The purpose of this study is to clarify the process of social transformation in the historical city core in Lijiang, which is one of the World Heritages. The survey on residents and uses of the historical buildings were made and its results can be concluded as follows : In the process of tourism development, uses of the historical buildings built by indigenous Naxi-minority as residences have drastically changed and now over 50% of them are used for tourism industry. And 36% of the present residents of historical buildings are newcomers who came from outside of Lijiang.
