Lijiang Old Town Restaurant: Top Instagram Photo Spots with Amazing Views 2026

Yunnan, China Travel: Lijiang

Instagram-Worthy Restaurant in Lijiang Old Town

By Travel Sun

When I visited Lijiang, China, last year (2025), I stayed near the North Gate at the top of Lijiang Old Town. On my way down from the accommodation, I stumbled upon this incredible Lijiang Old Town restaurant, perfect for Instagram-worthy photos.

It seems already quite famous on Chinese social media. Located at the edge of Lijiang Old Town, this restaurant offers stunning panoramic views, making it an ideal spot to capture amazing pictures. Let me share this Lijiang gem with you!

Restaurant Name: 观雪·阅古楼雪山观景餐厅(万古楼店)

- English: Guanxue Yuegu Building Jokul Guanjing Restaurant (Wangu Tower Shop)

Opening Hours: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Gaode Map Link

You'll need to place an order to access the photo zones, so we started by ordering some food.

Since they specialize in Yunnan cuisine, we decided to try their Yunnan rice noodles and fried rice.

The Yunnan rice noodles come with a variety of ingredients in separate bowls, allowing you to customize your dish to your liking.

To be honest, the food isn't the main draw here.

The fried rice was decent and fluffy, though a tad salty for my taste. But honestly, we weren't really here for a gourmet dining experience, so it was perfectly fine!

It's certainly not bad, and perfectly edible!

The real reason to visit this spot? The incredible photo zones located on the second floor, tucked away inside the restaurant!

We took our time enjoying our meal before heading upstairs to snap some photos.

Even before lunchtime, many people were already busy capturing their perfect shots.

Being at the top of Lijiang Old Town, this restaurant offers a spectacular panoramic view that truly captures the essence of the ancient city.

Perhaps the most famous photo zone here is the circular frame that perfectly captures the entire Lijiang Old Town within it.

Honestly, when you see it in person, it just looks like a large, round plastic tube, and you might wonder if it would actually make for a good photo.

But trust me, once you take the picture, it beautifully frames the stunning Lijiang scenery!

A little brightness adjustment and removing the central line in editing, and you've got a masterpiece!

Another fantastic photo zone features vibrant red cushions against the backdrop of Lijiang, creating a truly striking contrast.

This spot was surprisingly photogenic and comfortable, making us want to take multiple shots.

With Lijiang Old Town unfolding behind the red carpet, the view is absolutely magnificent.

The swing photo was just okay, but since we were there, we had to get one!

Finally, there was the mirror photo zone, which left us scratching our heads on how to get a good shot.

We had no idea how to pose, so we asked a staff member, and they were incredibly enthusiastic about helping us capture some photos.

Even with their help, we still weren't quite sure how to make it work...

It seems the idea is to capture Jade Dragon Snow Mountain perfectly in the mirror and then edit out the mirror lines. Unfortunately, it was a bit cloudy that day, and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain wasn't visible, which might have been why our photos felt a bit lacking.

Perhaps it was just me not knowing the trick, so if you visit, definitely give it a try!

This Instagram-worthy restaurant in Lijiang Old Town was a wonderful discovery during our Yunnan, China trip.

The food is reasonably priced, and you can capture some truly fun and beautiful photos, so if you're planning a trip to Lijiang, China, this spot is a must-visit!

For more travel stories from Travel Sun, check out the links below!

China Lijiang Travel: Tea Horse Road Trekking, Cloud Way Guesthouse Recommendationblog.naver.com

Yunnan, China Travel: Wild Mushroom Hotpot near Lijiang's Zhongyi Marketblog.naver.com

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