Lijiang preserves ancient courtyards amid tourism boom

Northwest Yunnan’s Lijiang Old Town ushered in its summer tourist peak in August, with bustling crowds streaming through the streets and alleys, and the sound of footsteps echoing along the cobblestone paths.

Deep within the lively and noisy lanes, time-honored ancient courtyards stand quietly amidst the holiday inns, serving as shelters of the town's cultural heritage.

To preserve local memories and revitalize the old town's cultural legacy, Lijiang has restored and renovated old residences and ancient courtyards scattered throughout its alleys.

The old town has officially designated the first batch of 31 distinctive cultural courtyards, including former residences of renowned figures, intangible cultural heritage experiences, Tea-Horse Road memories, red history, folk customs and daily life, and art exhibitions.

These courtyards are spread across every street and alley of the old town, so that visitors wandering through the narrow lanes can always stumble upon a small courtyard full of surprises.

Former residence of Fang Guoyu

The Former Residence of Fang Guoyu retains the complete layout of a traditional Naxi courtyard, displaying the manuscripts and personal belongings of this great historian. It serves as a cultural venue for appreciating scholarly integrity

The Zhou Lin Art Museum exhibits classic works by local painters, preserving the artistic imprint of Naxi folk culture; the Snow Mountain Academy continues a century-old tradition of lectures, hosting book-sharing sessions by renowned scholars throughout the year.

The Hengyugong Folk Residence Museum preserves the original appearance of a century-old "four courtyards with five skylights" traditional house, with carved doors and windows replicating the look of old Naxi residences.

The Xihe Naxi Family Home authentically recreates daily folk customs such as weddings, embroidery and local delicacies, allowing visitors to experience Naxi handicrafts firsthand; the Tiandi Courtyard uses its central courtyard as a natural stage, hosting daily live performances of the Naxi ancient music.

Visitors dance with Naxi cultural inheritors at the Tiandi Courtyard.

He Xiuchang, representative inheritor of traditional Dongba papermaking, introduces the craft to visitors.

Exquisite wood carvings of the Hengyugong ancient residence

These ancient courtyards are not merely static old buildings, but living cultural carriers. Through exhibitions, performances, hands-on experiences, lectures, study tours, and live recreations, they showcase Lijiang's inclusive and diverse cultural essence in layered forms. The courtyards embody the traditional Naxi values of reverence for nature and harmonious coexistence.

The Tiandi Courtyard takes its name from the ancient Naxi philosophy of honoring heaven and earth. During intermissions, cultural inheritors chat with visitors, explaining the wisdom of their ancestors who lived close to mountains and waters and adapted to nature's rhythms.

The Hengyugong residence features ingenious courtyard drainage design and carved decorative layouts, reflecting the Naxi people's architectural wisdom in adapting to local conditions. Uncle A Liu, the owner, still tends to the old house and offers free guided tours, sharing stories of his ancestors' lives as tradesmen.

The coexistence and integration of multiple ethnic groups is a common theme across all the courtyards. Mr. Fang Guoyu dedicated himself to in-depth research on frontier history, documenting the history of ethnic integration in northwest Yunnan.

The Xuanke Study Hall's current lecture series draws on Yunnan's practical experiences to tell stories of people of all ethnic groups advancing together. The exhibition halls related to Xu Xiake record the observations of this outside traveler during his visit to Lijiang, bearing witness to the old town's long-standing spirit of openness and inclusiveness.

A corner of the Hengyugong ancient residence

A leisure afternoon in an old courtyard

Tourists admire cultural products at the Lijiang Folk Handicraft Museum.

A corner of Wuyi Street in Lijiang Old Town