| Appropriately close to Shangri-La, Lijiang is described | | | | the local shops, taste the local snacks and stop at |
| as "a fairyland beneath the colorful clouds of | | | | every curious sight for a photograph. The Naxi music |
| southern China. A place blessed with fresh air, clear | | | | and murals are not to be missed, and after dark you |
| streams, breathtaking snow mountains, and an | | | | can enjoy some of the charming local bars in the Old |
| undisturbed landscape inhabited by a friendly group of | | | | Town. |
| people". You will find this unspoilt idyll where Tibet | | | | The nearby valley of Ringha is more Tibetan than |
| meets the Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, in southern | | | | Chinese. Visitors will delight in this peaceful, unspoilt |
| of China. The local Dongba culture has influences from | | | | area with its delightful golden-roofed Buddhist |
| all these neighbors which include the famous Dongba | | | | monasteries, faded prayer flags and slow-moving |
| hieroglyphs, a pictographic writing system used by | | | | yaks which frequently hold up the traffic. The area is |
| the Bon priests of the Naxi people in this region for | | | | well known for its luxury accommodation in lodges, |
| around a thousand years. | | | | built in local village style with a wooden pole structure, |
| Blessed with a pleasant climate all year round, this | | | | exposed ceiling rafters and beautiful natural wood |
| seemingly remote area was part of the Ancient | | | | floors littered with colorful handmade rugs. The local |
| Tea-Horse Route. The Old Town of Lijiang is on | | | | restaurants also serve Tibetan-style cuisine including |
| UNESCO's World Heritage list, mercifully preserving | | | | stews of yak and other local meats (delicious, by the |
| the typical groups of houses and the original lifestyle | | | | way!). |
| found here. | | | | The area is at an altitude of well over 10,000 feet, |
| Visitors will find there is plenty to see and do in and | | | | almost as high as Macchu Piccu in Peru which is 11,150 |
| around the area of Lijiang. For those who like | | | | feet above sea level. The altitude and low air |
| spectacular natural scenery, the Jade Dragon Snow | | | | pressure may leave you panting at the hilly inclines, |
| Mountain is an awe-inspiring backdrop to the | | | | but it is a small price to pay for the splendid views of |
| Moon-Embracing Pavilion at Black Dragon Pond (aren't | | | | the snow-capped Hengduan Shan Mountains nearby. |
| these great names?) Although the town can be | | | | Local trips into the mountains are usually in jeeps and |
| explored by bus, taxi or bicycle, the best way to see | | | | 4x4s and include an exhilarating ride to the Songzanlin |
| the local charm in intimate detail is on foot. Browse | | | | Temple with its 700 earnest monks. |