Lijiang
Lijiang
- The city occupies a fairly large geographical area that comprises
one district (the old town district) and four counties, including
the Liijang new town, Dayan old town, Shuhe old town, Baisha
old town , and parts of the Tiger Leaping Gorge. The Old Town
of Lijiang, a well-preserved old city of ethnic minorities with
brilliant culture, is the central town of the Lijiang Autonomous
County of the Naxi Ethnic Minority in Yunnan Province. Located
on a plateau which is 2,400 meters (7,874 feet) above sea level
and embraced by the tree-covered Lion Mountain in the west,
Elephant and Golden Row Mountains in the north and vast fertile
fields in the southeast with crystal clear water running through.
Lijiang is home to the ethnic Naxi people whose intriguing Dongba
religion and unique customs coupled with the region's enchanting
scenery combine to make Lijiang and its vicinity a fascinating
place to explore.
Local Places of Interest, Activities and Tours of the Surrounding
Areas
The
Old Town – The Old Town of Lijiang adapted itself
harmoniously to the uneven topography of this key commercial
and strategic site and has retained an historic townscape of
high quality and authenticity. Its architecture is noteworthy
for the blending of elements from several cultures that have
come together over many centuries. Lijiang possesses an ancient
water-supply system of great complexity and ingenuity that is
still functioning effectively. The old town known as “Dayan”
is protected as a UNESCO-designated World Cultural Heritage
Site and has a history of over 800 years. The Town is well-known
to the world because "each of the household is built by
the stream and surrounded by willow trees". Therefore,
the Dayan Town is praised as the "Oriental Venice".
Today the Old Town is a popular venue with tourists, no car
are permitted and the streets are filled with bars (busy in
the evenings), restaurants and shops. , the old houses with
stone foundations, plastered whitewashed brick walls, red wooden
doors, shutters and balconies, and sloping tiled roofs, survived
an earthquake in 1996 without much damage, while the new concrete
buildings were flattened.
Jade
Dragon Snow Mountain - The southernmost glacier in
the Northern Hemisphere. Consisting of 13 peaks, among which
Shanzidou is the highest one with an altitude of 5,600 meters
(18,360 feet). Jade Dragon Snow Mountain stretches 35km long
and 20km wide and is a sanctuary for rare animals and wild plants.
In fact, one fourth of all plant species in China can be found
here and 20 primeval forest communities shelter a big family
of 400 types of trees and 30 kinds of animals which are protected
by the state. These species live in different temperature levels
and create different kinds of views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
Take a Gondola ride up the mountain to experience the wonderful
views. Be aware the high altitude can have affect people in
different ways.
Impression
Lijiang - Impression Lijiang is a magnificant
outdoor production held on a huge man-made stage at the foot
of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain near Lijiang City. Approx 500
amateur performers from 10 ethnic minority groups selected from
some 16 towns and villages around Lijiang take part in this
amazing production by acclaimed Chinese director Zhang Yimou.
The performances are innovatively staged in the morning and
last approx one hour. It start with more than 400 male entertainers
in their traditional ethnic group costumes shouting at the sky,
"we are farmers, we are stars!" All the music, songs
and dances had been artistically produced to reflect the daily
lives of people.
Baisha
village and the Baisha Murals - Located 10km northwest
from Lijiang, Baisha village is a real, living old village,
with adobe walls and some rickety houses. In Baisha, you've
moved beyond the reach of the souvenir shops. Here you can view
The Baisha Mural in the Buddhist Temple. Made from 1385 to 1619,
employing the eclectic artist energies of Chines Daoist, Tibetan
and Naxi Buddhists and local dongba shamans. This rich fusion
had resulted in a tremendously powerful art, heavy in spirit
and awe-inspiring in its presentation of the mystical world.
Each painting includes at least one hundred portraits. Many
of the scenes and subject matters are drawn from daily life
and show fishing, riding horses, weaving, dancing and casting
iron. The painters used different methods of portrayal within
the different elements of the fresco, such as flesh, garments,
jewelry, weapons and many other components.
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© 1996 -
PerryGolf
