Lijiang Ancient Town, Yunnan Attractions
Introdution
Lijiang Old Town is located on the outskirts of the present-day city of Lijiang, Yunnan Province. The old, original village is built around the concept of a network of canals that were intended to provide water to each and every household. The source of the water is Black Dragon Pool, a natural spring from which arises 3 small rivers, denoted simply as the East, West, and Middle rivers.
History & Background
The town has a history going back more than 1,000 years and was once a confluence for trade along the "Old Tea Horse Caravan Trail". The Dayan Old town is famous for its orderly system of waterways and bridges, a system fast becoming but a memory as the underground water table drops, probably due to over-building in the suburban areas.
Lijiang's culture combines traditional Nakhi culture and incongruous elements learned from Ming dynasty Han Chinese traders who settled in the region centuries ago. Nakhi people have kept alive a timber and mud brick housing style which they learned from Nanjing traders. Local carpenters still build elaborately constructed timber house frames from memory without blueprints or other diagrams. These houses are often enhanced by detailed flower and bird carvings on the windows. The carvings are now made by ethnic Bai artisans, but attention is given to depicting the flora and fauna of the four seasons in the traditional Han Chinese manner. Even impoverished farming families gather their resources to install carved windows, and seem to consider them more important than furniture for the house. The window panels are available for sale to tourists.
The Nakhi people learned Chinese classical music from the visitors from Nanjing during the Ming Dynasty and continue to play that music even to this day, long after the art died out in other parts of China. The old musicians have been organized for regular performances in Dayan Old Town and less regular performances in the outlying villages.
Side by side with this well preserved evidence of Han culture resides Nakhi local culture, and this can be seen in the old town and on many street corners even today in the form of circle dances, attended by young and old from the local neighborhoods. The Dayan Old Town circle dances are led by Hakhi women in local Nakhi costume.
Circle dancing in costume is also a custom of the Tibetan people to the north of Lijiang and of the Bai people to the south. Previously there were substantial Tibetan and Bai settlements in Dayan Old Town but most of these people have been resettled to districts away from the tourist areas. Tibetan circle dancing can be seen occasionally in Dayan Old Town and more regularly in private gardens of local Tibetans.
Greater Lijiang was registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List on December 4, 1997. Since then, the local government has taken more responsibility for the development and protection of the old city. Lijiang's tourism increased over the past twenty years, and travelers from around the world visit, though most tourists are still Han Chinese from other parts of China; the old town of Dayan has been extensively redeveloped with an eye to enhancing its commercial appeal to Han Chinese tourists and the genuinely old buildings are now in the minority.
Cobblestone streets and stone bridges
As with many ancient towns, Lijiang Old Town features wide cobblestone streets and archaic stone bridges. While its novel water system bears proof to Lijiang’s status as a crucial city during its heydays.
The Square Market (Sifang Square) is the social and geographical centre of town. From here, a few major streets branch out. Including Xinhua Street, DongDa Street, Guangyi Street, QiYi Street and WuYi Street.
Due to its myriad of narrow and twisting cobblestone alleys, Lijiang Old Town is out of bound to vehicles. It takes about 20 minutes to walk from one end of the old town to the other.
Culture
Performances by the Nakhi of Dongjing Music, an ancient form of Han Chinese ritual music, can be heard for a fee in Dayan and for a donation in Shuhe, Baisha and sometimes in other villages in the area. A pricy glamorization of the Tea and Horse Caravans is presented in the form of a musical organized by film producer and director Zhang Yimou.
Culinary discovery
Savour a traditional Nakhi hotpot at Man Yi Xuan or a traditional tea
tasting including the finest Yunnan Black Tea and aged Puer Tea at the
Tea House. In season, usually between June and September, hunt for
Matsutake mushrooms in the rain scented forests of Heqing, then feast on
these revered delicacies in a farmhouse lost in time.
Orderliness and Cleanliness
Lijiang Old Town is a major destination for both local and foreign tourist. Thus, the Chinese government is particularly cautious about maintaining its security and cleanliness.
The police presence in Lijiang is heavy and obvious. Police squads can frequently be seen patrolling the old town. Ensuring Lijiang is a generally safe place.
Even the taxis in Lijiang city are heavily monitored. We were assured by our hotel host that taxi drivers (at least those plying near the old town) generally charge by meters and does not try to rip off tourist.
The authorities had also done a good job in ensuring Liijang Old Town’s cleanliness. The streets are largely well kept. While the public toilets within the old town are amongst the cleanest you’ll find at any Chinese tourist attractions.
Travel Guide Information
Admission Fee: CNY 80
Openning Hours: 08:00-19:00
Recommended Time for Visiting: 1-3 Days
Tel:Tel: 86-888-5123432
How to Get to Lijiang Ancient Town:
Take Bus No.1 and get off at Minzhu Road stop; Or take Bus No.2 , get off at Zhendong Road stop; Take Bus No.3 and get off at Xinda Street stop