Southwest · 3 nights · April to June, and September to early November
Lijiang
A Naxi old town that is overcrowded at the center and calm two streets away — if you sleep high enough to feel it.
Stone lanes under a snow mountain
Lijiang's old town is both genuine and over-visited, which means your hotel choice is the whole trip. Stay just off the main canals, walk at breakfast, and treat the night-time bar street as something you pass, not something you owe. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a high, cold, ticketed day; skip it if you dislike cable cars and altitude, and go to Baisha village or a lakeside hour at Lashi instead. The town sits near 2,400 meters. The first afternoon is for tea and a slow walk, not a summit. Dali and Erhai are an easy rail add-on if you want two more nights of water.
See
Old town, early 丽江古城
Canals, stone lanes, Naxi roofs. Be out before the tour groups finish breakfast.
Baisha and Shuhe 白沙 · 束河
Villages at the edge. Baisha is quieter. Shuhe is pretty and more arranged. Choose one.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain 玉龙雪山
Only with a booked ticket and oxygen awareness. It is high. Clouds cancel views without apology.
A day toward Dali 大理
About two hours by rail if you want Erhai Lake. Worth adding nights. Not worth a frantic out-and-back.
Eat
Crossing-the-bridge noodles
A Yunnan ritual: hot broth, rice noodles, raw slices you cook in the bowl. More Kunming's fame, widely served here.
Naxi baba and yak snacks
Griddled wheat bread with savory or sweet fillings. Breakfast from a stall you can see cooking.
Wild mushroom hotpot, in season
Summer and early autumn. Eat mushrooms at restaurants with a reputation, not from a basket on a curb.