"The Legend of Mu Mansion" Filming Locations Guide: A Two-Day Itinerary covering Lijiang Mu Mansion, Ancient Town, and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Wandering through the narrow streets and alleys of Lijiang Old Town, the Mu Mansion suddenly unfolds at the foot of Lion Mountain. The council hall, Wanjuanlou, Yuyinlou, and layers of courtyards make the power story of "The Legend of Mu Mansion" seem to have been preserved directly from the Ming Dynasty; the reality is more complicated. The TV series was indeed filmed on location in the Mu Mansion, and the main buildings we see today have undergone large-scale reconstruction at the end of the 20th century.

The focus of watching the series should be on the Mu Palace and Lijiang Old Town. Half a day is enough to see the architecture, but two days are needed to connect the Naxi history, the layout of the old town, and the backdrop of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain has its own independent travel value, but not every shot of the snow mountain should be claimed as evidence of a camera angle from the series.

The core location for "The Legend of Mu Mansion" is the Mu Mansion in Lijiang, so allow at least two to three hours for filming. The existing Mu Mansion includes reconstruction work that began after the 1996 Lijiang earthquake and is not a completely preserved original Ming Dynasty building. Lijiang Old Town and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain are suitable for a two-day trip; cable car reservations must be made separately.

How should the filming locations and travel itinerary be planned?

Place	Relationship with TV series	Travel judgment	Recommended time
Lijiang Mufu	Core view of the Mu clan chieftain's residence	This is a main website for watching TV series, suitable for use with explanations.	2 to 3 hours
Lijiang Old Town	Background of cities and life around Mufu	Walking connects Mu's Residence, Sifang Street and Lion Rock	Half a day to the 1st
Lion Rock	Overlooking the Mu Palace and the layout of the ancient city	There are many steps, and they are slippery after rain.	1 to 2 hours
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain	The atmosphere of the series extends to Naxi culture.	Independent booking and a full day are required.	1st
Shuhe, Baisha	Ancient Town and the Extension of Naxi Culture	This location is not in the core area of the Mu Palace, making it suitable for avoiding the crowds in the ancient city.	Half a day to the 1st

In recent years, when Lijiang has been organizing its film and television tourism resources, it still lists the filming of "The Legend of Mu Mansion" on location at the Mu Mansion as a representative case. Early reports of the start of filming also clearly state that the crew filmed at the Mu Mansion. The core elements that can be confirmed are clear; other scenes in ancient towns, snow-capped mountains, or villages should not be identified individually without sufficient evidence.

The Mu Mansion in reality: The footage is real, but its architectural history needs further investigation.

The Mu Palace, located in Lijiang Old Town, is an important repository of the political and cultural history of the Mu clan chieftains. The TV series places discussions, family relationships, and power conflicts within the courtyards, allowing viewers to identify the central axis, gate towers, and halls.

Today's Mu Palace is not simply a collection of unaltered Ming Dynasty buildings. Historically, the Mu Palace suffered damage from war. After the 1996 Lijiang earthquake, local authorities utilized funds such as World Bank loans to reconstruct it, which was completed in 1999 and the Lijiang Ancient City Museum was established there. The site is designed to simultaneously showcase the architecture, exhibits, and reconstruction history; one should not rely solely on television drama plots to interpret each hall.

 The Mu Mansion is both a real-life location for the TV series and a reconstructed museum. Understanding this relationship brings us closer to the true history than simply searching for the same floor tile where the actors stood. 

When visiting the Mu Palace, first look at the central axis, then look at Lion Mountain.

Upon entering the Mu Palace, visitors can observe the council hall, Wanjuan Tower, Dharma Protector Hall, Guangbi Tower, Yuyin Tower, and Sanqing Hall along the central axis, gaining a better understanding of the relationship between the palace and the ancient city from a higher vantage point. The television series edits different scenes together to create a continuous palace layout; the actual distances and movement patterns on set may differ from the visual impression.

The Mu Palace is located in the pedestrian area of the ancient city. The stone-paved streets and steps are not convenient for people with suitcases, strollers, or those with mobility issues. During peak season, try to avoid the midday group tour peak. Please refer to the announcements of the Lijiang Ancient City Museum on the day of your visit for guided tour schedules, ticket information, and opening hours.

Lion Hill offers panoramic views of the Mu Palace rooftops, the ancient city, and distant mountains, making it a good place to visit after your main tour. The wooden and stone steps are slippery after rain, and although the light is good in the evening, allow time to descend before dark.

Lijiang Old Town: The Mu Palace is not an isolated palace.

The story of "The Legend of Mu Mansion" is set against the backdrop of the Naxi Mu clan chieftains and their interactions with various cultures. The ancient city's waterways, streets, and markets surrounding the Mu Mansion help us understand why it was a hub for transportation and cultural exchange.

A half-day itinerary can be made from walking from the Mu Palace to Sifang Street, Zhongyi Market, and the edge of the ancient city. The main street is densely populated with businesses; to see quieter living spaces, one should walk through the side alleys in the early morning, respecting the boundaries of residences, schools, and religious sites.

Television dramas are historical dramas, and the relationships between characters and events have been artistically adapted. To understand Mu Zeng, Xu Xiake, the Naxi script, and the Tusi system, one should primarily rely on museum exhibits, local chronicles, and reliable historical research, and not treat the dialogue in the drama as historical material.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain: Clear cultural background, camera location evidence must be kept confidential.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is one of the most important geographical backdrops of Lijiang, and it is also closely related to Naxi culture, the Sanduo belief, and the high-altitude environment. It is suitable as the second day of the "Mu Mansion Chronicles" route, but not all snow-capped mountains, canyons, and horseback riding scenes have publicly available filming evidence.

The booking, operation, and weather-related shutdown rules for attractions such as the Glacier Park cable car, Spruce Meadow, and Yak Meadow differ. Data from Lijiang Yulong Tourism Co., Ltd. in 2026 still indicates that the cable car may be closed due to special weather conditions, and peak season also coincides with peak visitor periods. Reservations should be made through official platforms before departure; do not purchase tickets from unknown sources with inflated prices.

 The Mu Palace is responsible for understanding the historical figures and events, while Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is responsible for understanding the geographical background of Lijiang. The two can form a route, but "same camera angle" cannot replace evidence. 

Two-day, one-night binge-watching route

On the first morning, visit Mu's Residence. After the visit, explore Lion Hill and Lijiang Old Town. Stay overnight on the outskirts of the Old Town to minimize dragging luggage across the cobblestone streets. On the second day, head to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain according to your reserved time slot. Choose a cable car and scenic route suitable for your physical condition, avoiding trying to take all the cable cars at once.

If you don't want to go to the high-altitude snow-capped mountains, you can change the second day to Baisha Ancient Town, Shuhe Ancient Town, and a Naxi cultural experience. Both options can supplement your Lijiang experience beyond the Mu Palace, the difference being that one emphasizes the geographical scale, while the other emphasizes the community life that continues to this day.

Reference source

• Lijiang.com: Filming Locations of Mufu Palace and Lijiang Film and Television Tourism
• Sina Entertainment: Filming of "The Legend of Mu Mansion" takes place on location at Mu Mansion in Lijiang.
• Sina Entertainment: Behind-the-Scenes Creation of "The Legend of Mu Mansion" and Research on the Mu Mansion
• Historical materials on the construction and reconstruction of the Mu Mansion
• China Tourism News: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Reservation and Cable Car Services

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