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Lijiang
Lijiang Prefecture lies in the Northwest of Yunnan Province. With an area of 7,485 square kilometers, Lijiang has a population of 1.02 million. The government of Lijiang Prefecture is based in the Lijiang county seat, which is about 600 kilometers from Kunming. Either by plane or by coach, Lijiang is easily accessible.
Lijiang is one of the National Scenic Area. The Ancient Town of Lijiang (Dayan Ancient Town) has been inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO for its well preservation. Every ethnic group in Lijiang has special festival, such as Naxi people’s “Sanduo Festival”, Yi people’s “Torch Festival”, etc.
Tourist Highlights
 
Ancient City of Lijiang( Dayan Ancient Town )
The ancient city of Lijiang is found in Dayan Town, a largely Naxi settlement first built during the Southern Song Dynasty some eight centuries ago. In December 1986, the State Council designated the place as a famous ancient historical and cultural city of a national caliber. In 1997, the UNESCO put Lijiang on a list of the world major cultural heritages. With Sifang Street at the core, the entire city spreads out in all direction, and is crisscrossed by a labyrinth of flagged streets and alleyways. Most of the dwellings, scattered at the foot of a mountain or by the rivers which flow through every nook and corner of the city, are brick-and-tile structures with carved doors and painted windows. Traffic across the river is facilitated by a large number of tiny stone bridges. The entire city is evocative of a town south of the Yangtze River.
Naxi Ancient Music
When walking on the ancient streets of Lijiang Old Town, you will undoubtedly hear the wonderful Naxi (also spelt Nakhi and Nahi) Ancient Music, the traditional Naxi classical music that is regarded as a "living fossil of Chinese music."

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Yulong Mountain) is 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 a length of 35 kilometers (22 miles) and a width of 20 kilometers (13 miles). Looking from Lijiang Old Town in the south which is 15 kilometers (nine miles) away, the snow-covered and fog-enlaced mountain resembles a jade dragon lying in the clouds, hence, the name Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
Spruce Plateau (Yunshan Plateau)
Situated half way up the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, at an altitude of 3,100 metres (10,171 feet) is the famous land meadow called Spruce Plateau. The meadow covers an area of one square kilometer (240 acres) midway to Shanzidou Peak (Fan Peak), next to the Dry Sea.
As its name implies, Spruce Plateau is a pasture surround by a forest of gigantic and straight spruces and firs, just like a beautiful green skirt laced by the perfect chiffons. The beauty of natural serenity and harmony are thoroughly demonstrated here.

Jade Spring Park (Heilongtan Park)
Walking north from the Old Town of Lijiang, exactly at the foot of Elephant Hill, is the Black Dragon Pool (Heilongtan), an influx of limpid spring. Since the water of the pond is as green as a shining jade, the park of Black Dragon Pool, which was built in 1737 during the Qing Dynasty, is also entitled the Jade Spring Park (Yuquan Park).
Jade Spring Park (Yuquan Park) occupies an area of 11,390 square meters and includes many distinctive and ravishing sites. Hiding in the lush trees or standing along the liquid pool is the antique and exquisite architectural pieces, which are in the style of Naxi (also spelt Nakhi or Nahi). Therefore, Jade Spring Park is a really good place to seek novelty and grasp beautiful scenes.

Lijiang Mural
Ten kilometers (six miles) northwest of Lijiang Old Town, there are several ancient villages, including Baisha, Dayan, Shuhe, Yangxi and Xuesong. There, the invaluable Lijiang Mural is stored, preserved and displayed in 15 venerable temples, such as Juexian, Wande, Guiyi temples and Sanbi Garden. Altogether, the mural used to include more than 200 pieces of fresco. However, hundreds of years of historical vicissitudes have left only 55 pieces in good condition. The most famous frescos are known as Baisha Mural of the Dabaoji (Great Treasure) Palace and the Colored Glaze Temple (Liuli Dian) in the town of Baisha.

Stone Drum Village
On the mountain at the river's bend stands Stone Drum (Shigu) Town. This ancient town is named after a drum-shaped marble plaque. Built during the Jiaqing era (1548-1561) of the Ming Dynasty, the stone drum is a monument commemorating the victory of Lijiang's Naxi ruler over an invading Tibetan army. The stone drum has an obvious vestige of what appears to be a "rip" in it. It is said that the stone drum would rupture prior to any war and then fold when peace returned.
The First Bend of the Yangtze River
About 70 km . from Lijiang Town, it is located on the north side of the highway leading from Dali to Lijiang. The Jinshajiang River in olden times flowed southward along the Hengduan Mountain Ranges and was later forced to the turn to north as a result of alpine movements which caused changes in the earth’s physiognomy. When the river reaches Shigu Township it makes an abrupt turn and flows further northward, forming the marvelous view reputed as the First Bend of the Yangtze River.

Tiger-Leap-Gorge
Extending for 15 kilometers from the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang to the Haba Xueshan Mountain in Zhongdian, the Tiger-Leap-Gorge with a drop of 3,000 meters is believed to be the world’s deepest canyon. The name of the gorge is attributed to the legend that a tiger had once jumped across the gorge at its narrowest section 30 meters in width. The gorge, in which the Jinsha River pounds furiously at its rocky shores in an awesome fashion, sending up skyfuls of white froth, is a dream place for adventurers.

Yufeng Temple
At the southern foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, 13 kilometers (nine miles) northwest away from the Old Town is a small lamasery named Yufeng Temple - one of the Scarlet Sect lamaseries of Lijiang. First built in 1756 during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, Yufeng Temple used to have nine courtyards, but only the gate tower, the main hall and two courtyards have remained after so many years' historical vicissitude. The beautiful sceneries around Yufeng Temple are special gifts from the deity. The temple backs onto a snow mountain and faces a meadow. It is surrounded by the flourishing forest and a never-dried river. All this makes it a really good place to visit.

the Former Residence of Rock
Mr. Rock was an American botanist who worked in the region for many years. He wrote series of articles in National Geographic magazine about Lijiang, accompanied by scores of photographs, between 1924 and 1935, many of them describing the history, culture, landscape, and religions of the beautiful area.
We can pay a visit to the place where he lived and carried out the research.

Wanggu Building

Wanggu Building (Looking at the Past Pavillion)
This park on Lion Hill serves up the best views of Lijiang Old Town. At the peak of the hill stands Wanggu Tower, a 22 meter, five storey pavilion that’s claim to fame is that it uses some of the longest wooden beams of any such structure in China. Recently constructed specifically as a tourist attraction, the building has a unique design using dozens of four-storey pillars – culled from northern Yunnan old-growth forests. And from the top floor you will have panoramic views of both Dayan Old Town and the new town of Lijiang. Wanggu Tower and Lion Hill Park might not be anything out of the ordinary, but they’re worth visiting for the great views of the area.

 
 
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