Lijiang, with a long history, is the political, economic and cultural center of northwest Yunnan, and an important material distribution center on the "Southern Silk Road" and the "Ancient Tea Horse Road" leading to Xizang, India, Nepal and other places in the Han and Tang Dynasties. During the Shu Han period, Suijiu County was established in Lijiang. In the Yuan Dynasty, Chahanzhang was first established to manage the people, and later changed to Lijiang Xuanwei, Lijiang Road Military and Civilian General Administration Office. In the early Ming Dynasty, Lijiang Prefecture was established, and in the Qing Dynasty, Lijiang Military and Civilian Prefecture was established. In the 30th year of the Republic of China, the Seventh Administrative Inspectorate of Yunnan Province was established. In December 1949, the Lijiang People's Administrative Commissioner's Office was established, and in April 1950, it was renamed Lijiang Commissioner's Office, which governed 13 counties including Lijiang, Yongsheng, Huaping, Ninglang, Weixi, Lanping, Zhongdian, Deqin, Bijiang, Fugong, Gongshan, Heqing, and Jianchuan. In 1953, Lushui County was placed under the Lijiang Special Zone, and later in 1954 and 1957, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture and Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture was placed under the administration of Lijiang Special Zone. Its administration was abolished in 1973, and Heqing and Jianchuan were transferred to Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture in 1956. In 1980, the Lijiang Regional Administrative Office was established. On December 26, 2002, with the approval of the State Council, Lijiang was abolished and replaced by a city, Change the original Lijiang area to Lijiang City, and divide the original Lijiang Naxi Autonomous County into Gucheng District and Yulong Naxi Autonomous County.
Lijiang is a treasure trove of culture and art, and Dongba script is currently the only pictographic script still in use in the world. It contains precious cultural resources unique to the world, such as Dongba culture, Mosuo style, Taliu culture, and Biantun culture. There are also vivid and natural Baisha murals and the Jinsha River rock painting group from the Neolithic Age. Cultural tourism brands such as "Naxi Ancient Music", "Impressions of Lijiang", "Lijiang Eternal Love", and "Lishui Jinsha" are renowned both domestically and internationally.