The hidden gem of China, Lijiang. Here are some unique souvenirs you can only find in this mystical land.
Lijiang City is a prefecture-level city located in the northwest of Yunnan Province, People’s Republic of China. It sits near Sichuan Province and the Tibet Autonomous Region, and is also close to the borders of Vietnam and Myanmar — making it truly a “hidden paradise.”
Lijiang preserves the beauty of ancient Chinese streets and nature rich in culture. The “Old Town of Lijiang,” a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was once the royal capital of the Naxi ethnic minority and remains home to many Naxi people today. Here are some recommended souvenirs to bring back from this mystical land of Lijiang.
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The hidden gem of China, Lijiang. Here are some unique souvenirs you can only find in this mystical land.
1. Dongba Script Stamps
The Dongba script is the ancient pictographic writing system of the Naxi people and is designated as a “Memory of the World” heritage due to its rarity. Unlike Chinese characters or Egyptian hieroglyphs, these pictographs have a charming, whimsical feel. Today, the script is preserved only by a few priests but is considered the world’s only living pictographic writing system.
Inside Lijiang Old Town, there’s a seal shop called “Shimu Ke” where you can have your name engraved in Dongba script. You can choose your favorite stone and design, and they’ll carve it for you on the spot — making it an easy and original souvenir to take home.
2. Pu’er Tea
Yunnan Province is known as the birthplace of Pu’er tea, and Lijiang serves as one of its major trading centers. There are two types of Pu’er tea: raw (sheng) and ripe (shu). Many raw teas are made from old tea trees and have a very high mineral content. Regular consumption of Pu’er tea is said to help lower blood pressure, improve blood circulation, promote better sleep and digestion, and even relieve allergy symptoms such as hay fever.
Ripe Pu’er tea, on the other hand, has fat-breaking properties, making it an excellent choice when eating Chinese, meat-heavy, or oily dishes. Be sure to try some Pu’er tea while in Lijiang — and if you like it, take some home as a souvenir!
3. Dried Matsutake Mushrooms
Although Lijiang is located at an altitude of about 2,400 meters, it enjoys a warm climate, with a latitude similar to Okinawa’s. Yunnan Province is also famous for its matsutake mushrooms — in fact, most of the matsutake imported come from Yunnan.
At local markets frequented by residents, you can buy mushrooms at very reasonable prices. During the matsutake season, you can even enjoy them fresh, but in the off-season, dried matsutake are available. These are lightweight and durable — perfect as a souvenir.
4. Snow Tea
Snow Tea is not a familiar name. Unlike typical teas made from plant leaves, it consists of white, twig-like strands. It’s made from a type of lichen called “Mushigoke,” which grows naturally on the snowy slopes of Yulong Snow Mountain in Lijiang, Yunnan, at altitudes above 4,000 meters.
Mushigoke grows only about 1 mm per year. Because it thrives in the perpetually frozen mountains, it is incredibly resilient and has long been valued as a rare and precious natural tea. Its effects are said to include calming the liver, relaxing the digestive system, lowering blood pressure, and benefiting conditions such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, pneumonia, anemia, constipation, and obesity. Truly a “miracle tea.”
◎ Summary
These are the most recommended souvenirs when visiting the hidden paradise of Lijiang, China. From rare teas found only in this region to crafts linked to the Naxi minority culture, every souvenir carries deep local charm. If you have the chance to visit, don’t miss out on bringing home one of these unique treasures from Lijiang.
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