Impression Yunnan I: Beauty of Lijiang

Zhang Yimou, who directed the Beijing Olympic in 2008, was the director of Impression Lijiang that a lot of tourists are familiar with Lijiang, Yunnan. The picturesque
scenic spots, mysterious folk custom and ancient culture are attract all the people from the whold world.We will talk about the main character of Impress Lijiang-Lijiang in the article.

                                                      Chapter One

                            Beauty of Lijiang

Lijiang, a popular destination in Yunnan, is considered a fairyland blessed with fresh air, clear streams, breathtaking snow mountains and an undisturbed landscape inhabited by a friendly group of people. 

Lijiang Old Town

It is great to enjoy a quiet and pleasant holiday in Lijiang Old Town which is graced by well-preserved ancient buildings and the Naxi culture.

While the geographical position of Lijiang City is remote, it has the advantage of ensuring a pleasant year round climate and a wide variety of tourist resources in the 20,600 square kilometers area. 

The earliest recorded history of Lijiang can be traced back to the Warring States Period (476 BC-221 BC) but with the advent of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the local economy reached a peak with the development of the Ancient Tea-Horse Road which made a great contribution to both commercial and cultural communication between Tibet, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces.

At present, Lijiang City is an attractive tourist destination in Yunnan Province that exercises jurisdiction over four counties and an Old Town District. Lijiang is the main region inhabited by Naxi Group, one of China's 55 minority ethnic groups. In its long history, the local residents have established their splendid Dongba Culture which has absorbed aspects of the culture of Tibet and the Central Plains along the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. The various souvenirs marked with these Dongba hieroglyphs are very popular with visitors from home and abroad.

● Features of Lijiang

1. Old Naxi architecture and special water system are the outstanding features of Lijiang.

It is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage List special preservation area.

Naxi Cuisine

3. Naxi Cuisine: The local Naxi cuisine features a lot of high-protein dairy and beef products like yogurt, yoghurt-honey-fruit blends, yak milk tea, yak cheese, warm yak milk, yak steak and yak butter. This is unusual in China. Yaks are related to cows and buffalos. Of course, there are many kinds of restaurants in the city.

4. About half an hour north is Jade Dragon Snow Mountain with several scenic park areas, some hiking trails and a 4,680 meter (15,354) foot peak. People can climb to near the top of the peak on a stairway and pass by a glacier.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

5. The Leaping Tiger Gorge area has great hiking and scenic sights. If the road is open, there are many tour buses available.

6. The city gives access to other scenic and hiking areas include the First Bend of the Yangtze River and Lugu Lake.

7. Naxi beverages include various kinds of tea such as yak milk tea and traditional beer.

8. It was a trading town on the historic Chama Road (Southern Silk Road).

● Touring Activities

1. Visit the ancient districts, shop and dine.

2. Go on high country walks and see the scenery. Hike above the Yangtze River.

3. Take a bus tour in the Leaping Tiger Gorge area.

4. Enjoy some protein-rich Naxi cuisine.

5. Go to other nearby ancient areas such as Dali that is 3 hours south or to natural sites in the Three Parallel River UNESCO Heritage Site areas. The Leaping Tiger Gorge area is one of the UNESCO listed natural preserve sites.

● Travel Information

Black Dragon Pool

1. Best Time to Visit: The urban area of Lijiang has a fairly temperate climate. In the winter, the nightly low temperatures are just above freezing. Of course, the conditions on the mountains can be extreme. To hike in the mountains, the best times are the month of May or in the fall. These months are outside of the annual rainy season that extends from June to September, and the temperatures at the lower elevations are cool or warm.

2. Dayan Ancient City District is a pedestrian-only area.

3. Parks: Black Dragon Pool and Yuquan Park are just to the west of the Dayan Ancient City District. You can walk there.

4. Since there is less modern construction around the Baisha Quarter and Shuhe town, those might be places to better appreciate the traditional culture.

Naxi people

5. Clothing and Altitude: The altitude is about 2,400 meters or about 7,800 feet. Some people may get some altitude sickness. So take it easy the first day or two. In the winter, the low nightly temperatures are a little above freezing. So bring plenty of clothes. Bring rain gear for the rainy season between June and September.

6. Warning Tip: The cobblestones are slippery when they are wet, so please be careful when walking on them.

--The beauty of Lijiang is waiting for your own discovery. Go and explore and then you will find all the fantastic there.