It is hard to imagine wearing such heavy multi-layered attire every day, but it is said to be functional in local climate. Most of elderly Naxi women never take off their hat or the leather-backing cape outside of the house. There are of course exceptions--when a guest girl comes afar and volunteers to be a Barbie doll...

In Naxi tradition, women shoulder more hard work in everyday life while men are free to indulge themselves in more sophisticated pursuits, such as poetry and music.

Naxi Ancient Music of 500 hundred years of history is normally performed by men only. Although time has changed.

The orchestra used to be famous for "three-olds": old men (most of the players are over 70 years old); old musical instruments, many are practically antiques and old songs, a crystallization of poetic topics and musical tones of the Tang, Song and Yuan Dynasties.

Miss Yan Ling(our anchor) said, "I heard about concerns of the succession of Naxi ancient music. Seeing the full house concert hall and new blood in the orchestra, I see very few reasons to worry about... "

Nightlife

Lijiang nightlife offers enough varieties catering to most vacationers. Shops stay open as long as there are customers; you can go wining and dining even after midnight. My favorite thing to do is, again, the after dinner promenade, by the canals of course.

Interview

Yan Ling: What is this?

Local resident: A wishing lamp, also called fortune lamp. It is a Naxi tradition.

Yan Ling: How do you make a wish with it properly?

Local resident: Hold the lamp with both hands, facing the water and make a wish, then put the lamp in the river with your right hand. The river is called the river of blessing. And the water comes from Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. It is magical...