Essentials
- Population
- 1.25 million (Prefecture-level city)
- Internet Speed
- Average 60-100 Mbps; VPN required for international sites (Shadowsocks or Astrill recommended)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 7.23 CNY, 1 EUR ≈ 7.85 CNY
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; bottled water costs approx. 2 CNY per 500ml
- Power
- 220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Types A, C, and I (standard Chinese flat three-prong)
- SIM Card
- China Unicom or China Mobile; approx. 100 CNY for 20GB data
- Banking for Expats
- Alipay and WeChat Pay linked to international cards; Bank of China for physical branches
- Accommodation
- Naxi-style guesthouses (Boutique Inns) and modern apartments
- Cashless Friendly
- Very high; QR code payments (Alipay/WeChat) are mandatory for most vendors
- Short Term Rentals
- Trip.com, Airbnb (limited), or Meituan Xiaozhu
- Budget Accommodation
- Mama Naxi's Guesthouse (approx. 80-150 CNY/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Dayan Ancient Town (The main UNESCO heritage area)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Shuhe Ancient Town (Quieter, better cafes, more affordable long-term stays)
- City
- Lijiang, Yunnan Province, China
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Lijiang Digital Nomad Base in Shuhe (Approx. 50 CNY/day)
- Best Cafe for Work
- V.Sherry Coffee (Shuhe branch); quiet atmosphere and reliable Wi-Fi
- Networking Events
- Intermittent 'Nomad Meetups' organized via WeChat groups in the Shuhe community
- Social Events for Expats
- Friday Night Mixers at The Prague Café in Dayan Old Town
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Didi Chuxing (Global version supports international credit cards)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- HelloBike or Meituan (Blue/Yellow bikes); approx. 2 CNY per 30 mins
- Best Beach Nearby
- None (Highland plateau); Lugu Lake (4 hours away) offers the best waterfront experience
- Top Regional Airline
- Lucky Air (Subsidiary of Hainan Airlines)
- Top International Airline
- China Eastern Airlines (Connections via Kunming or Chengdu)
- Highway Access
- G5611 Dali-Lijiang Expressway
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Lijiang Railway Station (High-speed trains to Kunming in 3 hours)
- Public Transport Passes
- Lijiang Bus Card or Alipay 'Transport Code' for standard 1-2 CNY bus fares
- Regional Travel
- Bullet train to Dali (1 hour, approx. 50-80 CNY)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Lijiang People's Hospital (No. 42 Fuhui Road)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Shuhe Zen Yoga Studio (Classes approx. 100 CNY)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Iron Man Gym (Nanmen area); approx. 300 CNY/month
- Laundry Services
- Most guesthouses offer free laundry; commercial services found at 'Lanting Laundry' in Shuhe
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Meituan Waimai or Ele.me
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Lijiang Baba (Stuffed flatbread) and Naxi Salted Pork
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- A Ma Yi Naxi Snacks (Vegetarian friendly options); Pure Lotus Vegetarian
- Best Dessert Spots
- 88 Number Sakura Restaurant (Known for Naxi sweets and tea)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Zhongyi Market (Main local wet market for groceries and snacks)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Taobao, Tmall, JD.com
- Grocery Delivery
- Meituan Maicai or Pinduoduo
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Xinhua Street (Bar Street) in Dayan; more relaxed bars in Shuhe
- Local Brewery
- Lijiang Craft Beer (Look for the 'Golden Flower' labels)
- Wine Bars
- Moonlight Corner Wine Bar in Shuhe
- Street Food Stalls
- Square Market (Sifang Jie) evening snack stalls
- Popular International Cuisine
- The Prague Café (European/Western dishes)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Inter-peak tram, 130 CNY park entry)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Museum of Naxi Dongba Culture
- Historical Sites
- Mu's Mansion (Wood Family Residence)
- Religious Sites
- Puji Temple (Buddhist temple on the outskirts)
- Annual Events
- Sanduo Festival (February/March - Naxi ethnic celebration)
- Cultural Districts
- Baisha Village (Famous for ancient murals)
- Theater Venues
- Lijiang Impressions (Outdoor show directed by Zhang Yimou)
- Local Markets
- Baisha Sunday Market
- Music Scene
- Live folk music bars in the Old Town alleys
- Street Art
- Traditional Dongba Hieroglyphs painted on walls throughout Baisha
- Cooking Classes
- Lijiang Naxi Cooking School (approx. 350 CNY/session)
- Art Galleries
- Snow Mountain Art Village (CO-ART)
- Historic Buildings
- Black Dragon Pool (Wangu Pavilion)
- Local Heritage
- Naxi Ancient Music (Performed by elderly locals in the Old Town)
Business
- Property Tax
- Experimental in some cities; currently annual Land Use Tax applies
- Property Transaction Tax
- Deed tax (1-3%) + Stamp duty (0.05%)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; standard Z or M visas apply with progressive tax rates
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 12,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 480,000 CNY)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 8,500 CNY per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 340,000 CNY)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 11,500 CNY per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 690,000 CNY)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 8,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 480,000 CNY)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 11,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 880,000 CNY)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 7,500 CNY per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 600,000 CNY)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% standard; 15% for qualified High-Tech or Western Development enterprises
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% (standard for non-resident enterprises)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for residents staying >183 days
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45%
- VAT
- 13% standard; 9%, 6% for specific services/goods
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, comprehensive anti-avoidance rules in place
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Lashihai Wetland Park (Bird watching and horse riding)
- National Parks Nearby
- Laojunshan National Park (Liming Danxia landforms)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The road between Shuhe and Baisha (Scenic mountain views)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Lion Hill (Wangu Tower) overlooking the entire Old Town
- Birdwatching Locations
- Lashihai Lake (Migratory birds in winter/spring)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Sifang Square in the evenings for communal Naxi dancing around a fire
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- SF Express (Shunsheng); primary hub near Fuhui Road
- Tech Repair Services
- Computer City near Lijiang Department Store
- Table Tennis Spots
- Lijiang Sports Centre
- Language Classes
- Mandarin House (Online or private tutors via local universities)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Lijiang City Library (Gucheng district)
- Community Centers
- Naxi Cultural Center
- Gaming Lounges
- Internet Cafes (Wangba) located in the New Town district
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Illegal in Mainland China