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Lijiang 14th and 16th April, 2011

Having flown in on the 14th, we really only had a cursary look at this wonderfully rebuilt old town.

We came back again after visiting Dali and other villages in the Shaxi valley, giving us more time to enjoy its pretty car less streets, each one with a narrow canal keeping the whole town well supplied with fresh water from the mountains, pushed along by these huge water wheels.

The ancient Naxi Town is located in a fertile valley 2,400 meters above sea level at the foot of the 5,600 meter high Yulong Shan or Jade Dragon Mountain.  An earthquake destroyed most of the city in 1996, and after its reconstruction, Lijiang was listed by the Unesco as a Word Heritage site.

Cherry blossom is out in all the trees, and these dear old Bai women, who still live in this town must be overwhelmed by the number of tourists now.  Our guide told us that renting out a shop front to their house is as good as being a bank, the rent they can command means that they have more money now than they could ever imagine!

Right opposite our hotel is this delightful Tibetan House Cafe where we could have delicious western style breakfast and food in the evening for a change.  Christine and Bunty and I take a look at the beautiful book of photos of the Tiger Leaping Gorge which we are about to undertake by trecking uphill at a height of 3,000 meters plus.

Maybe that explains the worried look?  I ended up having such a bad head cold that I did not do it, and hence was able to get this website done!

So many beautiful restaurants and shops to choose from, its a wonder they all do any business, but not when you see the huge tour groups of Chinese tourists!

The old stone bridge, where couples would propose to each other against their parents wishes

The market square, where Bai village ladies and tourists rest and enjoy the sights alike

This is how busy the square used to be during the tea trading time of 1924

(photo taken by Joseph Rock, and America botanist)

No rubbish, everything is recycled and proper bins everywhere!

We couldn’t believe these roses cascading off the tree were real!

The view of Lijiang from the top of Lion Mountain, all the houses close together, no room for cars!

The bar street at 4 p.m. is quiet, but come evening, the music is loud and the bars are full!

Our first guide Dorgee, obviously knew which were the best ones!

All these chefs have just been given their instructions for the evening

The beers cost 15 Yuan, so it’s not a cheap place to get drunk!

We did the opposite, and did a tea tasting of Pue tea, which has lost its tannin due to being kept for up to 6 years, pressed into dried round pieces with a whole in the middle.

We go to the traditional Naxi Dongb Music concert in the evening.  It’s such a treat to see these 80 year old men playing such ancient musical instruments.  One of the younger men must have been given the chop, as he had such a high squeeky voice to suit the songs of 300 years ago!

I promise I took this photo, it looks like a painting doesn’t it? Taken from the park surrounding the Black Dragon Pool, early in the morning that Christine and Bunty were doing the Tiger leaping gorge!  I had a swift walk around the lake and watched older people doing their Tai Chi and group excercises instead!

This is one of the courtyards of the San He hotel we stayed in.