Lijiang
CCTV.COM (07.07 2003 14:58)
On the southeastern tip of the Tibetan Plateau, surrounded by mountains and rivers, sits a small, yet ancient town called Lijiang. It has withstood the strong winds and rains of the plateau to retain a look from a timeless past.
Lijiang is one of the most famous tourist attractions in China. Lijiang is such a charm no wonder everybody loves it. The best thing to do here is to wander around early in the morning, before the shops open and other travelers wake up.
One suggestion is to follow the intricate network of canals, which forms a web connecting the whole city. The canals were built so that water flows past every Naxi courtyard. People follow unwritten but rigorous rules regarding the usage of the water. It's believed the water flow was channeled directly from the snow water of Jade Dragon Mountain.
The people here are mainly from the Naxi ethnic group and you can still see many older women dressed in their traditional attire. In times past, Naxi women did all the hard work while men were free to indulge in more sophisticated pursuits, such as poetry and music. They have an obvious passion for flowers, as almost every courtyard is a garden.
The twists and turns of small lanes, narrow cobbled streets and the gurgling canal all help create a place where you can lose all your worldly worries. With a history that goes back 800 years, the old town now welcomes travelers from around the world like an amiable old grandfather, who never lets the guests down.
Life here couldn't be more comfortable. There is an upside to Lijiang being a tourist attraction. A late breakfast in one of the many up-scale cafes fits the slow, lazy pace of life. The pizzas, pancakes and coffee are up to standard, refined over the years through tips from overseas travelers.
Many traditional Naxi houses, made of adobe bricks and wood, have a pleasant courtyard and have been turned into hotels and inns. These are also the structures that withstood a major earthquake in 1992 in Yunnan province. Their durability made Chinese architects rethink the value of traditional homes. The hotel price can be as low as 20 yuan for one bed. It's not only cheap, but also a great way to get closer to the Naxi lifestyle.
Editor:Han Ling
