丽江古城,始建于宋末元初(公元13世纪末)。到明朝初年(公元14世纪中叶),城镇渐成规模。丽江古称大研镇,它的形状象一方碧砚,砚研谐音,乃取名大研。纳西语叫它“金古堆”。由于它地处云南、四川和西藏的交通要道,清代以来(公元17世纪中叶)这里就是云南西北部重要的商品集散地。在历史上,丽江曾一度是印度经西藏、云南通往内地的古代马帮商路——著名的茶马古道上的一所重镇。说是重镇,周围却没有城墙,这在中国历史上其他任何地方都不曾有过。熟悉历史的老人们说:管辖大研镇的土司姓木,他认为如在自己的领地筑上城 Old Town of Lijiang, was built in the early Song Dynasty (AD 13th century). By the early Ming dynasty (mid-14th century AD), towns and cities became larger. Ancient town of Lijiang Dayanzhen, its shape like a party Biyan, Yan study homonym, is named Research. Naxi call it “golden ancient pile.” Because it is located in the traffic arteries of Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet, since the Qing Dynasty (the mid-17th century AD) here is an important commodity distribution center in northwestern Yunnan. Historically, Lijiang was once an important center on the ancient Tea Horse Road in India, via Tibet and Yunnan to the hinterland. Said to be the center of the city, but there is no wall around it, which was never seen in any other place in Chinese history. Older people familiar with history say: The chieftain of the town of Dayan is surnamed Wood. He believes that if the city is built in his own territory