The Best Places to Visit in Lijiang
Lijiang is an ancient city located in the northwest of Yunnan Province. It has a history of more than 800 years and is famous for its stunning landscapes. It is also called "Venice of the East". The ancient city of Lijiang is different from other Chinese cities in terms of architecture, history and culture, which here are closely linked to the tradition of the Naxi, who continue to maintain their ancestral customs. In 1997, UNESCO declared the Old City of Lijiang as a World Heritage Site. Since then the city has suffered a notable increase in tourism. Every year it attracts a large number of national and foreign visitors. To find a fairyland far from the bustling metropolises, don't hesitate to come here. In this article, we are going to introduce the best must-see places to travel around Lijiang as well.
Nestled at the foot of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, 6 km northwest of Lijiang Ancient Town, Shuhe Ancient Town was once a stopping point on the ancient Tea and Horse Route. It has an altitude of 2,440 meters above sea level. Along with its sister city, Lijiang, it is also part of the UNESCO Heritage Site. Shuhe is the first settlement of the Naxi people in Lijiang, when their ancestors first moved to this region. Tourists can appreciate Shuhe's top attractions such as Qinglong Bridge, Sifang Street and Dragon Pond. The Qinglong Bridge was built during the Ming Dynasty, and measures about 25 meters long and 4.5 meters wide, revealing the bustling past of history. Sifang Street, a market in the center of Shuhe Town, covers an area of about 250 square meters. The market is full of shops, all of them with archaic wooden facades. Travelers can purchase some leather products and various handicrafts at the market, such as elegant embroidery and costumes that reflect ethnic styles. There is a deep pond at the end of the street, called Dragon Pond. In the pond you can see all kinds of fish. Next to the pond there is a broken stele. Above the Long Pond is a temple called Sansheng Palace. Standing against the wooden railing, you will have a bird's eye view of the village that presents a poetic rural idyll.
Lashi Lake is located in the Hengduan mountain range basin, 10 kilometers from Lijiang Ancient Town. With an area of 5,330 hectares, Lashihai Lake is about 9.3 km long from south to north and 8.2 km wide from east to west. It is the largest lake in Lijiang. Lashihai International Wetland Park was approved as a plateau wetland nature reserve of Yunnan Province in June 1998. Since then, the nature reserve has been rehabilitated, protected and improved, making it a paradise for thousands. of birds composed of 57 species, a place where biodiversity has been effectively conserved. Around Lake Lashi live the Naxi and other minority nationalities, rich in cultural and folklore customs. Zhiyun Temple, located by the lake, is considered one of the five temples in Lijiang city.
Lugu Lake is located about 300 kilometers away from Lijiang. The center of the lake forms the border between Yunnan and Sichuan provinces. It is a plateau lake with a total area of 52 square kilometers, 2685 meters above sea level. Hugged by mountains, this lake is called the "mother lake" of Mosuo. There are five islands located on the lake, the most popular being Holy Mountain of Gemu (Lion Mountain). Local people worship him as their goddess Gemu.
