Lijiang Favorites

Fondest memory: Before leaving the BaiSha Mesuem, I had to pass through a long street of tourists shops. Here is one of them doing sculpture of "DongBa writing" which is also a living fossil. Dongba is an ancient written language of the Naxi people developed about 1000 years ago, its script is firmly based on pictures.

Fondest memory: After the orchastra performance, I took a look at the mural wall paintings, very impressive, unfortunately no photos allowed. Walked into the back yard, I found some Naxi women dancing in the traditional Naxi way. They gathered in a circle, swinging hands and kicking legs. Always the same steps and same music, nothing new. And they came to ask for "donation" after dancing, really "professional"!

Fondest memory: Second day in Lijiang, I headed to BaiSha Village, wanna feel the minotiry beat. Without disappointment, the first thing I saw was a group of old Naxi man. They are actually 70-80 years old musicians of a Naxi Orchestra, working inside the mesume. How amazing when these old people played the long lost ancient music.

Fondest memory: Lijiang Old Town is one of the few ancient towns in the world that not to be surrounded by city walls. DongDa Street is the main street in the old town, you can find everything here: banks, pharmacy, convinent stores, restaurnts, tourist information office, etc. In order to preserve structures of the old town, no motorized transport is allowed here. Only wheeled vehicles such as bicycles and carts are permitted within the old town.

Fondest memory: Si Fang Street is the heart center of Lijiang Old Town. Since ancient times, Sifang Street has been a collecting and distributing center of all kinds of products with travelers and traders going and coming everywhere. Nowadays, you can still find people wearing traditional minority clothings in Si Fang Street.

Fondest memory: A short walk after dinner, we found a table alongside a river stream, sat down and had a few beers. Romantic enough with breathtaking views beside me. The river is clean, very clean, not smelly at all. There're even live fishes and seaweeds inside. Absolutely pleasant experience.

There're lots of restaurants along the river, not difficult to find one with nice view. But funny that I can hardly find one solely bar or pub is this area.

Fondest memory: After dinner, I wondered around Lijiang Old Town, found this "alive Chairman Mao". He looks very real (he is indeed a real person) and was posting Mao's posts in front of my camera. In fact, he was trying to attract customers to browse/buy his calligraphy.

Fondest memory: Chinese people are actually very friendly, except some of them from money driven cities such as Guangzhou & Shenzhen. I met these group of mainland Chinese tourists from Guizhou when I stepped in a guest house in Lijiang, they don't speak English, but were having fun singing and playing with this Dutch guy. They even invited him for dinner.