Towards the 24,28,30 or whatever BENDS!
by Bonobo2005
At Naxi, some donkeys were awaiting to be rented by hikers who wanted to have their luggage carried for the next stage to the highest point of the trek (cost maybe 4 USD).
I found this not necessary since you can take all the time you need, but then we were enjoying the pleasant winter climate and I can imagine how exhausting it could be when it's summer and over 30 Celcius!
The trail goes up steeply from the village and at every bend, you think: Is this the first of the famous series? But once you reach the real first bend you know it, looking up a sheer cliff face, and you realise that it all still has to start!
Cabs in Lijiang
by bpacker
The cabbies here are, on the whole, honest. They never gave us as much grief as the ones in Hanoi did! We did not encounter any unpleasant cabbies at all. Instead, we were charged according to the meter and the receipt shows a breakdown of the distance and price. The starting fare is also a lot cheaper compared to cities like Shanghai and Shen Zhen
Wengchang Temple
by John195123
A Daoist Temple on the same hill as the Wangu Tower, this is actually a real place, and, while it doesn't cost anything to get in, once you do, the monks will be very friendly and tell you about the place, act as your guide and have you spin something to pick out a fortune, after which they'll tell you your family is lucky, you are lucky and please to be donate 10 yuan. It's a scam. If you don't mind paying, so be it. But if you, like me, have little enough money as it is... let me put it this way- I don't mind paying a donation to help keep a place like this running- just don't wrap it up in a nice tourist bundle which makes it feel like a scam. I don't like that, and few other do either.
I asked a monk if I could take photos, he said I could. (No photos are allowed.) I was then yelled at by some other woman who I told that I had been given permission. She would hear none of it. So I got my shots and left... I can't really recommend this place- there's very little to see and it just felt like a tourist scam. I understand why they don't want photos taken and I respect that, however, I had been given permission...
Five images.
Baisha (White Sand) Village
by FreeCloud
The ancient Naxi fresco is located in the Da Baoji Hall in Baisha village.
Baisha village itself is interesting, and worth of exploring as well. The houses, narrow alleys, architecture are old, while people are not too far behind adapting themselves to modern life.
More later
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
by Willettsworld
The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain lies about 15km to the north of Lijiang and can be seen clearly from the town, especially from the Black Dragon Pool Park. Its highest peak, named Shanzidou, has an elevation of 5,596m or 18,359ft. The 13 peaks, which have the altitudes of at least 4,000 meters, are covered by snow all year round; the mountain is called the "Natural Glacier Museum" for it has all types of glacier. Move down from the mountaintop and you can see rivers and pools, which are formed by the thawed snow water running along the valley and through the forests. The plants and the animals are different according to the altitude, so are the views.
Instead of trekking up the mountain, you can simply take a cable car to an elevation of 4506m where walkways lead to awesome glacier views plus superb views of the main peak. Take bus No.7 (Y10) from Xin Dajie, before the Mao statue, in a small bus station on the same side of the road as the statue (sit on the driver’s side for the best views). It takes about an hour to get to the park entrance where you'll have to pay Y190 (not cheap! But I think the ticket lasts for two days). The bus will then drop you off outside the Visitor's Centre (see next tip).
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Lijiang Nights
Door 2
Money taker
Woman Walking
