Lijiang has long been an important stop along the legendary Tea-Horse Trading Route which connects Kunming with Tibet and even further into India. The unique location of the city has made it a meeting point for traders and a distribution point for merchandise from different parts of China and abroad.
For several hundred years, Sifang Jie Square has been the major market here. Today, the Square is still the best place for buying exotic local specialties, the most famous being bronze ware.The small streets in the ancient town are also clustered with all kinds of shops and boutiques where you can pick up some interesting nik naks. Most of the shops here are tourist-oriented and sell nice art crafts as souvenirs. Mr. Kun's Arthouse, the Brother's Art Space and the Juyiyuan Gallery are particularly interesting.
1) Everywhere in the old town: Souvenirs of all kind
Lijiang is the perfect place to buy souvenirs and local handicraft. Woodcarving, old Chinese advertising posters, combs, tea, herbs, clothes, bags, books about Lijiang, dried yak meat and lots more can be found in every street of the old town. Many shops have nearly the same things, so compare and don't forget to bargain!
2) Naxi clay figurines
One of the few souvenirs we did buy which was not available anywhere else was these supposedly Naxi clay figurines and wall hangings. Whether or not they are truly authentic is open to debate but they were different.
3) Bai minority costume: Become real Bai minority people
Lots of different range and size of traditional minority costume i
n shops inside of Old Town. Get one and become real local people!
Bai minority costume and other minority costume.
4) Everywhere: Dry Mushrooms
Many souvenir shops (lined side by side along major streets in Dayan) sell various items from batik clothes/table cloth, Chinese herbs, dry mushrooms (many types of wild mushroom grown in Yun Nan provinces. I bought 6 types of them), teas, clothes, Naxi or Bai or other ethnic group traditional customs, handmade wood carving pieces, and so on.
5) For the hard toplease person: Dog skins
If you can find a gift for the person who has everything, them you might just have the perfect gift for them. I nice dog skin. These skins have not been turned into a piece of clothes yet, so you would just wear it drapped over your shoulder.
For a few extra RMB you can get the one with the painted on tiger strips. You'll be the envy of all your friends with your new dog-tiger skin out fit