Blessed with a magnificent natural setting and a rich cultural heritage, Lijiang offers a host of activities and excursions to suit all interests. Amandayan provides the perfect base from which to explore the town and its surrounds, experience the many facets of indigenous Nakhi culture and take in the region’s spectacular natural attractions including Tiger Leaping Gorge. Meanwhile, Amandayan provides guests with a variety of in-house activities that incorporate local cultural elements in order to enhance their itinerary and experience during their stay at the resort and create a memorable Amandayan journey.
Lijiang Old Town is an atmospheric Unesco World Heritage Site together with Baisha and Shuhe Old Towns nearby. Travel back in time while wandering their cobbled streets, then venture farther afield to explore Baoshan Stone Village, peaceful Shaxi, remarkable Dali and mythical Shangri-La where Songzanlin Monastery touches the sky.
Home to over 17,000 species of plants and over half of China’s birds and mammals, Yunnan is famed for its biodiversity and extraordinary natural beauty. Take the cable car up Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, hike through Tiger Leaping Gorge alongside the rushing Jinsha River, birdwatch on Lashi Lake and horse ride through meadows of wildflowers.
The Nakhi’s Dongba religion is based on harmony between man and nature. Every afternoon, join local experts in Wenchang Palace to learn Dongba calligraphy, make traditional Zodiac figures from barley, paint in the colourful Thangka style and practice traditional Dongba paper making. Don’t miss the outdoor spectacle that is Impression Lijiang.
Lijiang’s harmonious fusion of cultures means festivals throughout the year, from the flower bedecked Bangbang Festival and the feasting and dancing of Sanduo in honour of the local protective deity, to Shangri-La’s legendary horseraces and the celebration of heat and light that is the mid-year Fire Torch Festival.
An ancient script of pictographic symbols used in the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, Naxi Dongba was traditionally used to record folk songs, stories and legends, but today serves as one of the world's only surviving hieroglyphs. Also known as the text of the living fossil, guests of Amandayan are invited to find out more about the origins of Naxi Dongba, and learn to write it, with an insightful class lead by a Naxi expert. After the course, guests will write their own Dongba wishes to take home as a souvenir.
One of the best ways to experience the essence of Lijiang is by visiting its local markets – the most dynamic of places where the ancient city's diversity can be discovered in its purest form. Strolling through the Zhongyi Market, guests are invited to experience the profound culture of Lijiang – where people from many cultures come together, conversing in Naxi, Bai and Mandarin and wearing their traditional dress - while also enjoying light morning exercise along the way.
On this half-day experience, explore historic Wenfeng temple and its spectacular camellia- and pine-scattered grounds, practise the art of Dongba calligraphy and enjoy a traditional dance performance. Then visit the ancient village of Ciman, renowned for its Nakhi architecture and the longevity of its people, before enjoying a homemade Nakhi meal.