Lijiang is a place blessed with an advantageous geographical position and a mild climate all year-round, resulting in a variety of natural resources and agricultural products in the region. The Naxi people, who have lived here for many generations, have developed their own cuisine using the rich local ingredients. Their dishes, with a refreshing flavor intermediate between Han Group and Tibetan, are a must to try if you are visiting Lijiang.
Actually, authentic Naxi cuisine consists of a number of tasty snacks that can be easily found in the streets of Lijiang City. Jidou Liangfen (a kind of jelly made from chick pea) is one of the favorite snacks of locals, so don't forget to sample it while on your trip. Another one to try should be Baba, a kind of fried potato cake that is eaten with seasoning. Others such as Bingfenliangxiao (a tasty and refreshing dessert) and butter tea are also popular with visitors. Apart from these dishes, the Naxi people have a small formal banquet that is usually thrown to entertain distinguished guests. This banquet is called Sandieshui and includes about 39 courses of various local snacks and specialties. At present, you can have this banquet as well as other Naxi cuisine in Rongpo Restaurant, located in Xinhua Street in the Old Town.
As more and more visitors from home and abroad come to this city year by year, a number of western and Chinese restaurants catering for their needs have already opened in Lijiang. Moreover, some former visitors who enjoyed Lijiang very much have now opened their own restaurants here, providing visitors with a place not only for food but also to share their tourist experience in Lijiang.
Where to eatBesides being a tourist attraction in Lijiang, Square Street is also an ideal place for visitors to sample the local snacks. Other snacks from Yunnan Province, such as the well known Cross-bridge Rice Noodle, are also sold here.