Lijiang Nightlife

4 more images

One of the must see (and for that matter hear), things to do in the evening whilst in Lijiang is to pay a visit to the Naxi Orchestra. This music shouts China and is the ancient music, the traditional Naxi classical music that is regarded as a 'living fossil of Chinese music.'

The orchestra is made up of 33 men and women - the men wearing silk clothes and the women wearing the local costume. A woman announcer, who spoke both Chinese and English, came on stage and introduced some of the eldest guys - about 6 of them are in their 80's with the eldest at 86. Above them over the top of the stage are black and white photos of previous players. The woman announcer also mentioned about some of their instruments - the oldest of which was 175 years old and, of course, these are nothing like we have back home. There was no conductor - the 86 year old guy was the conductor who played some kind a hanging chime thing which he struck in time and he also chanted the rest of the orchestra at the beginning of each piece of music. The music is traditional Naxi music and also features some singing by the women, a flute solo and 2 operatic songs. All-in-all it was great to both see and hear and it will stay with me for a long time, as music does that to your senses.

Tickets costs between Y100-160.

2 more images

I was quite amazed by just how much nightlife there was in Lijiang. The main concentrate exists along Xinhua Jie where the main Yu River runs along. Here you can find many bars and a few dancing night clubs and all kinds of music from modern disco to a solo act playing acoustic guitar.

2 more images

If there is one thing I didn't like that much about Lijiang is the No. 1 Bar Street (Xinghua Street) Especially at night when the cafes and restaurants "came to life" and converted into pubs with live performances and performances (fusion of traditional Naxi dance and modern Hip Hop, techno, etc.) I do reckon that economic growth comes with a price but I can't help feeling a tinge of sadness...

If you're longing to be in a place where you're surrounded by good books, coffee and a hushed ambience, Prague Cafe is it. They have the best cakes and possibly the most extensive coffee menu (vietnamese caphe, blue mountain coffee, yunnan coffee, etc) in town.

Needless to say, it's the perfect place to regain a bit of your sanity if you've been travelling in China for weeks on end. Guide books always fail to mention that weeks of drinking tea and eating oily noodles/white rice can wrecked untold havoc to a person weaned on a western diet. The regular dinner/lunch menu is just as extensive and they have very good sandwiches/juicy hamburgers stacked with vegetables.

Tip:The cheesecake usually sell out by 8pm since they're bloody good.

Dress Code: regular backpacker's uniform aka casual clothes that look as though they haven't been washed for weeks on end.

or

casually expensive clothing favoured by expats.

Recommended by the Australian, The Lonely Planet, Rough Guide

This is the best place in town for live music and a good bottle of beer, period. The musician over here really knows how to work the guitar, never mind if the lyrics were in Mandarin, it sounded good! The bar also has a good Chinese and French menu if you're feeling peckish in the wee hours of the night.

Tip: Avoid the local wine at all costs. It gives you a stinking headache for hours on end.

Another useful tip: It's ok to reject the itinerant flower peddler who buzzes in and out of the bars. Get your wife/gal pal to do a quick and easy rejection.

3 more images

When sun sets, red lanterns light. Girls and boys are preparing for "singing campaign". If you could, you would be welcom. The two level barrooms usually open all windows so that people inside may sing with others who in the opposite bank barrooms seperated by a small river. Local people dance around needfire at the Square Street on Tuesday,Thursday and Saturday each week. If you would like, you could dance following them, but they seem not like you inserting into their line. If you just want to watch or dream, sit and drink in a good seat. Going shopping or walking along the small river in a quiet street is also available.

Dress Code: Casual clothing

3 more images

Sakura restaurant own establishements on both sides of the canal and each side competes with friendly chants. Other have posted jutifiably admiring reviews of the Sakura restaurant. I am adding some pictures.

Dress Code: Very informal

There's a very very cool bar in the south end of Old Town. It's cooler than any of the other places we went into. Unfortunately I don't remember the name. It's across from Mu's Residence. At night, it's filled with young travelers. Great ambience.