Lijiang Travel Guide

 

 

 

 

Lijiang is the very city suspected as the Shangri-La in James Hiltons masterpiece Lost Horizon first published in 1933. It lies in Yunnan Province in southwestern China. It has many magnificent natural beauties such as high mountains and deep valleys, snow on the mountains which never melt even in summer, and highland lakes. They will be exposed to specialized folklore of the ethnic Bai, Naxi, Tibetan and the Mosuo minorities in Yunnan. Visitors will also get chances to admire the Dongba culture of the Naxi people in Lijiang Old Town.

 

In December, 1997, Lijiang Old Town was listed in the World Cultural Heritage. Lijiang deserves it. However, Lijiang doesn't need such grants to prove anything about beauty or something like that. It is there. Its self is the best illumination.

 

Lijiang Old Town is also called Da Yan Town, which is a best inhabitable city. Far different from the other old cities in China, this town is totally open without thick walls or any other guarding fences. Some people hold the view that this relates closely with the characteristic of Lijiang peoples openness. Walking through these well-preserved old houses, you may have the fantasy  entering a past century.

 

In Lijiang you do not need to worry about where to go. Wherever your feet are, there will be heartquake beauty. Mu Fu Da Yuan, is a palace of Naxi nationality also one of the key cultural relics. Hei Long Tan (Black Dragon's Pool) and Lijiang Dongba Culture Museum, good places to learn the Dongba culture. Da Suo Dao, the ski resort with the highest sea level is there. Bai Sha Cun Fresco, an artistic treasure for the Tibetan Buddhist paintings and the vivid Naxi character. Lu Gu Lake, a fantastic place for the local. There still remains the old custom of Walk The Marriage, that is, Women play a more essential role than men and if a woman falls in love with a guy, she will just walk to his house and spend a night with him, then come back home. However, this tradition is also affected gradually by the outer civilization. Shu He Old Town, harbors fantastic old legends there.

 

Still, don't miss the night life there. Remember that classical song Hotel California by Eagles ? Here, the traditional Naxi music plays and various bars will remind you of another lovely place. Sure, it is right here, in Lijiang.

 

The city zone covers an area of 6 sq.km with a population of 60,000. There are Naxi, Han, Bai, Lisu, Pumi, Yi, Tibetan and Miao minorities, among which Naxi takes 57.7 percent of the total population. The Naxi people are very hot hearted and good at singing, dancing and even musical instruments playing. When it come the festivals, they would like to wear their bright clothes and gather together.

 

Temperature

 

The annual average temperature is between 12.6 and 19.8 degrees Celsius, the spring and the winter are comparatively warm. Summer is cool (about 18.1 to 25.7 degrees Celsius in the hottest year) and short. Difference in temperature between morning and night is obvious, even up to 10 to 20 degrees Celsius.

 

Geography

 

It lies in the joint of Qing Zang (Tibet) Altiplano and Yun Gui Altiplano. Plenty of mountains here in Lijiang, mainly there are Yu Long (Jade Dragon) Snow Mountain and Lao Jun Shan (Mountain). Jin Sha Jiang and Lan Cang Jiang meet here. The main Peak of Yu Long Snow Mountain reaches as high as 5596 m high. Lijiang Old Town sits in the south foot of Shi Zi Shan (Lion Mountain).