The county town of Lijiang is also called Dayanzhen, famous for its scientific architectural layout. Crisscrossed by crystal-clear rivers and meandering cobbled streets, it has a high research value and is a treasure in the field of urban construction in China.

Lijiang Town was built at the end of the Song Dynasty and the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty, leaning on the Lion Mountain in the west and Xiangmian Mountain in the north. Surrounded by green trees, it looks like a big ink stone. Hence its name Dayan which means a big ink stone. The town has the Sifang (Square) Street as the centre, with radiating lanes arranged in good order, and three rivulets ( the east, the middle and the west) running through the town. Thus is formed the unique aspect of an ancient town of "every house being surrounded by a stream, and willows upon willows making it surpass the south of the Yangtze." The streets are paved with variegated stones, which make them neither muddy in the rainy season nor dusty in the dry season. In addition, a downpour which washes the dirt away reveals the gleaming variegated drain of the paving stone.

The ancient town is also famous for having no walls. It is said that the hereditary ruler of Lijiang used to be surnamed Mu, to have Mu encased with a frame or a wall would be Kun, which means in Chinese siege or predicament. That is why the town has had no walls, and the graceful surrounding mountains serve as such instead.

The ancient town looks unsophisticated and picturesque, having both the benefit of a watery and a mountainous environment, thus gaining renown from both domestic and foreign tourists. A professor of Shanghai's Tongji University praised it for being "an epitome of the splendid Chinese national tradition in terms of architectural style and disposition."

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Locating between 10004'-10016'east longitude and 2703'-2740' north latitude, 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.

Dry Sea (Ganhai)

Dry Sea is a vast meadow with an altitude of 3,100 meters (10,171 feet). Just as its name implies, it had been a highland glacial lake before the 1940s and was formed after the water had dried up. Dry Sea is located at the east foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and is only 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) away from Lijiang Old Town.

Surrounded on all three sides by the superb mountains, Dry Sea is the closest and also the best place to get a panorama of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The 13 peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain are covered by the undefiled white snow wriggle from the north to the south, like a white jade dragon flying and playing leisurely in the sapphiric sky. The name of the highest peak, Shanzidou (Fan Peak) originates from its shape. From one angle of view, it looks like a gigantic unfolded fan cutting in the clouds.

On the heavily forested Dry Sea, spring is a busy season, for the meadow bursts into colorful blooms and is full of energy. In the sunny days of summer, fantastic green glittering glaciers can be seen clearly through the telescope. It is the flourishing plants all over the mountains that tinge the glaciers with the filmy green. When autumn comes and brings a gentle breeze that kisses the meadow turning the green leaves on the deciduous trees into bright yellow, orange, and scarlet. In winter, the pure snow covers this world making the meadow and the mountains show a kind of holy beauty. Dry Sea is an abundant pasture and views of local herders who intersperse their groups of grazing livestock (including the cattle, the goats, the sheep and the domesticated yaks) are easy to be seen.

Dry Sea now is a famous travel resort, many minority villages are built here and the establishments are self-contained. Tourists can take part in many kinds of activities by daylight like skiing, grass-sliding, gliding, and racehorse, etc. When the moonlit night comes, tourists can enjoy the peace and harmony of the majestic snow mountains and the far-flung meadow or they can take part in the parties held by the local people, both are really pleasant things.

Admission Fee: RMB 40
Recommended
Time for a Visit: 20 minutes

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.

Most of the temples were built from the early days of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) to the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), and the Lijiang Mural was created at the same time, over the course of about 300 hundred years. In Lijiang, it was an era of rapid economic development, mutual acculturation of multinational culture, and the growth of religions. Accordingly, Lijiang Mural was an artistic representation of this cooperation, communication and progress. The authors of these mural paintings had come from different nations, including the local Naxi Dongba painters; the Taoist painter Zhang from the Central Plain; Tibetan Lama artist Guchang; Han painters Ma Xiaoxian and Li Zeng; and many other artists who were unknown to the public

The originality and figures of the mural paintings reflect the different religious cultures and artistic forms of Buddhism, Lamaism, Daoism and the

Naxi Dongba religion, as developed in a Naxi school. Therefore, Lijiang Mural is quite different from other frescos. Each painting includes at least one hundred portraits, but perspective is used very well, and the close, middle and establishing images are clear. The various lifelike portraits are not only Buddhas but also ordinary people such as bureaucrats, criminals, tourists and executioners. Many of the scenes and subject matters are drawn from daily life-people are shown fishing, riding horses, weaving, dancing and casting iron. The painters used different methods of portrayal within the different elements of the fresco, such as flesh, garments, jewelry, weapons and many other components. The style of these true-life frescos is rural and unconstrained; the colors are strong and have intense contrast but are also unified. The Lijiang Mural fully demonstrates the superb artistic skills, outstanding creativity and rich imaginations of these excellent craftsmen. The vivid and exact figures, flowing lines, well-defined colors and powerful effects of the exquisite details make the Lijiang Mural not only the rare treasure of art, but also forceful proof of national solidarity and an important source of information for research on national religions, arts and history.

Admission Fee for the Baisha Mural: 10
Bus Route: 7

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 whole Yufeng Temple shows a distinctive and conjunct architectural style of Han Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Taoism and the local Naxi Dongba Religion due to the cultural communion between different minorities and different areas in the Qing Dynasty. It is the compatible and harmonious trait makes the Naxi culture develop and enrich so quickly.

The best time to experience the ravishing views of Yufeng Temple is in late spring and early summer, because the famous camellia tree is in full blossomy during the period. It is said that camellia tree was planted in Emperor Chenghua's era of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and that is to say, the tree is older than the temple. The flowers of the camellia tree could bloom for more than 100 days, and there are altogether twenty thousand flowers bloom in 20 batches. The camellia tree is three meters (ten feet) in height and 34 centimeters (one foot) in diameter and the Lamas in Yufeng Temple pleach the blanches of the camellia tree subtly into a 56 square meters (67 yards) flowery canopy. When stepping close to the tree, you find yourself plunging into an ocean of redolent and beauteous flowers. Look at the flowers carefully and see if you can find out the uniqueness of this old camellia tree: the intoxicating flowers are of two different varieties. The bigger ones are pink and nine pistillate while the smaller ones are white and single pistillate; two trees, which originally grew side by side, have now, over the years, entwined. With the irradiation of the brilliant sunglow and the contrast of the green grassland, the flowering tree looks like burning flames from beyond. It is the real "King of the Camellia Trees".

Yufeng Temple is a historical witness of the peaceful coexistence and syncretism of multinational cultures and religions, and still plays a very important role in acculturation of Naxi Ethnic Group.

Admission Fee: RMB 10
Recommended
Time for a Visit: One hour
Opening Hours: 08:30 to 18:00

White Water River

When the ancient ice at the top of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain melts and flows down the slopes, it forms waterfalls at the cliffs and brooks at the fords, finally joining as the White Water River at the foot of the snow mountain. The pebbles in the riverbed are all white marbles and limestone that have been rinsed and scoured by the water. As the limpid and clear river flows above them, it looks undefiled and sparkling. That is where the "White Water River" gets its name.

Five kilometers (three miles) away from the Dry Sea, White Water River is a scenic spot in Lijiang, Yunnan Province. By taking a ropeway, which starts from Spruce Plateau (Yunshan Plateau), down the mountain, you can have a bird's-eye view of the deep and serene river valley, with the river as a jade girdle around the flourishing vegetation. To reach the White Water River and have a closer look, several options are available. You can ride a horse or yak, or just take a walk from the Dry Sea (Ganhai). The natural views along the way will help you feel relaxed and rid you of fatigue from the trip. Upon reaching the White Water River, you can taste its pure, unpolluted water, allowing the cool sensation to wash away tension and inspire thoughts of the river's pristine source.

Continuing to walk eastward, you will find that the White Water River joins with another river nearby, which also originates from the melting snow of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. However, instead of having a white-stone river bed, this river has countless black pebbles below the water, causing it to appear to flow black -- hence the name Black Water River. The Dongba lessons of the local Naxi people say that black and white make up all things in the world, and these two colors exist harmoniously and inseparably, keeping the world in order. The merger of the Black and White Water Rivers represents the spirit of the Naxi's belief, and the rivers occupy a very important place among Naxi people. Today, the Black and White Water River is a symbol of concordant love and fortunate future.

White Water River is a placid and propitious river. It touches the heart with its gentle flow, and you will be captivated by its fascination and beauty.

Useful Tip: Hostels, recreation, recreation grounds and parking lots are found near White Water River. Here also is the start of the ropeway going to Spruce Plateau.

Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hutiao Gorge)

About 100 kilometers (62 miles) northwest of Lijiang Old Town lying between Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Yulong Xueshan) and Haba Snow Mountain (Haba Xueshan) is Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hutiao Gorge), which is believed to be the deepest gorge in the world. From the top of the gorge you look down the steeply angled (70-90 degrees) mountain sides to the rushing Golden Sands (Jingsha) River with its 18 frothing rapids more than 200 meters (about 700 feet) below.

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.