Old Town of Lijiang hosts Chrysanthemum Fair to 30 October
Published on 10/04/2026 at 02:33 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Old Town of Lijiang is hosting its 2026 Chrysanthemum Fair from 21 September to 30 October, bringing flower displays and exhibitions to the historic district in Lijiang, China. The programme places autumn chrysanthemums among the town’s lanes and community courtyards while National Day performances continue at selected venues from 1 to 7 October.
Chrysanthemum Fair fills Lijiang lanes until 30 October
The fair includes chrysanthemum displays and painting and photography exhibitions in the old town’s neighbourhood courtyards. The programme was announced by Lijiang Media Centre on 20 September, with the exhibition period given as 21 September to 30 October 2026.
A later local report said the nineteenth Chrysanthemum Fair opened for the Mid-Autumn and National Day holiday period and would continue until the end of October. That places the event inside the current travel window, including the final weeks after the 1 to 7 October public holiday.
Flower displays meet Lijiang’s working heritage town
The UNESCO World Heritage Centre describes the old town as a historic settlement whose architecture blends several cultures and whose ancient water-supply system still functions. Its streets, canals, bridges and timber-framed houses provide the setting for the fair, so the programme is spread through an inhabited urban landscape rather than confined to a single exhibition hall.
The property stands on the Lijiang plain in southwest Yunnan at 2,400 metres above sea level. It includes Dayan Old Town, the Black Dragon Pond, and the Baisha and Shuhe housing clusters. Dayan was established as a commercial centre during the Ming dynasty, while the wider property reflects more than 800 years of cultural exchange among Naxi, Han, Tibetan and Bai communities. The World Heritage description links the settlement’s layout to mountain water sources and its historic trade routes.
October performances extend the cultural programme
The flower fair is accompanied by a separate programme of music and dance. From 1 to 6 October, Yuhe Square hosts ethnic circle dancing in the afternoon, while a folk-music square in Yinyu Lane has evening performances. Sifang Street presents intangible-heritage song, dance and music from 1 to 7 October, followed by evening communal dancing.
Additional performances are scheduled at the Wenchang Palace viewing platform on 2, 5 and 7 October. Naxi ancient music is presented at Maicaochang on 5 October, and a Naxi life demonstration takes place beside the Sanyanjing wells on 7 October. These dates connect the flower display with named parts of the historic town and its continuing cultural life.
Visiting Old Town of Lijiang: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Chrysanthemum Fair runs from 21 September to 30 October 2026 across Old Town of Lijiang, with displays and painting and photography exhibitions in streets and community courtyards.
- National Day performances take place at named sites from 1 to 7 October 2026, including Sifang Street, Yuhe Square, Yinyu Lane and the Wenchang Palace viewing platform.
- The heritage property is in Lijiang, in southwest Yunnan, and includes Dayan Old Town, Black Dragon Pond, Baisha and Shuhe. UNESCO records the old town’s elevation as 2,400 metres.
- The terrain includes stone streets, lanes, canals, bridges and timber-framed buildings. The water system remains an active part of the settlement rather than a separate museum feature.
- China’s official language is Mandarin and its 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 Old Town of Lijiang
When does the Chrysanthemum Fair take place at Old Town of Lijiang?
The fair runs from 21 September to 30 October 2026, with displays and exhibitions across the historic district.
What is Old Town of Lijiang?
It is a UNESCO World Heritage property in southwest Yunnan comprising Dayan Old Town, Black Dragon Pond, Baisha and Shuhe. Its historic townscape includes canals, bridges and timber-framed buildings.
Where is Old Town of Lijiang and how do you get there?
It is in Lijiang on the Lijiang plain in southwest Yunnan, China. The property is organised around Dayan Old Town and connected cultural areas including Black Dragon Pond, Baisha and Shuhe.
