The ancient city of Lijiang

Lijiang is possibly the most interesting city of Yunnan. The secular capital of the Naxi, a village of long history and surprising culture, Lijiang is like an oasis between the Chinese world and the Tibetan world. In the middle of tremendous mountains that overcome frequently five thousand meters high, Lijiang was, until a few years ago a place of difficult access. Perhaps that's why it could have supported up to nowadays this original culture and to preserve almost complete the ancient city of Dayan, heart of the current city of Lijiang. Streets without cars that are curling of almost imperceptible form, with houses of an apartment aligned to every side, of beautiful doors and roofs, channels next to you that bring the crystalline water that comes from the mountain of the Dragon of Jade, on the city as one always say to you protector. Perhaps there is no city as Lijiang.

Lijiang has a long history. Founded by the Naxi more than fifteen centuries ago, it was a capital of the principality called Mexiezhao, in the VIth century, until the Kingdom Nanzhao annexes the area. Oppressed by the expansion of this Kingdom Nanzhao and of his successor the Kingdom of Dali, it will support the armies of the dynasty Yuan who go on for his grounds to the Yunnan conquest. That provides to the chiefs Naxi a relation especially good with the Chinese emperors. From this dynasty Yuan, Lijiang is governed by its own kings, the dynasty Mu that will last officially until 1949, but his power is more and more nominal than real and at the moment of his overthrow they already do not have any power. The Lijiang destination remained marked by his frontier situation with the Tibetan kingdoms, so much in the war, when the soldiers' inflow makes the city bloom, as in the peace, when it is the commerce the one that gives him the life.

The City Antigua of Lijiang, with his cobbled streets, the murmur of passing of the water for his small channels and the imposing background of the mountain of the Dragon of Jade, is simply, legend material. He does not need any more introduction. To get lost in his streets in search of treasures, hostel or company is the best of the puzzles.

The Pavilion of the Phoenix, on the hill that dominates the whole ancient city, does not have major interest than the sight that is enjoyed from him, really interesting.

Pond of the Black Dragon is in the north end of the city, crossing the new town, where, in the clear days, it is possible to see the most typical Lijiang composition, with the pond in the first plane and the mountain of the Dragon of Jade to the fund. From the park one gains access to the Hill of the Elephant, whom it is possible to raise for two staircases. The pond receives the water straight from the mountain of the Dragon of Jade and from this point it is distributed by Lijiang across his channels network. Inside the park the Institute Dongba is with a permanent exhibition of the culture of the shamans Naxi and his writing pictográfica.

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