The Naxi Ancient Music Association performs Dongba ritual music — a tradition recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage — most evenings in the old town. The ensemble uses a mix of ancient Chinese court instruments (some dating back to the Han and Tang dynasties) and Naxi instruments, performing pieces that are otherwise extinct elsewhere in China. The musicians themselves tend to be elderly men who learned from earlier masters; the tradition was suppressed during the Cultural Revolution and its survival is genuinely precarious.
The most respected venue is the Naxi Ancient Music Hall (纳西古乐会馆) near the Sifang Square area. Admission is around ¥160–180 and performances run for roughly ninety minutes. Be aware that some venues running "Naxi music" shows are purely commercial operations; ask at your guesthouse which ensemble is considered more authentic before booking.