| Lijiang is an and quaint town in Yunan, a | | | | buildings of Lijiang ancient city were very |
| province of China which is well endowed with | | | | much influenced by the architectural style of |
| magnificent and beautiful mountains, rivers | | | | Anhui Province. The original buildings of the |
| and a long history. The ancient Lijiang | | | | Naxi community can only be found in the rural |
| county was put into the list of world | | | | areas surrounding Lijiang City. |
| cultural legacy by the World Legacy Committee | | | | |
| of the United Nations Education, Science and | | | | The Yuan dynasty and the Mongol Emperor then, |
| Culture Organization in 1997. | | | | Kublai Khan stationed military troops in |
| | | | Lijiang in 1253. He brought the foreign |
| The city of Lijiang has a history of 800 | | | | culture alien to Lijiang and thus Lijiang was |
| years or 900 years dating from the Sung | | | | then influenced by the culture Central China, |
| Dynasty. Why is Lijiang one of the most | | | | such as Buddhism and Taoism, and then |
| beautiful city in the world? Firstly, it is | | | | affected by the Christianity and Islamic |
| one of the very few city which is over a mile | | | | culture in the early 1900s. The Naxi |
| high above sea level. Smacked in the middle | | | | community assimilated all these cultures. As |
| of the Lijiangba Dam, surrounded by | | | | such, Lijiang is also very much appreciated |
| snowcapped mountains and a river that runs | | | | for its cultural landscape not only in China, |
| through an oriental forest with small streams | | | | but the entire Asia. |
| meandering into the town. Some tourists even | | | | |
| called the town "Heaven On Earth". | | | | Millions of tourists travel to Lijiang each |
| | | | year to enjoy Lijiang's primitive simplicity, |
| Lijiang experienced an earth shattering 7 on | | | | tranquility and elegant culture.The folks at |
| the Richter scale earthquake on February 1996 | | | | Lijiang enjoy music too. You can hear the |
| which killed more than 5,000 people mainly | | | | beautiful music from the dwelling houses in |
| the Naxi community being the major community | | | | Dayanzhen Town. The musicians carry their |
| in Lijiang. Since then, Lijiang caught the | | | | often home made musical instruments to take |
| attention of the world and tourism growth was | | | | part in household parties all over the town. |
| unprecedented. As such, Lijiang is now one of | | | | |
| the most favoured tourist travel destination | | | | The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang is |
| in China. | | | | perhaps one the most beautiful mountain range |
| | | | in the world, famous for its perilous, |
| Most residents in Lijiang are of the Naxi | | | | beautiful and breathtaking landscapes. The |
| tribe. The Naxi community makes a living by | | | | mountain is a world class tourist scenic |
| herding yaks and doing small retail | | | | spot. The peak of the Jade Dragon Mountain is |
| businesses. The construction of the ancient | | | | some 5596 meters (about 17,000 ft) above sea |
| Lijiang city was quickly developed in the | | | | level. The mountain's thirteen peaks viewed |
| Ming Dynasty. This is especially so because | | | | from south to north look just like a flying |
| the Ming Dynasty made a large number of | | | | giant Chinese dragon. A very formidable view |
| people in Anhui Province to migrate into | | | | indeed. |
| Lijiang in order to station military troops | | | | |
| and common people in the boundary areas. | | | | So if you are travelling to China, don't miss |
| | | | the quaint city of Lijiang. |
| As a result of this mass migration, the | | | | |