinerary, it can be combined withTransportation guide to Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La, decide in advance which entrance to use when arriving and leaving Lijiang.

Convenient for traveling

There are bus stations near Zhongyi Market, Bailong Square and the south gate of the ancient city. They are also common gathering areas for transportation and tour groups in some scenic spots. Route 101 to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain departs from the direction of Zhongyi Market. The tourist attraction express line may also set up pick-up points at the south gate and north gate of the ancient city. The specific arrangements are subject to the operation information of the day and the travel agency notice reported.

Staying in Nanmen does not mean that all day trips are more convenient. Different travel agencies may gather at the South Gate, Zhongyi Market, Bailong Square, North Gate or other city roads. When registering, you should first ask:

• Whether to pick up people near the accommodation;
• Where to gather when unable to pick up;
• Whether the collection time is earlier than the bus operation time;
• Whether it is necessary to walk through the ancient city from the accommodation to the meeting point;
• Whether to return to the original meeting point on the return trip;
• Would you like to walk further after returning in the evening?

If you participate in Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Lashihai or other surrounding itineraries for two or three consecutive days, distance from the meeting point is more important than distance from Sifang Street. For those who have not decided on the snow mountain route yet, you can check it out firstJade Dragon Snow Mountain, Blue Moon Valley and Baisha Ancient Town routes, and then work backwards to find suitable accommodation locations for each day.

It’s better to rest

It is usually easier to find relatively quiet accommodation outside Nanmen and in Zhixiang, but Nanmen does not mean absolute quiet. Rooms facing Qiyi Street, restaurants, bars, public courtyards or main walking routes for tourists may also experience significant noise at night.

When booking a room, you should pay attention to:

• Whether the room faces the main street;
• Whether there is a restaurant, bar or grill downstairs;
• Whether the window faces the public yard;
• Whether the room is close to the front desk, stairs and public tea table;
• Whether it is easy to hear footsteps on the wooden floor;
• Are “noisy at night”, “poor sound insulation” and “loud chatter in the yard” repeated in recent comments?

Although some rooms are labeled “courtyard rooms”, the windows face the public tea table, and the sound of guests chatting at night may be more noticeable than from the street. Light sleepers should give priority to rooms that are far away from public areas and have windows that do not face the street.

The south gate is insufficient

Far from the north side

Stay at the south gate to go to Dashuiche, Yuhe Square and Black Dragon Pond. You need to pass through the main area of the ancient city. It is not a big problem to walk around with light clothes during the day, but the following tourists will obviously feel that the distance is far:

• Go to the Waterwheel or Beimen for a night tour every night;
• Be prepared to go to Black Dragon Pond several times in the early morning;
• Participate in the itinerary that meets at the North Gate;
• Have already visited high-intensity scenic spots such as Jade Dragon Snow Mountain that day;
• It is not suitable for the elderly and children to travel between the north and south ends of the ancient city multiple times.

If the main activities are on the north side of the ancient city, the luggage energy saved by staying at the south gate may turn into extra walking distance every day. At this time, you should consider hotels outside the North Gate instead of choosing the South Gate just because it is “convenient”.

Various quality of courtyards

There are many inns near the south gate, and the room conditions vary greatly. Deck photos often highlight courtyards, wooden windows, and rooftop views, but the average visitor needs to focus more on the rooms themselves.

Please confirm before booking:

• Whether the room has normal exterior windows;
• Whether the bathroom is separated from wet and dry areas;
• Whether the hot water is stable;
• Whether there is air conditioning, electric heating or other reliable heating in winter;
• Whether the first floor is prone to moisture during the rainy season;
• Which floor is the room on? Is there an elevator?
• Whether the staff helped carry the luggage upstairs;
• Is it easy to hear footsteps on the wooden floor on the second floor?

Don’t just look at wide-angle processed promotional images. Priority should be given to photos of bathrooms, windows, stairs and actual room sizes uploaded by guests in the past six months.

North Gate Range

The North Gate that tourists refer to usually includes the area around Dashuiche, Yuhe Square, Ancient City Parking Lot, Minzhu Road, Beimen Street and Dayanhua Lane. The North Gate is also not a unified area and should at least differentiate between peripheral roads, accommodation near the entrance and extending towards Lion Rock.

• Democracy Road and peripheral roads:More accessible by vehicle, suitable for people who want to live in Beimen but don’t want to drag their luggage.
• Near the Waterwheel and Yuhe Square:It is easy to enter the ancient city and highly recognizable, but the crowds are concentrated during the peak tourist season.
• Around Beimen Street and Dayanhua Lane:It has more of an ancient city atmosphere, but you need to confirm the actual road conditions after entering from the parking point.
• Direction to Lion Rock:Some accommodations have rooftop views of the ancient city, but you may need to go uphill or take steps.

Not all locations at the North Gate require climbing. Minzhu Road and some peripheral hotels are relatively easy to reach. Obvious slope problems mainly occur in the accommodation extending to Lion Rock, Mid-Levels Viewpoint and high places inside the ancient city.

Peripheral hotels

Beimen peripheral hotels are mainly located near Minzhu Road, the ancient city parking lot and surrounding motor vehicle roads. This type of accommodation can combine the north gate location with convenient transportation, and vehicles are usually easier to access than the interior of the ancient city.

Suitable for the following tourists:

• Want to get close to the waterwheel, but carry more luggage;
• Need chain hotels, elevators and relatively stable sound insulation;
• Get ready to go to Black Dragon Pond in the early morning;
• Often active on the north side of the ancient city at night;
• Do not particularly pursue the traditional courtyard accommodation experience.

The name “Da Shui Che Shop” does not mean that the hotel is right next to the big water wheel, nor does it mean that vehicles can park directly at the front desk. Actual entrances, drop-off points and walking routes should still be confirmed.

City Inn

Beimen City Inns are mainly located near Beimen Street, Yuhe Shopping Mall and Dayanhua Lane. It is quick to enter the ancient city here and it is convenient to visit at night, but the lanes, flow of people and slopes are quite different.

When looking at a map, don’t just look at straight-line distances. The inn 400 meters away from the waterwheel may be on a relatively gentle stone road, or you may need to turn into a narrow alley or go uphill towards Lion Rock.

When booking accommodation near Scenic Spot, Mid-Levels or Lion Rock, you should ask directly:

• Is it always uphill from the drop-off point to the front desk?
• How many steps are there in total?
• Whether luggage trolleys can be used;
• Is it convenient for the elderly to get up and down every day?
• Can you please send a complete video of the actual walk.

Beimen Advantages

Near the waterwheel

This is my first time in Lijiang. I hope to see the representative scenery of the ancient city quickly, and the north gate will give me a better sense of arrival. After entering from the north gate, you can go to Dashuiche, Yuhe Square, Dayanhua Lane, Sifang Street and other areas.

This advantage is more suitable for:

• I often go shopping on the north side of the ancient city at night;
• Gather with fellow travelers near the waterwheel;
• I don’t want to walk back to the south gate after the night tour;
• I like to live in areas where tourist services and restaurants are concentrated.

It should be noted that being close to the water tanker does not mean that vehicles can drive to the entrance of the inn. During popular hours, there are a lot of people near the waterwheel, so it may still be difficult to drag suitcases into the internal inn.

Close to Black Dragon Pond

The north gate connects Red Sun Square and Black Dragon Pond to the north. I plan to go for a walk in Heilongtan and take pictures of the snow-capped mountains in the early morning. Living in the north gate can reduce the distance through the ancient city.

If you only plan to go to Black Dragon Pool once, you don’t need to decide to stay in Beimen based on this alone. This location advantage is only more obvious if you plan to go there early in the morning, take many walks, or if your main itinerary is concentrated on the north side of the ancient city.

If you want to connect Mufu, Sifang Street, Black Dragon Pond, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Shangri-La into a continuous route, you can refer toLijiang-Shangri-La 5-day in-depth cultural tour, and then decide whether to stay at the North Gate or the South Gate.

Food and beverage concentration

There are many street-side restaurants, convenience stores, cafes and hotels outside Minzhu Road and North Gate. It is more convenient to buy water, breakfast and daily necessities when returning to your accommodation at night.

The main difference between North Gate and South Gate catering is not the quantity, but the type:

• It is easier to find street-side restaurants, convenience stores and commercial facilities commonly used by tourists outside the North Gate;
• The catering from the waterwheel to the ancient city is more for tourists;
• The area around Nanmen Zhongyi Market is more suitable for buying fruits, snacks and daily supplies.

The north gate is insufficient

Lots of people

The crowd pressure at the North Gate is mainly concentrated on the water wheel, Yuhe Square and the lines leading to the main streets of the ancient city. This does not mean that the entire North Gate is very crowded.

Staying in hotels on the outskirts of Minzhu Road usually means you don’t need to drag your luggage through the densest crowds. If you stay at an inn within Dashuiche, Beimen Street or Dayanhua Lane, you must confirm whether the hotel can pick up your luggage at the peripheral parking spot.

During peak tourist seasons, holidays and after the lights are turned on in the evening, tour groups, tourists taking photos and independent tourists often pass by near the water wheel. Frequent avoidance is required when dragging boxes, and the actual walking time is usually longer than the map estimates.

Noisy at night

The area near the main entrance of the north gate may be affected by the sound of tourists and vehicles on peripheral roads at the same time. The closer to the water tanker, commercial street and night activity area, the more attention needs to be paid to sound insulation.

People who are light sleepers should not only look at “close to attractions”, but should also avoid:

• Rooms facing the main walking route of the water wheel;
• Low-floor room facing the motor vehicle road of Minzhu Road;
• Restaurant, bar and cafe upstairs;
• Near public terraces, reception desks and stairs;
• A room where people often drink tea and chat in the center of the courtyard.

Easy to climb

Some view inns near the Lion Rock at the north gate need to pass through continuous ramps, stone steps or narrow alleys. This type of accommodation may have ancient city rooftops and distant views, but it is not suitable for the elderly, large luggage, strollers, and tourists who leave early and return late every day.

When descriptions such as “mid-mountain”, “high view”, “overlooking the ancient city” and “Lion Rock” appear on the accommodation page, don’t just focus on the landscape pictures. The complete route from the vehicle drop-off point to the inn should be confirmed.

Even if the inn helps carry luggage when you first check in, tourists still have to go up and down the slope by themselves every day during their stay. When staying three or four nights in a row, the burden of daily walking is more worth considering than moving your luggage once on check-in day.

Baggage standards

When choosing accommodation in Lijiang Old Town, don’t just judge based on the size of the boxes, but also consider the number of boxes, size of the box wheels, weather, traveling companions, and route conditions.

Backpack

When you only carry a backpack, you can choose from the South Gate, North Gate and the interior of the ancient city. The choice of location at this time mainly depends on the direction of travel, noise at night, room conditions and whether you need to get up early to take a bus.

Carry-on suitcase

A boarding box of about 20 inches is usually acceptable on short-distance flat roads or cobblestone roads. However, if the route contains continuous uphill slopes, steps, small bridges or slippery roads in rainy days, you should still choose to go near the entrance.

The map shows that it takes five minutes to walk, but it does not mean that it only takes five minutes to drag the box. Allow longer time when encountering traffic, finding your way, and uneven roads.

Big luggage

When carrying suitcases larger than 24 inches, give priority to staying in hotels along peripheral roads or in hotels that provide reliable luggage pickup. If the hotel cannot explain clearly the pick-up location and service time, it is not recommended to choose a room deep in Sifang Street, Lion Rock or in a complex alleyway.

Multiple pieces of luggage

Two people carrying more than three bags, even if each bag is small, should give priority to hotels that are accessible by vehicles. Multiple boxes occupy both hands and require multiple transports when passing up the stairs. It is also inconvenient to take care of children or look at the navigation on the mobile phone at the same time.

Ancient city courtyards often do not have elevators. When booking a room on the second floor, you should confirm whether the staff is responsible for carrying all luggage upstairs and whether they also provide help when checking out.

stroller

Stone pavements, narrow bridges, steps and crowded streets can affect the passage of strollers. When taking a baby, the outer reaches of the ancient city are usually more convenient than Sifang Street and Shenxiang.

A stroller and a suitcase will take up both hands at the same time. It is recommended that the route from the drop-off point to the accommodation be simpler, and do not choose an inn that requires climbing uphill while finding the way.

Traffic comparison

Lijiang Station

From Lijiang Station to the ancient city, the south gate direction is usually more suitable for large luggage. You can also take a taxi or take shuttle transportation if you live in the North Gate, but the vehicle needs to continue to the north side of the ancient city.

When choosing a mode of transportation, you can judge based on the following conditions:

• Low luggage and arrive during the day:You can check the real-time bus or online car-hailing prices before making your selection.
• Lots of luggage and many people traveling together:It is usually more effortless to take a taxi directly to the accommodation’s designated drop-off point.
• Arrived at night:Priority is given to outlying accommodation where the front desk is manned and is easily accessible by vehicles.
• The train may be delayed:Confirm in advance whether there is a deadline for luggage pickup at the hotel.

When choosing South Gate or North Gate, don’t just compare the driving distance from the station to the entrance, but also take into account the walking route after getting off the bus. The peripheral hotels in Beimen may be more convenient than the Shenxiang Inn in Nanmen.

Sanyi Airport

From Lijiang Sanyi Airport to the South Gate and North Gate, the walking conditions of the last few hundred meters usually affect the check-in experience more than the driving gap between the north and south directions.

Common methods include airport bus, online car-hailing and hotel pick-up and drop-off:

• Airport bus:Suitable for people who have less luggage, arrive early, and stay close to the drop-off point.
• Online car hailing:Suitable for people traveling with many people, having a lot of luggage, or who want to go directly to the designated entrance of the accommodation.
• Hotel pick-up:You need to confirm the vehicle qualifications, specific drop-off location, whether the car is shared, and whether luggage pickup is included.

When arriving on a late flight, it is not recommended to book accommodation that requires you to walk through a long and deep alley. When the driver says “deliver to the ancient city”, you should continue to confirm whether it is the South Gate, North Gate, Zhongyi Market, Bailong Square or other entrances.

Airport transfers, chartered cars and one-day tours should be booked through formal platforms or service providers with clear qualifications, and order, vehicle and payment information should be retained. Do not use private solicitation vehicles of unknown origin.

Self-driving

Self-driving tourists should choose a parking lot first and then choose accommodation, rather than booking an inn deep in the ancient city first and then asking where the vehicle is parked.

Near the south gate, you can focus on the Bailong Cultural Square, the south gate parking area and peripheral road accommodation. There is also a parking area outside the ancient city at the north gate, but parking spaces and road conditions may change during holidays.

Before booking a room, you should ask:

• The exact name of the parking lot;
• Is it the hotel’s own parking lot or a public paid parking lot?
• Can I stay overnight?
• Whether there may be no parking spaces during holidays;
• How far is the actual walk from the parking lot to the inn;
• Whether there are ramps and steps along the way;
• Is it convenient to pick up the car every day?

If you have to drive out every day during your itinerary, it is usually inconvenient to live deep in the ancient city. Every time you pick up and park your car, you need to walk on the stone road again, so peripheral hotels are more suitable.

Accommodation options

Family tourists

Family tourists give priority to the areas outside the South Gate, Bailong Square, Xianghe Road or other locations that are easily accessible by vehicles. Focus on elevators, family rooms, sound insulation, hot water, breakfast and parking conditions. You don’t have to live deep in the ancient city just to take pictures of the courtyard.

When bringing young children, you should also confirm whether the bathroom is convenient, whether there are steps in the room, whether the windows are safe, and whether the route back to the accommodation at night is bright and easy to walk. If you need to arrange cross-city parent-child itinerary, you can refer toKunming-Dali-Lijiang 8-day easy parent-child route, focus on transportation and accommodation arrangements when bringing children.

Couple tourists

If you have less luggage and like the night view, you can stay at the North Gate entrance, near the water wheel or on the north side of the ancient city. If you want to experience the courtyard but value tranquility, you can choose the Zhixiang Inn just inside the south gate entrance.

View rooms may not be suitable for all couples. Before choosing accommodation in Lion Rock or Mid-Levels, you should accept the reality of walking up and down hills and carrying luggage every day. If the itinerary also includes Dali Erhai Lake and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, you can refer toYunnan couple’s 6-day slow travel route, and then determine how many nights you need to stay in the Lijiang section.

Traveling alone

When traveling alone and arriving at night, give priority to outlying hotels with accessible vehicles, staffed front desks, and clear drop-off points. Don’t drag your luggage alone late at night and find your way through the complicated alleyways of the ancient city.

When you need to check into an inn, you should save your accommodation phone number, walking video, and get off location in advance. Do not just rely on the inn name on the platform.

Walking with the elderly

When traveling with elderly people, don’t choose Lion Rock, don’t choose continuous steps, don’t choose the elevator-free room on the second floor, and don’t just believe in descriptions like “it’s a ten-minute walk away”.

It is best to ask the hotel to send a video of the complete route from the drop-off point to the front desk and then to the room to confirm whether there are ramps, wooden stairs and high thresholds. If you need to reduce the amount of walking throughout the journey, you can checkKunming, Dali, and Lijiang walking routes for elderly people, learn how to choose elevators, vehicle transfers, and accommodation in the ancient city.

Many one-day tours

Continuously participate in Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Lashihai or other surrounding itineraries, and you can choose from both the north and south gates. Finally, compare the actual meeting points, rather than just looking at the south and north gates.

When setting off in the early morning, also consider lighting, ramps and walking time from the inn to the meeting point. When returning late, also confirm where the vehicle will finally drop off passengers.

Reservation issues

Before payment, it is recommended to send the following questions to the hotel at once:

1. Where exactly do online taxis park?
2. Please send the map location of the drop-off point.
3. How long does it actually take to get off the bus and walk to the front desk?
4. Are there any continuous climbs, steps or narrow bridges along the way?
5. Is the entire journey a stone road?
6. Is a 24-inch or 28-inch suitcase easy to carry?
7. Can I pick up my luggage at the drop-off point?
8. Is it free to pick up luggage? Do I need to make an appointment in advance?
9. Can I still pick up luggage after 10pm?
10. Is pick-up and drop-off still available on rainy days?
11. Do you want to help send your luggage out when you check out?
12. Which floor is the room on? Is there an elevator?
13. Do the staff help carry luggage upstairs?
14. Does the room face the street, stairs or a public terrace?
15. Can you post a video of me walking from the drop-off point to my room?

The accommodation only replied “very close”, “easy to walk” and “we will pick you up”, which was still not enough. You should continue to confirm the specific drop-off point, route conditions, pick-up time and whether there are any charges.

You can directly send the following paragraph:

“We have large luggage. Please send us the exact location where the online taxi can be reached, as well as the actual video of walking from the drop-off point to the inn. Please explain whether there are uphill slopes, steps and continuous stone roads, and whether the luggage can be picked up and dropped off when arriving and checking out at night.”

FAQ

Is it far from the south gate to the north gate?

You can explore on foot, but it is not suitable for dragging large boxes through the city. When tourists walk around, their actual time will be affected by the flow of people, finding their way, taking photos, and turning on the road.

When you need to change from South Gate accommodation to North Gate accommodation, it is recommended to take a taxi around the outskirts of the ancient city and ask the two accommodations to provide luggage pick-up and drop-off respectively. Do not drag the suitcase directly through Sifang Street.

Is it convenient to visit the ancient city at South Gate?

Convenient. From the south gate, you can go to Mufu, Sifang Street and the main areas of the ancient city along Qiyi Street. For those who like Zhongyi Market, Mufu and Qiyi Street, it will be more convenient to live in Nanmen.

The shortcomings of the south gate are mainly that you need to walk a little longer to get to Dashuiche and Black Dragon Pond, but it is not impossible to visit the ancient city.

Is Beimen suitable for the first time?

It is suitable for tourists who have less luggage, like to be lively, and want to be close to the big water wheel. The North Gate is highly recognizable and has many dining and accommodation options nearby.

However, there are large crowds during popular periods, so you must confirm the vehicle parking spots, walking routes, slopes and room sound insulation before booking a room.

Can I take a taxi in the ancient city?

Ordinary online taxis can generally only go to the outer roads, parking lots or designated entrances of the ancient city, and cannot enter the interior of the ancient city at will.

The hotel page says “convenient pick-up and drop-off”, which usually means that the staff picks up people or luggage at the nearby entrance, not necessarily that the vehicle can be driven to the front desk.

How to choose if you only want to stay for one night?

When staying for only one night, transportation convenience is more important than the courtyard view. It is recommended to choose a hotel outside the South Gate, a hotel near the North Gate, or an entrance that is a short walk from the drop-off point.

When continuing to Shangri-La, Dali or other destinations the next day, you should also reduce the distance you have to carry your luggage. The order of various places in Yunnan has not been determined yet, you can refer toYunnan travel itinerary guide without detours, to avoid repeatedly moving boxes to the wrong accommodation location.

How to choose between two or three nights?

To stay for two or three nights, you can choose the inside of the South Gate or North Gate entrance to strike a balance between the ancient city experience and transportation. Mainly visit Mufu, Zhongyi Market and Qiyi Street, giving priority to the south gate; mainly visit Dashuiche, Heilongtan and the north block, give priority to the north gate.

How to choose when arriving in Lijiang late?

Arrived after 10pm, priority is given to peripheral hotels with accessible vehicles, people at the front desk, and clear pick-up and drop-off times. Don’t drag your luggage into complicated alleys late at night just to live in a traditional courtyard.

Where is the best place to live?

If there are no special needs, priority will be given to accommodations inside and outside the South Gate or North Gate entrance, 3-8 minutes’ walk from the vehicle drop-off point, without continuous steps, and providing luggage pick-up and drop-off.

For most ordinary tourists, the best answer is not necessarily to stay at the South Gate or the North Gate, but to stay at the edge of the ancient city that suits your luggage, arrival time and main itinerary.

Related Reading

• How to Get from Dali Railway Station to Dali Ancient City: Bus, Direct Shuttle, and Taxi Compared
• 10-Day Self-Drive on Southern Sichuan-Tibet Route in Autumn | Lake Ranwu + 72 Turns of Nujiang + Lulang Forest Ocean, The Most Splendid Golden Corridor of G318
• Is Yunnan Travel Car Rental Reliable | Cost, Driver Selection, Route Planning & Dispute Prevention
• What Pitfalls to Avoid on Yunnan Independent Travel | Transportation, Shopping, Group Tours & Ancient Town Spending
• What Pitfalls to Avoid on Yunnan Family Trips | Climate Changes, Itinerary Intensity & Attraction Selection Tips

Lijiang — — Practical Data

Transport & Schedules

• Lijiang Old Town → Jade Dragon Snow Mountain | Bus/direct shuttle: Bus 101 about CNY 15 per person (outbound 7:00–16:00, return 7:00–17:20); old-town round-trip direct shuttle about CNY 41^[src]

Where to Stay · Room Type · Nearby

• Lijiang Old Town (Dayan) | Room tip: Guesthouses are concentrated and transport is convenient | Nearby add-ons: Sifang Street, Mu Mansion, Lion Hill Wangu Tower, Great Waterwheels^[src]
• Shuhe Ancient Town | Room tip: Quieter and more secluded than the old town | Nearby add-ons: Shuhe residential building complex, Baisha Ancient Town^[src]