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Lijiang

Pictures by QT Luong

More pictures of Lijiang Next pictures: Baisha
[1 : Overview]
[2 : Canals]
[3 : Old Streets]
[4 : The Town]
[All]
Lijiang, possibly the best preserved old town in China, is one of the last places in this country where a visitor can witness and experience a historic, traditional urban culture. Remarkably, the old houses with stone foundations, plastered whitewashed brick walls, red wooden doors, shutters and balconies, and sloping tiled roofs, survived a recent earthquake without much damage, while the new concrete buildings were flattened. Adding to the charm of the narrow, winding, mostly pedestrian cobblestone streets is a network of canals. They are fast flowing from the Black Dragon Pool, a nice park with some interesting temples and a great view of the nearby Jade Dragon Snow Mountains.

Lijiang is home to the Naxi, a minority matriarcal culture originating from Tibet. The Dongba, Naxi shamans of a religion which is an almalgalm of Tibetan buddhism, Islam, and Taoism, created more than a thousand years ago a writting language consisting of more than 1300 pictographs. It is the only hieroglyphic language still in use. There are interesting foods to try, as well as traditional music to hear. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lijiang is in Yunnan, 570 km north-west of Kunming. It can be reached by air or road (a couple of hours from Dali, a full day to Jinjiang, the railhead).

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Kegong tower (memorial archway of imperial exam) reflected in canal, sunrise. Lijiang, Yunnan, China ( color) Big water wheel at the entrance of the Old Town. Lijiang, Yunnan, China ( color) Naxi woman offers eggs for sale to local residents. Lijiang, Yunnan, China ( color) Restaurant across the canal. Lijiang, Yunnan, China ( color) White walled houses surrounding a canal. Lijiang, Yunnan, China ( color) Streets, bridge, wooden houses, red lanterns and canal. Lijiang, Yunnan, China ( color) Painting a bridge. Lijiang, Yunnan, China ( color) Women eat outside the Snack Food in Lijiang restaurant. Lijiang, Yunnan, China ( color) Cobblestone street and wooden doors at sunrise. Lijiang, Yunnan, China ( color) Street in the morning with dumplings being cooked. Lijiang, Yunnan, China ( color) Naxi woman at doorway selling broiled corn. Lijiang, Yunnan, China ( color) Naxi women selling dumplings and Naxi baba flatbread. Lijiang, Yunnan, China ( color) Candlelight lanters to be floated on a canal at night. Lijiang, Yunnan, China ( color) Elderly Naxi men. Lijiang, Yunnan, China ( color) Decorated Dongba script for sale. The Naxi created 1000 years ago the only hieroglyphic language still in use. Lijiang, Yunnan, China ( color) Rooftops of the old town seen from Wangu tower. Lijiang, Yunnan, China ( color) Pavillon reflected in the Black Dragon Pool, with Jade Dragon Snow Mountains in the background. Lijiang, Yunnan, China ( color) Women wearing Naxi dress. Lijiang, Yunnan, China ( color) Courtyard of the Wufeng Lou (Five Phoenix Hall) with spring blossoms. Lijiang, Yunnan, China ( color) Elderly musicians of the Naxi Orchestra playing traditional instruments. Lijiang, Yunnan, China ( color)
There are 20 color pictures on this page out of 89 color pictures of Lijiang.