Published : 2022-10-14
When thinking of good places to visit in Yunnan, one naturally thinks of the landscapes of Lijiang.
The Lijiang Ancient Town, the miraculous Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the Black Dragon Pool are all extraordinary beauty spots, highly favored by domestic and foreign tourists.
Today, let's delve into the various historical sites in Yunnan Lijiang and feel the unique charm of this amazing place together!
The Lijiang Ancient Town
Lijiang Ancient Town (麗江古城), one of the four major ancient towns in China, was founded at the end of the Song Dynasty and the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty.
It is a very famous 5A level scenic area, a must-visit when traveling to Yunnan.
The residential buildings in Lijiang Ancient Town are all wooden ancient buildings. The streets are built along mountains and rivers and are paved with bluestone slabs.
Strolling in the narrow and uneven lanes of the ancient city, you can slowly savor the pink walls and dark tiles on both sides of the lanes and uncover one historical trace after another on the stone walls.
Walking along the bluestone pavement, one can easily observe the scene of flowing water and weeping willows in every household within the old town, as well as the small bridges spanning the waves, the slow rotation of large water wheels, and vividly beautiful flower clusters that can be seen everywhere, just like a series of lively lantern slides.
Every technique, every scene, every brick, and every tile reveal the beauty of Chinese garden art.
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In the ancient city of Lijiang, there are also a variety of local ethnic customs and recreational activities, including Naxi ancient music, Dongba rituals (東巴儀式), fortune-telling culture, and ancient town bar night markets, so you might as well spend more time experiencing local ethnic activities!
The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
When visiting Yunnan Lijiang, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (玉龍雪山) is also one of the must-visit spots.
The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a dreamland for many climbers and photography enthusiasts. It is a divine mountain in the hearts of the Naxi people, composed of 13 connected peaks, with beautiful and dangerous scenery, and is a shooting location for several movies and TV dramas.
The snow mountain is not far from the Lijiang Ancient Town, you can take the cable car up the mountain and observe the gradual changes in the mountain's vegetation from bottom to top.
At the foot of the mountain is a pasture, and between the spring and summer each year, this grassland blooms with colorful flowers, becoming a hotspot for many couples to take wedding photos.
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Don't miss the Yunshanping (雲杉坪) on the waist of the mountain, which is a sacred place of love for the Naxi people.
Here you can enjoy the dense spruce forest and alpine grassland and also admire the snow peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, which are as white as cotton. The scenery is spectacular, with just a few casual selfies being beautiful postcards.
The Black Dragon Pool
After the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the Black Dragon Pool (黑龍潭) is also not to be missed.
The Black Dragon Pool was built in the Qianlong period and is located at the foot of Xiangshan Mountain (象山) in the north of the city, at an altitude of about 2,500 metres above sea level.
Every kilometre or so along the Jade River (玉泉) from the Sifang Street (四方街) of Lijiang Ancient Town, there is a crystal-clear spring pool, which is why it is also known as the "Jade River Park" (玉泉公園).
Walking around the trail of Black Dragon Pool, there are several spots worth visiting in addition to pausing to admire the reflection-pool-like clear waters.
Such as the "Nine-Eye Cave" (九眼洞) that symbolizes the water outlet of the Black Dragon Pool, the "Five-Hole Bridge" (五孔橋) that symbolises the nine dragons controlling the water, and the "Yiwen Pavilion" (一文亭) that divides the Black Dragon Pool into two parts, the "Moon Tower" (得月樓) that is related to the idiom "the pavilion closest to the water enjoys moonlight first" and other ancient buildings.
The Shuhe Ancient Town
Finally, we arrive at the Shuhe Ancient Town (束河古鎮). The Shuhe Ancient Town is located at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and is about 4 kilometres away from Lijiang Ancient Town.
The town has the Jiuding River (九鼎河), Qinglong River (青龍河), and Shuhe River (束河) running through it, and is known for its reputation as "the Town of Clear Springs." (清泉之鄉)
The Shuhe Ancient Town is an important market town on the "Tea Horse Ancient Road" (茶馬古道) that is well-preserved, and it is also a gathering place for the Naxi ancestors. It is rich in ethnic culture and very distinctive.
The town also has included a "Dongba Wishing Wind Chime" (東巴許願風鈴) attraction with thousands of wind chimes and wish planks hung. Tourists can hang their blessings and wishes and take pictures here.
With the sound of gurgling water and a year-round spring-like climate, Shuhe ancient town is perfectly illustrative. In addition to rows of Naxi-style residences, what stands out is the ubiquitous streams and small waterfalls.
The streams in the ancient town are crystal clear, and the underwater plants are pleasing to the eye. A moment of close observation can instantly heal the mind and body.
There are endless fun and check-in worthy spots in Yunnan Lijiang. After the epidemic, if you have an opportunity to travel there, remember to take down this travel note, maybe it can inspire you with new travel routes!
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