Date of Inscription: 1997
Lijiang's old town (including the Dayan old town, Basha housing cluster and Shuhe housing cluster)
N26 52 E100 14
The old town of Lijiang has a history going back more than 800 years and was once a confluence for trade along the old tea horse road. The town is famous for its orderly system of waterways and bridges. It differs from other ancient Chinese cities in architecture, history and the culture of its traditional residents the Nakhi people. The town (including Dayan, Baisha and Shuhe) was registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List in December 4, 1997. Since then, the local government has taken more responsibility for the development and protection of the old city. Lijiang's tourism also boomed, and travelers from around the world flooded in; although many locals fear that due to much of the development, the town will lose its appeal. Recently, the government has started to develop additional "old city" sections adjacent to the site of the original old city. This is to accommodate the large number of tourists who walk the cobblestone streets (cars are not allowed in the old city). Evenings in the old city can be particularly rowdy, not least due to the many outdoor bars, where boisterous groups of tourists try to out sing other groups.