Market day in Shigu, the old trading town at the First Bend of the Yangtze
Shigu, Yulong county, Lijiang
Shigu sits about 55 km west of Lijiang, where the Jinsha River (the upper Yangtze) swings round in its famous V-shaped bend, and it was a trading stop on the Tea Horse Road long before tourism. The town takes its name from a drum-shaped stone tablet. Market days fall on dates ending in 3, 6 and 9, when people from the surrounding villages walk in with baskets of mushrooms, vegetables, herbs, home-made snacks and hand-woven grass stools and baskets. On other days the old street is quiet and many shutters stay down.
What locals sayVisitors who time it right like that it is an everyday village market rather than a show, with produce people grew or made themselves; arrive on an off day and you'll find a sleepy street.
- Time
- Half day · Market days (dates ending 3, 6, 9)
- In Chinese
- 石鼓镇 赶街
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Based on what locals and regular visitors share, checked against current sources · Updated September 2026. Details change — check opening times locally.
