Lijiang Travel Guide
Yunnan Province | Population: 155,000
Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, China (also called Lijiang Ancient Town) was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the charming waterways, ancient bridges, wooden houses, old-world inns, and other historical and cultural attractions. Often referred to as the “Oriental Venice”, Lijiang City has an aesthetic quality that makes it look like a Chinese painting. Yet, the city is different from the other water towns of China. In the other towns, the architecture usually conforms to the Ming or Qing imperial style. Whereas, the architecture in Lijiang City represents the artistic talents of several ethnic groups like the Han Chinese, Naxi, Tibetan, and Bai. These houses have large courtyards full of willow trees that almost touch the waters as well as numerous flowering plants.
The waters of the Yuquan River flow through the city till the Yudai Bridge. At this juncture, the water bifurcates into three canals that spread all over the city to form a navigable waterway system for the locals as well as tourists. So the easiest way to explore this splendid city is by boat or walking along the promenades.
The waters of the Yuquan River flow through the city till the Yudai Bridge. At this juncture, the water bifurcates into three canals that spread all over the city to form a navigable waterway system for the locals as well as tourists. So the easiest way to explore this splendid city is by boat or walking along the promenades.
Being a major town during the Song Dynasty, Lijiang City has a colorful history of 800 years. It is the birthplace of the Dongba Culture when the Naxi Kingdom was established. The different ethnic groups had settled in the city because it was a prosperous trading and cultural-exchange center since ancient times. One of the most spectacular relics of the old days is the 13th-century Mu Family Mansion which was built during the Yuan Dynasty. The city prospered further during the Ming and Qing Dynasties and it was well-known for its fair-trade markets. Till the Ming Dynasty, the city was governed independently by the wealthy Mu family. The administration was later taken over by the imperialists during the Qing Dynasty.
Today’s Lijiang City still has the old-world charm because its ancient ethos has been preserved very well for posterity. So one cannot say that the city is a modern metropolis. In fact, it prides itself as being one of the best preserved ancient water towns of China with a multitude of tourist attractions spread all over. Tourists will find little shops where one can buy exquisitely handcrafted wood carvings in the ancient Dongba script. These are considered some of the rarest treasures of the world.
Today’s Lijiang City still has the old-world charm because its ancient ethos has been preserved very well for posterity. So one cannot say that the city is a modern metropolis. In fact, it prides itself as being one of the best preserved ancient water towns of China with a multitude of tourist attractions spread all over. Tourists will find little shops where one can buy exquisitely handcrafted wood carvings in the ancient Dongba script. These are considered some of the rarest treasures of the world.
