Escape to a 20-degree Naxi courtyard to beat the heat, then stroll around Lijiang Old Town

. A 48-hour weekend cure for the year-round grind 😊 Stayed at the InterContinental the first day and at the Indigo, part of the InterContinental group, the next day. This is a Naxi courtyard decorated in the style of the caravan culture. The two hotels are close to each other; it’s really convenient to take the shuttle from the InterContinental to the neighboring Indigo. When checking in at the lobby, I absolutely loved the begonia fruit tea they served. The courtyard I stayed in was a standalone building with a soaking pool. Indigo’s lobby has a MeSpace private area in the basement, like a “sing-along” in a cozy hideout. Turn right when you leave the hotel and you’re in the Old Town. In the evening, my friends and I wandered to the "Zhongyi Market." We tried sour wild vegetables, fried cicadas, mushroom fried rice, and more. At Shoudao Lijiang Shop, I bought a Dongba paper art lamp, a piece of intangible cultural heritage. At Dadong Xiaoxi General Store, I got a colorful Naxi bag. I got hooked on “mushrooms” and bought lots of mushroom fridge magnets. Rushed back to the hotel for a soak! Dyson hairdryer + little yellow duck bubble bath 🛁 The starry sky outside the window was so low it looked like it was sprinkled with diamonds 💎 Breakfast featured Tea Horse Road-style dishes. Small pot rice noodles, erkuai (rice cakes), chicken bean jelly, and fried milk fan were all there. Coming to Lijiang really switches on the slow life mode.