Attractions in Lijiang: Baisha Frescoes Baishui River Baoshan Stone Village Dayan Town Jade Spring Park The Great Trek The Mansion of Mu Clan The Yangtze River Bend Tiger Leaping Gorge Yufeng Lamasery Yulong Snow Mountain Yunshanping

Lijiang Introduction

The ancient city of Lijiang is situated in the northwest of Young Province, south of the Yulong (Jade Dragon) Snow Mountain, and at the upper reaches of the Jinsha River. This is also the first bend on the Changjiang River, better known as Tiger Leaping Gorge.

Here, at the very heart of the ancient Naxi Kingdom, "Dongba" culture still exists today. Lijiang is incredibly rich in cultural resources, home to the Baisha Frescoes (a national historical relic) and "Naxi Dongjing Music" being living examples of Tang and Song Dynasty art, and also Dongba hieroglyphs, the only existing pictographs in the world.

Dayan Town, the capital of Lijiang, was first built at the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty. This town is known as "Oriental Venice", or "Suzhou on the Plateau", with water flowing past almost every household, and every home surrounded by picturesque willow trees.

Lijiang abounds in water resources. The Jinsha River winds its way through this area for 447 km. Lijiang is also rich in flora and fauna with over 20 virgin forests, over 800 species of medical plant, almost 3000 species of seed plant, and over 20 species of animal.

The nicest aspect of life in Lijiang however, is the feeling that this was, and in many respects still is, a vitally important historical center.. Although tourism has taken over the town, the effects of this have not really been too detrimental and the wealth of historical treasures here is incredibly rich. The locals are also very friendly, welcoming visitors to their city, allowing outsiders to get a unique glimpse of an intriguing and rich ancient culture.

Sight Overview
Located on the upper reaches of the Jinsha River, Lijiang is famous for its gorgeous mountains, old towns and villages and the survival of one of the world's oldest folk cultures.

There is a wealth of natural beauty here. The imposing Yulong Snow Mountain, is one of the best glacier mountains in China, with a total of thirteen peaks. At The First Bend of the Yangtze River, due to the obstruction of mountain ranges, the river makes a detour, forming a mammoth V shape. Following the river downstream, you'll arrive at Tiger Leaping Gorge, which has long been deemed one of the most magnificent gorges in the world, exerting a great magnetic force. Yufeng Temple, one of the seven largest lamaseries in Yunnan, boasts a huge Camellia tree that locals claim is the largest of its kind in China.

Lijiang is not only the center of the Dongba culture of the Naxi minority group, but also the place where Han, Tibetan and Bai cultures blend together. The old city of Lijiang is full of atmosphere too. Houses here are built in Bai and Han architectural style, forming a glorious and harmonious picture with beautiful rivers and mountains in the distance. Almost every household has access to streams or brooks and locals name the city "Oriental Venice".