Songzhuju Hostel

The Naxi

by Willettsworld

The people of the Naxi ethnic minority mostly live in the Naxi Autonomous County in Lijiang, Yunnan Province, while the rest live in Sichuan and Tibet. Their population is 308,893 according to the 2000 census. In the name Naxi (also spelled Nakhi), Na means senior and honored and Xi means people. Lijiang has been the base of the Naxi for about the last 1400 years.

Naxi women wear blue blouses and trousers covered by a blue or black apron. Their written language has been around for over 1000 years and is an extraordinary system of pictographs - the only hieroglyphic language still in use. You'll, no doubt, see them dancing or just sitting around in the Old Town especially in the large square near the waterwheels or in the market square.

Naxi Restaurant in Lijiang Old Town

by vigi

Too bad I do not remember name of this restaurant. It is a Naxi Restaurant located in Xin Yi Street in Lijiang Old Town, along river side. Good food, good amosphere, and friendly staff wearing traditional Naxi costumes. Fried bamboo.
Fried Yak Meat.

Shu He ancient town

by yangzhigong

Shu He ancient town is another small town near Li Jiang, the building and street there is keeping it's original style, but this town is not well known as Li Jiang, so few people go there for trip. Rent a kab from Li Jiang to there only cost 50 RMB, include the ticket. Another good news for visitor is the same goods selling there is half cheaper than Li Jiang.

Best Concert in Town

by bpacker

Like every traveller, time is limited and I did not want to watch all 3 of the popular concerts when I was in town. First off my list was a play staged in Mu Mansion since the poster contained too many grandiose claims that tourists are apt to believe in. The second was "Impressions, Lijiang" since it meant :

1)foregoing a photo shoot at the pristine lake at Blue Moon Valley
2)paying yet another fee (190RMB) after paying lots of RMBs already at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain toll gates
3)Sitting down for a story with no plot, even though the whole thing was orchestrated by Zhang Yimou (the chap who did Hero).

That left me with the Naxi Music Orchestra and honestly, that was the reason why I even bothered to drop in at Lijiang at all. Long before I travelled to Lijiang, I have heard of the famous orchestra which was once persecuted by the Red Guards. Since then, they have revived and albeit only 6 musicians in their 80's remain from the original 25, they were still able to churn out ancient repertoires which are a thousand years old. Little wonder that Naxi music is called 'the living fossil' of Chinese music.

Where to watch this : Every night at 8pm, Naxi Concert Hall, Dongda St
Tickets :140 RMB (cheaper if you ask a local to buy for you).

Lijiang Old Town (aka Da Yan Gu Cheng)

by ericlijiang

"An interesting fact about Lijiang Old Town"

One is that the local Chinese minority people, known as the Naxi people, build their houses using wood. These wooden houses are not so hot during the summer and are able to keep them through the Winter!