Sightseeing

Lijiang -- the most famous old sity of ethnic minorities with brilliant culture

Dayan has been home to the Naxi people for over 1400 years. The Naxi are the descendants of the Tibetan Qiang tribe, who came down the Yangtze from Northern Tibet. The Naxi have a population of 300,000, most living in Lijiang area, with some in Southwestern Sichuan and Southeastern Tibet. Despite their small population, the Naxi have created a rich culture which attracts the world's attention. Their written language, known as Dongba Pictographs, is said to be the "only living pictographic language" in the world. Like other regions in Yunnan Province, Lijiang is diverse ethnically, with Bai, Pumi, Yi, Tibetans, Miao, and Lisu inhabiting its valleys and mountains.

Being one of the most important trading posts along the Tea and Horse Ancient Road, Lijiang used to be very prosperous but gradually faded in importance. Until recent decades and became fairly quiet until then on Feb. 3rd, 1996, when an earthquake of 7 on the Richter scale hit Lijiang, killing over 300 and injuring 17,000. All of a sudden, Lijiang hit the international news, being in essence rediscovered.

Its beauty draws tens of thousands of tourists from all over the world began to come and see it each year. The number is growing. In 2005, over 3 million tourists visited Lijiang. Joseph Rock, an American botanist and later a leading Naxi culture expert, living in Lijiang between 1922 and 1949, described Lijiang as the Ancient Naxi Kingdom in the Southwest of China.

Atractions

Ancient City of Lijiang (Dayan Ancient Town)

The ancient city of Lijiang is found in Dayan Town, a largely Naxi settlement first built during the Southern Song Dynasty some eight centuries ago. In December 1986, the State Council designated the place as a famous ancient historical and cultural city of a national caliber. In 1997, the UNESCO put Lijiang on a list of the world major cultural heritages. With Sifang Street at the core, the entire city spreads out in all direction, and is crisscrossed by a labyrinth of flagged streets and alleyways. Most of the dwellings scattered at the foot of a mountain or by the rivers which flow through every nook and corner of the city, are brick-and-tile structures with carved doors and painted windows. Traffic across the river is facilitated by a large number of tiny stone bridges. The entire city is evocative of a town south of the Yangtze River.

Naxi Ancient Music

When walking on the ancient streets of Lijiang Old Town, you will undoubtedly hear the wonderful Naxi (also spelt Nakhi and Nahi) Ancient Music, the traditional Naxi classical music that is regarded as a "living fossil of Chinese music".

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Yulong Mountain) is the southernmost glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. Consisting of 13 peaks, among which Shanzidou is the highest one with an altitude of 5,600 meters (18,360 feet), Jade Dragon Snow Mountain stretches a length of 35 kilometers (22 miles) and a width of 20 kilometers (13 miles). Looking from Lijiang Old Town in the south which is 15 kilometers (nine miles) away, the snow-covered and fog-enlaced mountain resembles a jade dragon lying in the clouds, hence, the name Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Jade Spring Park (Heilongtan Park)

Walking north from the Old Town of Lijiang, exactly at the foot of Elephant Hill, is the Black Dragon Pool (Heilongtan), an influx of limpid spring. Since the water of the pond is as green as a shining jade, the park of Black Dragon Pool, which was built in 1737 during the Qing Dynasty, is also entitled the Jade Spring Park (Yuquan Park). Jade Spring Park (Yuquan Park) occupies an area of 11,390 square meters and includes many distinctive and ravishing sites. Hiding in the lush trees or standing along the liquid pool is the antique and exquisite architectural pieces, which are in the style of Naxi (also spelt Nakhi or Nahi). Therefore, Jade Spring Park is a really good place to seek novelty and grasp beautiful scenes.