Lijiang Old Town hosted chrysanthemum fair until 30 October

Lijiang Old Town hosted its Autumn Chrysanthemum Fair from 21 September to 30 October 2026 in Lijiang, China. The programme covered the historic streets and community courtyards, linking seasonal displays with the town’s Mid-Autumn and National Day cultural activities.

The local name used in official English references is Lijiang Old Town.

Chrysanthemum fair filled Lijiang streets through 30 October

The fair was announced as part of a wider autumn programme by the Lijiang municipal media centre. Its official schedule placed the display at Lijiang Old Town from 21 September to 30 October 2026, making 30 October the final day inside the current reporting period.

The same programme listed chrysanthemum displays in community courtyards, alongside painting and photography exhibitions. Other activities at the site included performances and public cultural events around Sifang Street, Yuhe Square and several historic lanes during the National Day period.

The official autumn programme places the flowers within the old town itself rather than at a separate festival ground. A separate English event listing also gives the period as 21 September to 30 October and names Lijiang Old Town Scenic Area as the venue.

The fair used the old town’s waterway setting

The seasonal display was arranged against the physical features that define the visit: historic lanes, water channels, bridges and courtyard buildings. That connection matters because the flowers were not an isolated exhibition hall installation; they followed the public spaces through which visitors move around the old town.

UNESCO describes the property as a historic town adapted to uneven terrain, with an ancient water-supply system that continues to function. Its architectural character reflects cultural traditions that met over many centuries. The fair therefore placed a temporary autumn programme beside the permanent water and built heritage that earned international recognition.

The 1997 UNESCO decision inscribed the Old Town of Lijiang under cultural criteria (ii), (iv) and (v). UNESCO’s current component map records Dayan Old Town as an 84-hectare part of the property, alongside Black Dragon Pool, Baisha Village and Shuhe Town.

Autumn programme ended before the November visit window

For travellers arriving after 30 October 2026, the scheduled chrysanthemum display is no longer part of the programme. The old town itself remains the heritage setting described by UNESCO, but the dated seasonal installation should not be treated as an ongoing November attraction.

During the National Day period, the site management authority issued visitor guidance because of heavy footfall. It identified Sifang Street, Xinhua Street, Xinyi Street, East Street and Wuyi Street among the busy areas, and advised visitors to use the southern or eastern entrances during quieter parts of the day.

The visitor guidance issued on 2 October also points to cultural courtyards, Wangu Tower and Mu Mansion as places within or connected with the historic visit.

Visiting Lijiang Old Town: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The Autumn Chrysanthemum Fair ran from 21 September to 30 October 2026 at Lijiang Old Town and its community courtyards.
• The seasonal display has ended; visitors arriving after 30 October 2026 should expect the permanent historic townscape rather than the advertised flower installation.
• The site is in Lijiang, with the Dayan Old Town component forming the principal historic core and southern and eastern entrances identified in the visitor guidance.
• The old town follows uneven terrain and contains historic lanes, water channels, bridges and courtyard buildings, so walking is central to a visit.
• The official language is Chinese and the national currency is the renminbi.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Lijiang Old Town

When did the chrysanthemum fair take place at Lijiang Old Town?

The official programme ran from 21 September to 30 October 2026, with displays in the old town and community courtyards.

What is Lijiang Old Town?

It is the historic Dayan component of the Old Town of Lijiang World Heritage property, inscribed by UNESCO in 1997.

Where is Lijiang Old Town and how do you get there?

Lijiang Old Town is in Lijiang, China. Visitor guidance identifies southern and eastern entrances to the historic area.