Lijiang Local Customs

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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.

•Purer tea is quite expensive. Many Chinese like to also drink it with Chrysanthemums in it.
So, if you have "Chinese" friends and they ask for purer tea be prepared to spend as much on the tea as you would the meal!!

Cost 68 Yuan.

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Cuando llegas a Lijiang te llama la atención que a la puerta de todas las casas tienen faroles rojos que por la noche se encienden y dan un caracter muy especial a la ciudad

When you arrive in Lijiang striking that at the door of every house they have red lanterns that are lit at night and they give a very special character to the city

Aunque hay mucho barullo y jaleo en Lijiang , no deja de haber también tranquilidad , como se puede ver en la sieta de este gato

Although there is much chaos and noise in Lijiang, you also have tranquil places , as you can see in the "siesta" of this cat sieta

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En cuanto se sube a las zonas altas de Lijiang se pueden ver todos los tejados . Parece un mar gris , pues todos los tejados son de pizarra


As soon as you go to the upper area of Lijiang you can see all the rooftops . It looks like a grey sea, as all are slate roofs

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El agua viene desde las montañas del Dragón de Jade hasta la laguna del dragón Negro donde existe una represa y desde allí el agua baja para llenar los canales que hay en la ciudad antigua de Lijiang , le da vida a sus molinos y hace que se la pueda llamar la Venecia de Oriente

The water comes from the Jade Dragon mountains up to the Black Dragon pool where there is a dam and from here they fill of water the channels that exist down the river in the Ancient city of Lijiang , it gives life , to its water mills, its bridges and makes possible that we may call Lijiang the Venice of the East

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El grupo étnico Naxi (纳西族 ) es el más importantes en esta región de Lijiang . Destacan por las calles , las mujeres que están con sus vestidos azulones amplios , sus delantales negros , las cabezas cubiertas con sus gorros típicos o con gorros Mao , sus chaquetas y sus pantalones largos atados con cinturones y bandas de gran colorido , dispuestas para trabajar y también si hace falta para cantar y bailar uno de sus bailes tradicionales
La sociedad Naxi fue matriarcal , hasta la revolución , los niños vivían con las madres que eran las cabezas de familia , las que hacían los trabajos duros y las que transmitían las propiedades a sus hijos .
Dice una canción Naxi " La madre es la raiz del árbol y el hombre es la hoja"
Es curioso que esta sociedad permitía los "Amigos" (azhu) , por lo que una pareja podían ser amantes y seguir viviendo en sus casas. El amigo pasaba la noche en casa de su novia y al día siguiente por la mañana se volvía a su casa a vivir y trabajar con su madre .En caso de que hubiera niños , estos se quedaban con la mujer que era responsable de su educación


The Naxi ethnic group (纳西族) is the most important in this region of Lijiang. Emphasize in the streets, the women who are with their bluish dresses , black aprons, their heads covered with caps or hats typical Mao, their jackets and long pants tied with colourful belts and bands , always ready to work and if necessary to sing and dance one of their traditional dances
The Naxi society was matriarchal, until the revolution, children were living with their mothers who were the family heads , they did the hard work and conveying the properties to their children.
A Naxi song says : "The mother is the root of the tree and the man is the leaf"
It is curious that this society allowed the "Friend" (azhu), a couple could be lovers and continue living in their own family homes. The friend spent the night at home with his girlfriend and in the following morning he returned to his home to live and work with his mother. If they had children , they should stay with the woman who was responsible for their education

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En los parques , en las calles ... siempre puedes ver gente jugando al mah-jong , damas o cualquier otro juego ya que son grandes aficionados al juego , para apostar o simplemente para pasar un buen rato con los amigos y vecinos


In the parks, the streets ... you may always see people playing mah-jong, checkers or any other game because they are big fans of the game, to gamble or just to have fun with friends and neighbours