Lijiang Old Town
Photos of Lijiang Old Town
Lijiang Old Town
Channels cross around all the Town, numerous of small bridges stand upon the rivers like the rainbows and dense of weeping willow swing with the wind are the sign of Lijiang Old Town. With the altitude of 2400 Meters, Lijiang Old Town is titled as National Famous Historical and Cultural City. Also, because of the magnificent scenery and the characteristic structure, Lijiang Old Town is named as “Oriental Venice”.
Walking through the gate is like going back several centuries with the lovely old Chinese houses along the old cobbled paths. There are many of wooden bridges cross through the streams that are all clean and full of goldfish released by visitors for luck.
Lijiang Old Town sits at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Yulong Show Mountain). Waters from Jade Dragon River flows down from the North of the city, that illustrates the “West river”, “Middle river” and “East River” in Lijiang Old Town. Waters go through all the town while the main river separated into several tributaries. It forms Lijiang Old Town the picturesque scene of “channels runs through every alley; clear streams cross through every family”.
People live in Lijiang Old Town are strict for the usage of water. There is a famous well located in the town named “Three eyes well”, which means waters from the well of first eye are used for drinking; the second one is for vegetable-washing while the third one is only for clothes-washing.
Main streets in Lijiang Old Town are separated into several small roads and alleys, they all link together and extend in all directions. Several small and bendy alleys interlaced in a complicative situation, just like a maze. Right in the center of Lijiang Old Town, the “Si Fong Jie” square, it’s not difficult to see there are always some Naxi old people leisuring around. Carrying the tippet embroidered with seven stars on it, which represents the Naxis’ admiration of hardworking spirit – start working nonstop from the early morning till the late evening.
Naxi minority people like to gather together no matter for chatting, playing cards, chess, or dance with the traditional Naxi music. Besides, around the Si Fong Jie there are tones of boutiques sell all kinds of Chinese traditional arts, paintings, copper wares, handicrafts, accessories and of course, various forms of products with the Naxi unique picture-liked language – The “Dongba” pictograph characters on it.
After dark, Lijiang Old Town presents you a different image. The whole area is lit with lamps, red lanterns, and alive with songs and music. Boys ad girls wear their Naxi traditional clothes, standing in front of the bars and restaurants then singing together for welcoming the guests.
Histoire de Lijiang
Lijiang Old Town was first built in the Nan Song Dynasty, till now it’s already 800 years of history. It took part the key position for military and political affairs in Northwest Yunnan. Also represents an important place for Naxi, Han and Tibetan people exchanged their cultures and for the economic trading. As Lijiang Old Town situated in the good location between Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet, it was the essential town for the Tea Horse Old Road as well.
In December 1997, Yunnan Lijiang Old Town was officially listed on the World Cultural Heritage.
Entrance fee
An entrance fee for the maintenance of Lijiang Old Town has now been established by the Lijiang Municipality. Its amount is 80RMB. It is now mandatory, you can not escape with the various controls that exist at different entrances to the old city, from 7h to 19h.
