Lijiang is an ancient city in northwest Yunnan Province with a history spanning over 800 years. Renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, it’s often referred to as the "Venice of the East." Unlike many other Chinese cities, Lijiang's architecture, history, and culture are deeply intertwined with the traditions of the Naxi people, who proudly preserve their ancestral customs. What can travelers do in Lijiang? Here, we’ve highlighted some activities to help you make the most of this enchanting destination.
The Top Things to Do in Lijiang
Marvel at the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain located about 15 kilometers north of Lijiang city. At more than 5,500 meters above sea level, this mountain stands out for its steep slope and its charming beauty. The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is called "Boshi Oulu" in the Naxi language, which means silver rock with white sand. The mountain boasts breathtaking natural beauty: snowy and glacial landscapes, alpine grassland landscapes, virgin forest landscapes, snow-capped mountains and water landscapes. It is a sacred mountain in the hearts of the Naxi people and all ethnic groups in Lijiang. The "Sanduo", the guardian god of the Naxi people, is the incarnation of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Lijiang people celebrate the "Sanduo Festival" every year.
Listen to Traditional Naxi Music
Ancient Naxi music is the crystallization of art created by the Naxi influenced by Confucianism and Taoism as a representative of the Central Plains civilization. The music has a strict succession from generation to generation, using gongchepu as a medium for the mouth and heart missionary. Apprentices recite the gongchepu and learn to play a musical instrument. And then little by little they practice and learn while playing, until they become expert songs. Because of this kind of strict succession, ancient Naxi music has been able to be saved until now.
Walk through the Ancient Towns of Lijiang
In Lijiang, there are some very famous ancient towns, such as Lijiang Ancient Town and Shuhe Ancient Town. Lijiang Ancient Town has a history of more than 800 years, it is a best-preserved historical city in China. It is a peaceful city of recreations, presenting traditional Chinese style architecture, an ideal place to explore the long-gone Dongba, and cultural heritage to memorize the brilliant glory of the past. 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. Tourists can appreciate Shuhe's top attractions such as Qinglong Bridge, Sifang Street and Dragon Pond.
See Beautiful Murals about Naxi Culture
The Baisha Mural, also known as Lijiang Mural, displayed in the splendid and ancient temples. The mural, with unique religious themes and magnificent painting skills, is one of the most important forms of Dongba culture of Lijiang. The originality and figures of the murals reflect the different religious cultures and artistic forms of Buddhism, Lamaism, Taoism and the development of the local Naxi Dongba religion in the Naxi school. Each painting includes at least a hundred portraits, which are not only of Buddha, but also of ordinary people, such as bureaucrats, farmers, citizens and even criminals. These murals have witnessed the superb art, extraordinary creativity and rich imagination of the ancients; They are not only valuable treasures of the history of Chinese painting, but also a transcendent cultural heritage that serves as an ambassador dedicated to promoting Chinese culture in the world.
Visit the Holy Lugu Lake
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.
See Wild flora and fauna at Lashihai Lake
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.
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