1. Lijiang Scenic Spots: Brilliant Pearl of Nature and Culture
Lijiang, this charming city, boasts numerous enchanting tourist attractions that blend magnificent natural landscapes with profound cultural heritage
(I) The charm of the ancient city the Old Town of Lijiang has a unique architectural style, integrating the characteristics of many nationalities. Houses with civil structures are meticulously laid out, with white walls and black tiles, exquisitely carved doors and windows, and full of ancient charm. The street is built along the mountains and waters, radiating outwards from Sifang Street as the center and extending in all directions. The city has a rich water system, creating a scientific and hygienic water usage method of "one pond, one well, and three ponds". Here, tourists can gain a deeper understanding of the Dongba culture of the Naxi people, appreciate precious Lijiang murals, and experience the rich ethnic customs(II) Wonders of Snow Mountain
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is magnificent and magnificent, with its main peak reaching an altitude of 5596 meters. It is the closest mountain range in the northern hemisphere to receive year-round snow at the equator. The snow line height ranges from 4800 to 5000 meters, and there are temperate oceanic glaciers developed closest to the equator on the Eurasian continent. The scenic area covers an area of approximately 415 square kilometers and has 19 glaciers, among which "Baishui No.1" has the most favorable conditions for tourism. Riding the cable car, you can enjoy the dense primeval forest and the snow covered world. At the highest point of 4680 meters above sea level, you can overlook the mountains and feel the grandeur of "reaching the summit and overlooking the small mountains"
(III) The Beauty of Lugu Lake
The water of Lugu Lake is as clear as a mirror, displaying a translucent blue color. Flowers bloom all year round, like a natural garden. This is the settlement of the Mosuo people, preserving the mysterious walking marriage culture. The Mosuo people implement the marriage system of "men do not marry, women do not marry", with women as the leading force, and women the final say everything in the family. During a walking wedding, the man sneaks into the woman's room at night and leaves before dawn. This unique culture attracts numerous tourists to explore
(IV) The structural layout of Shuhe Ancient Town is similar to that of the Old Town of Lijiang, with well arranged houses, murmuring water between lanes and beautiful environment. Sifang Street is the heart of the ancient town, surrounded by numerous storefronts, and is the most well preserved ancient market town on the Tea Horse Ancient Road. The main attractions include Qinglong Bridge, Sifang Tingyin, Tea Horse Museum, etc. Here, tourists can experience the rich ethnic customs and peaceful reclusive atmosphere
(V) The Shock of Tiger Leaping Gorge
Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest canyons in China, with a length of about 17 kilometers. The main peak of Yulong Snow Mountain on the south bank is 5596 meters above sea level, and the Zhonghaba Snow Mountain on the north bank is 5396 meters above sea level. The middle river is only 30-60 meters wide, and the mountains and river surface on both sides differ by 2500-3000 meters. The valley slopes are steep and spectacular. In the heart of the river, a giant rock stands tall and is named Tiger Jumping Stone. The most dangerous area is the "Starry Sky" reef area where the tiger jumps, and the river flows through the reef area with sparkling waves. Getting close to the exit of Tiger Leaping Gorge, the river is wide and the scenery is beautiful. This is a paradise for hiking enthusiasts, where you can experience the amazing craftsmanship of nature
(VI) The Natural Beauty of Lashihai
Lashihai is the first nature reserve in Yunnan Province named after "wetland", with a large number of migratory birds inhabiting every year. There are many internet famous photo props here, such as glass balls, sky realms, fairy swings, etc. You can also ride horses on ancient roads and experience the vicissitudes of history
2. Lijiang Cuisine: Temptation on the Tongue
(1) The Charm of Traditional Snacks
Lijiang Baba: Lijiang Baba, as a traditional specialty snack of Lijiang, has two flavors: sweet and salty. Sweet glutinous rice cake filled with brown sugar and shiny oil, overflowing with sweetness; Salty rice cake is filled with chopped scallions and ham, which is fresh and refreshing. Its outer skin is layered, crispy and fragrant, and the production process is full of the painstaking efforts and skills of craftsmen. It used to be the necessary food for caravan caravans to travel far. It can be seen everywhere in the Old Town of Lijiang and is loved by tourists
Chicken bean jelly: This is a special snack that can not be missed in the Old Town of Lijiang. With chicken bean as the main raw material, it is black in appearance, also known as "black jelly". Delicate and smooth taste, cool to eat in summer, paired with sour vinegar, soy sauce, red chili and other seasonings, appetizing and relieving heat; Hot to eat in winter, pan fried and served with spicy and sour seasonings to warm the whole body. Chicken beans are rich in various nutrients, and long-term consumption can also lower blood sugar and regulate the body
Naxi Barbecue: The grilled meat is soft and fragrant, with a rich and mellow taste. Naxi barbecue uses fresh local ingredients and undergoes unique pickling and grilling processes, emitting a rich aroma that leaves a lasting impression
Yongsheng Oil Tea: Originating from Yongsheng County, Lijiang City, it is a unique flavored tea drink. Not only does it have the characteristic of quenching thirst and aiding food with ordinary tea, but it also has the health benefits of nourishing qi and refreshing the mind. According to personal preferences, ingredients such as walnut rice, eggs, ginger, etc. can be added to taste sweet or salty, just like the various aspects of life. In the morning, have a bowl and feel refreshed
Salmon: Lijiang salmon is fresh and tender, with a fragrant and mellow taste. Salmon grown in the clear waters of Lijiang has delicious meat and rich nutrients, making it one of the favorite foods for tourists
Rice enema: Made from pig blood, rice, and various spices, it can be steamed or fried. This is not just a typical big intestine wrapped in small intestine, but a unique delicacy of Lijiang. The production process is meticulous and full of the significance of inheriting traditional culture
Crispy tea: Oil tea has a mellow aroma and a rich flavor. It is one of the traditional specialty foods in Lijiang, with a unique flavor that allows people to experience the ethnic customs of Lijiang while tasting
Naxi Grilled Fish: After careful marinating and grilling, it appears dry but has a crispy texture. Paired with chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, scallions and other seasonings, it exudes a strong aroma. It is a must try specialty cuisine in Lijiang, full of historical charm
Naxi candied fruits: The candied fruits are sweet and have a delicate taste. Made from local fruits and carefully crafted, it is one of the traditional snacks in Lijiang and deeply loved by tourists
Spirulina: Spirulina is fresh and tender, with a fragrant and mellow taste. Spirulina in Lijiang is rich in various nutrients and is a unique delicacy with high nutritional value
(II) Flavors of Featured Cuisine
Braised Pork Rib Hot Pot: Lijiang Braised Pork Rib Hot Pot is a major local specialty cuisine. The cured pork ribs have been washed by the gentle breeze of the mountains and the cold and dry climate. They are only marinated with salt, but the fragrance of the mountains is blown out, forming a special meat aroma. When stewing hot pot, the soft and glutinous meat blends with the delicious soup base, and various small dishes dance gracefully in the pot. The combination of meat and vegetables is salty, fresh, delicious, and rich. The strong aroma of wax wafts out, soaking in the fresh vegetables stewed in the soup, making people intoxicated. Every sip of soup is filled with a salty aroma, making people feel as if they are immersed in the mountains and waters of Lijiang, experiencing the unique folk customs. The quality and taste of preserved pork ribs are the soul of hotpot. Lijiang people pay attention to the ingredients and methods used to pickle preserved pork ribs. Naturally dried preserved pork ribs are a masterpiece of air, sunshine, and wind. At the pork rib hotpot restaurant in the ancient city, decorations such as adobe walls, woven pot covers, and old carved wooden doors are full of nostalgia, giving people a feeling of returning home
Bingfen Liangxiao: This is a famous snack in Lijiang, Yunnan, widely favored for its low price and good quality. Ice powder is similar to white jelly, smooth and delicious, and melts in the mouth; The cool snacks are small and have a unique taste, soft and chewy with a hint of Q-pop. It is made of Rice noodles and flavored with red syrup, rose sugar, papaya water, sesame, etc. It is sweet and delicious. In the scorching summer, a bowl of ice cold noodles can bring coolness, as if a refrigerator has been installed in the stomach. In today's soaring prices, the price of 3 yuan gives it infinite vitality and lives in the memories of Lijiang people
III. Lijiang Folk Customs: Colorful Ethnic Customs
(1) Food Culture
The Naxi people have unique characteristics for their three meals a day. For breakfast, we usually eat Mantou or Lijiang Baba (braised Baba). Chinese and dinner are quite diverse, with a wide variety of vegetables, including potatoes, cranberries, and melon beans. Local specialties are also used to make various delicious dishes. Meat is mainly pork, most of which is made into cured meat, especially the famous Lijiang style pork ribs. The main dishes include rice, noodles, and Lijiang rice cakes, while representative banquets include "Naxi San Di Shui". Specialty foods such as glutinous rice blood sausage, cold noodles, and copper hotpot are deeply loved by tourists. Lijiang Baba is greasy, fragrant and crispy. It is accompanied by fried potato or Chinese cabbage soup. Sometimes, it also eats buttered tea, milk residue and tsamba. In addition, the Naxi people also have famous dishes such as "Steamed Cordyceps Duck" and "Tianma Beihen", and their cooking skills have reached a high level. Its vessels also have their own characteristics, such as steel pots, basins, ladles, spoons, cups, pots, and silver inlaid wooden bowls, all of which have the beauty of antiquity. In the catering customs of the wedding banquet, the "triple water mat" conveys the wishes of grain harvest and population prosperity. Among them, there must be cool lotus roots that represent "intelligence", fans that represent "longevity", lilies that represent "long-term harmony", and Rice-meat dumplings that represent "happy reunion"
(II) Clothing Features
The clothing of Naxi men is represented by wearing a double breasted camisole on the upper body and a self rolling felt hat (called "Shipuli" in Naxi language) on the head. Women's clothing varies from place to place. In the area of Dayan Ancient Town in Lijiang, women wear wide sleeved cloth robes with large collars, tuck the cuffs up to the elbows, and add purple or navy blue camisoles. They wear pleated long dresses or pants, tie aprons around the waist, and wear "Seven Star Sheepskin" on the back. Sheepskin shawl is the most important symbol of Naxi women's clothing. It is usually made of a whole piece of black wool sheepskin, with a top and bottom circle shape, and a black border about 6 centimeters wide sewn on the top. It is nailed with seven horizontally arranged circular cloth plates, each with two white sheepskin ribbons hanging from the center, representing the Big Dipper. It is commonly known as "wearing the stars and the moon", symbolizing Naxi women's hard work and diligence from morning till night. The sheepskin shawls sewn by the skilled Naxi "weavers" are exquisitely crafted with every stitch, containing rich information. On the tie, from a row of people holding hands and jumping to celebrate the harvest, to the eagle's eyes reflecting the transition from nomadism to agriculture, to the butter lamp reflecting the spread of Tibetan * * in Lijiang, all reflect the historical traces of the Naxi people. In addition, the two large circular embroidered cloth plates on the sheepskin shawl are the eyes of frogs, reflecting the worship of frogs by the Naxi tribe. There is a folk saying that 'marrying a Naxi woman is better than nine mules'. Naxi women are not only hardworking, but also hardworking
(III) Residential Style
Naxi ethnic residential architecture has undergone historical changes from felt houses to earthen houses, wooden houses, and imitation Han architecture. With different ethnic distribution regions, there are various types. In the area around Lugu Lake in Ninglang County, there are still courtyard style houses and villages that reflect the characteristics of matrilineal social life, which are relatively primitive forms of Naxi dwellings. With the development and progress of society, Naxi ethnic dwellings have integrated the architectural features of neighboring Han and Bai ethnic groups based on the characteristics of the local area and ethnic group, and absorbed the architectural structures of Tang and Song Central Plains, forming a unique architectural style. The most representative Naxi residential buildings are mainly concentrated in Dayan Town and its surrounding traditional villages such as Shuhe and Baisha. Among the Naxi folk houses, the courtyard and space layout of the folk houses in Dayan Ancient Town of the Old Town of Lijiang are the most representative. Almost every family in the Naxi folk houses in the ancient city of Lijiang has a courtyard. The courtyard size is generally about 10 square meters to 100 square meters, and the space size is moderate. There are potted flowers or fruit trees planted in the courtyard, and every house around the courtyard has an external corridor (locally known as a 'xia zi') open to the courtyard. Lijiang people enjoy resting, chatting, drinking tea, and dining on semi open verandas, as well as engaging in activities in fully open courtyard spaces. Here, there is ample sunlight, allowing one to see the sky above and admire the flowers and trees in the courtyard, as well as the simple yet exquisite pebble covered mantle. Some even introduce nearby flowing spring water into the courtyard, making it more vibrant
(IV) Festival Activities
The main festivals of the Naxi people are rich and colorful. San Duo Festival "is a festival celebrated by the Naxi people to commemorate their national heroes and protect their gods. It has a history of more than 1200 years and is celebrated every year on the eighth day of the second lunar month. The Naxi people of all ages in Lijiang dress up and celebrate the festival. According to historical records, since the completion of the Beiyue Temple, the first Sheep Day in February and August each year is the day of the Naxi ethnic protection god, during which there are activities such as song and dance performances, horse racing, and picnics. In 1986, the Standing Committee of the Eighth People's Congress of Lijiang County decided to designate the eighth day of the second lunar month as the traditional festival of the Naxi people, known as the "San Duo Festival," and arranged various celebration activities by the local government. Nowadays, the Naxi people hold traditional * * ceremonies, hold over three temple fairs, and perform unique Naxi ethnic traditional music and dance styles. "Over three festivals" have become the most grand large-scale folk cultural event in Lijiang