In winter, make a warm appointment to Lijiang

Introduction

(1) Briefly describe the unique charm of Lijiang in winter

Lijiang in winter is like a dreamlike world interwoven with ice, snow, and folk customs, emitting a unique charm that makes people intoxicated and yearn for it

When snowflakes fall in a flurry, Lijiang is draped in a layer of silver white attire, and the entire city instantly transforms into a fairy tale kingdom of ice and snow. The winding bluestone road in the Old Town of Lijiang usually bears the traces of time and stories of passers-by. Now it is covered with snow, like a silver ribbon leading to ancient times. The ancient bridge spans over the murmuring water, with the bridge covered in snow. The carvings on the bridge railing are even more exquisite against the backdrop of the snow, complementing the slowly flowing stream under the bridge, forming a stunning ink painting. The ancient buildings on the street are arranged in a staggered manner, and the red lanterns hanging on the upturned corners of the eaves are particularly bright and eye-catching in the white snow. The collision of red and white adds a warm and festive atmosphere to this cold winter day

The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, as an iconic landscape of Lijiang, showcases its sacred and magnificent side in winter. The towering peaks, shrouded in clouds and mist on weekdays, are now completely covered with white snow. Under the sunlight, the snow capped mountains shine with a brilliant silver light, as if a giant wearing white armor stands tall in * * * *, guarding the land of Lijiang. Standing at the foot of the mountain and looking up, the continuous snow capped mountains meet the azure sky, allowing people to truly feel the magnificence and magnificence of nature, and cannot help but marvel at the insignificance of humanity in the face of this magnificent scenery. Riding the cableway slowly up, shuttling through the world of ice and snow, surrounded by crystal clear glaciers and pure and flawless snow scenery, it feels like being in a fairyland. Every breath can feel the cool and fresh air, making people feel relaxed and happy

In addition to the enchanting snow scenery, Lijiang also has rich and colorful folk activities in winter. During the Winter Solstice season, people in Lijiang have a custom of eating glutinous rice. The family sits together, savoring the steaming hot glutinous rice, paying tribute to their ancestors from afar, and passing on their longing and respect for them. This allows you to deeply feel the profound cultural heritage and strong human touch of this city. During the heavy snowfall season, the countryside becomes busy slaughtering pigs and curing meat, which is a major event in winter. Neighbors do not need to invite, but they all come to help. Everyone works together, from killing pigs, shedding hair, and splitting pork to making delicious pig dishes, such as rice sausage, pork blood fried tofu, fried ribs, big bone soup, Braised pork belly, and so on. The whole process is full of laughter and laughter, full of strong local flavor, and also shows the good quality of Lijiang people who are honest, honest, and good to their neighbors

There is also the Naxi Torch Festival, which is usually held in the sixth lunar month. However, the lively scenes and unique folk charm are worth mentioning, giving people a deeper understanding of the ethnic customs of Lijiang. On the eve of the Torch Festival, walking into the Lijiang market, you can see exquisite bundles of torches for sale everywhere. Naxi people decorate torches with wild flowers and grass in the fields, making them "dazzling" and full of romance and poetry. After nightfall, carefully crafted torches are lit, and people shake them to make the flames jump, allowing sparks to splash and dance freely in the wind. Everyone gathers around the torch trees and dances, filling the joyful and fiery atmosphere directly. It is a grand carnival and a vivid display of Naxi culture, full of people's love for life and hope for a better future

II. Climate Characteristics of Lijiang in Winter

(1) Temperature Situation

The average winter temperature in Lijiang is generally around -5 ℃ to 15 ℃, but the temperature difference between day and night is relatively large. The average temperature during the day can reach around 15 ℃. When exposed to sunlight, it makes people feel relatively warm. At this time, wearing warm clothes such as suits, jackets, windbreakers, casual wear, jackets, suits, and thin sweaters can provide a comfortable and enjoyable experience. But at night, the average temperature often drops to around 1 ℃. When the temperature is low, it is necessary to wear thick and warm clothes such as cotton coats, winter coats, leather jackets, outer coats, thick sweaters, leather hats, gloves, and jackets to resist the cold

(II) Weather Characteristics

Lijiang has mostly sunny weather in winter. According to past statistical data, sunny days account for nearly half of the total winter days, about 47 days, cloudy days are about 32 days, and rainy days are relatively few, only about 13 days. Overall, the probability of precipitation is relatively low, belonging to the dry season, and the air is also relatively dry

However, the weather in Lijiang changes rapidly in winter. It is possible that the sun is still bright at the moment, but in the blink of an eye, dark clouds may gather and drizzle or snow may fall. So when tourists travel, it is recommended to carry rain gear with them, such as umbrellas or lightweight raincoats, which can cope with possible rainy and snowy weather without causing too much burden on the trip

III. Winter Lijiang Food Feast

(1) Huotang Hot Pot

Cultural Connotation:

1. In Lijiang, Huotang has a profound and unique meaning, carrying the strong emotions and ethnic culture of Lijiang people, and is a traditional existence deeply rooted in life. Tracing back to the distant past, Huotang is far more than just a place for heating and cooking for Lijiang people. It is more like the core of a family. Before the stove was introduced to Lijiang, the small world of Huotang was an extremely important production and living battlefield for a family. It serves as a heater to provide warmth. In the cold winter days, when a family finishes their work and returns home, they sit around the fire pit, watching the jumping flames and feeling the heat that dissipates the cold. Their physical exhaustion gradually dissipates; It serves as an electric light to provide illumination, with dim yellow flames reflecting every corner of the house, creating a warm atmosphere in the home; It serves as a kitchen and provides a cooking area, where various delicious dishes are cooked on top of this fire pit. The aroma of the food that permeates the room is the taste of home and life

Featured Types:

Lijiang Huotang Hot Pot has a variety of featured types, each with a unique flavor that leaves an endless aftertaste

• Black Goat Hot Pot: Select local black goats from Lijiang, which are raised in the mountains all year round and eat natural grass. The meat is fresh, tender, and compact, with a unique mountain flavor. Black goat hotpot emphasizes the original flavor and is usually stewed slowly over charcoal fire. The stewed lamb has a tender and elastic skin, and when chewed, the fresh aroma of the lamb spreads on the tongue without any gamey taste. Paired with a dipping sauce made with local specialty spices, it highlights the rich and mellow taste of lamb. After eating lamb, add local ecological vegetables such as cabbage, potatoes, vermicelli, etc. and boil for a moment. The vegetables absorb the deliciousness of lamb soup, making it full of flavor and satisfying to eat
• Braised Pork Rib Hot Pot: This is one of the most popular dishes in Lijiang. Braised pork ribs are carefully marinated and air dried pork ribs, and a unique seasoning formula is used during the marinating process to give the ribs a salty and fragrant taste while retaining the rich aroma of the meat itself. After stewing in hot pot, the pork ribs become soft and sticky. With a gentle bite, the meat can peel off from the bones, and the rich aroma of wax fills the entire mouth. The soup base becomes increasingly rich and mellow during the stewing process, with some ingredients such as shiitake mushrooms, fungus, and bean skins added, creating a unique flavor. Each bite seems to be telling the traditional taste of Lijiang<
• Local Chicken Hotpot: Its soul lies in selecting local chickens that run freely in the water of the beautiful mountains and rivers. Local chickens have sufficient exercise on a daily basis, with firm and delicious meat.. Slowly simmering over charcoal fire on the fire pit, the chicken soup gradually turns golden and translucent, with a fragrant aroma. The chicken is stewed to the perfect balance, tender yet chewy. If we add some precious mushrooms hidden in the mountains and forests, such as the deliciousness of chicken fir mushrooms and the richness of matsutake mushrooms, they dance with the local chicken in a pot, as if they are the purest gifts of nature gathered together. The taste is simply a symphony on the tongue, so delicious that people can immerse themselves in it and forget the troubles of the world

Dining Experience:

1. Sitting around the fire pit to eat hotpot and barbecue, the atmosphere is incredibly pleasant. When the charcoal fire ignites, the soup pot in the middle of the fire pool begins to gurgle and roll, emitting a tempting aroma, and the barbecue next to it also sizzles, making people salivate. Family and friends sit together, chatting and sharing interesting stories from their travels and daily lives, while also cooking their favorite food or extracting delicious dishes from hotpot

<109. Every morning, the hot and steaming cold noodle stall is always crowded with people, making a lot of noise. Fashionable girls, strong men, white haired elderly people, mischievous children, all crowded together on the bench, eagerly waiting to taste this delicious taste. I saw Ying, who sells thin liangfen, always smiling kindly. Whenever she heard someone mention a bowl of hot liangfen, she would quickly take the bowl, scoop the powder, and pour the ingredients. Her movements were skillful, and in a few seconds, a steaming hot and spicy bowl of thin liangfen was placed in front of her

The production of this thin jelly is also quite particular. First, the raw materials are carefully processed, and then through multiple processes, it is made into a paste. After cooling, it becomes jelly. When eating, take out a pair of chopsticks and stir clockwise along the edge of the bowl, circle after circle, allowing the seasonings to blend evenly into the jelly paste. Take a gentle sip, and the hot and spicy feeling will instantly strike, mixed with the sticky texture of sweet potato flour and the mellow aroma of chicken beans. The unique taste slides into the mouth, and the whole person seems to be wrapped in warmth, making the appetite open and irresistible

rice dumpling:

1. Lijiang's handmade rice dumpling is full of human taste. Compared with the rice dumpling produced on the assembly line, Lijiang handmade rice dumpling has a different charm. The skin of rice dumpling is kneaded by the shop owner, and the filling is also ground by himself. Every rice dumpling is full of the temperature of the palm. In the cold winter, looking at the steaming pot and the fat rice dumpling rolling back and forth in the pot, you can smell the tempting sweetness from far away. No one can refuse the temptation of this bowl of sweetness
2. The cooked rice dumpling is warm and appetizing. With one bite, the skin is fragrant, smooth, soft and glutinous, and the stuffing is very sufficient. The raw sesame Fried Dough Twists stuffing slowly flows out. The taste of real materials makes people feel extremely satisfied with each bite, as if they have eaten warmth and sweetness into their stomach, adding a thick taste of happiness to this cold winter

Boiled peanuts:

1. Boiled peanuts are one of the favorites of Lijiang people, and their presence can be easily found in major market streets and alleys in Lijiang. It plays an important role in the lives of Lijiang people, whether it's sunny or cloudy, and in winter, people's lives are always accompanied by it. It is an excellent companion for dinner in the morning and evening. When boiled with peanuts, ordinary meals become even more delicious; He is also a good partner in the tea tasting room, enjoying the leisurely and pleasant experience of peeling peanuts while drinking tea; It is also the best side dish for drinking among wine lovers. A few friends gather together, drinking small drinks, chewing salty and fragrant boiled peanuts, chatting and having fun

tofu pudding:

1. In the memory of Lijiang people, tofu pudding is often sold in the streets. The old man pushed the bike, and bamboo baskets were tied around the back wheels of the bike, covered with thick grey cloth, while tofu pudding was hidden under the mysterious cloth, waiting for people to discover its delicacy
2. In Lijiang, tofu pudding is sweet and salty, with different tastes and tastes. Salty tofu pudding can be eaten as a meal, topped with cooked chili oil, soy sauce, vinegar, and sprinkled with scallions. These rich ingredients are perfectly matched, making tofu pudding extremely delicious. First, take a sip of soup, where the freshness of soy sauce and the sweetness of exclusive sauce collide and echo in your mouth. Then, take a bite of tofu mixed with various ingredients, where a variety of different flavors instantly exude unique charm, filling your mouth with a rich and intoxicating taste. The sweet tofu pudding is especially suitable for dessert snacks. Use a small iron shovel spoon to shovel a slice of yellowish and tender bean curd, spread a layer of white sugar, and shovel a layer of bean curd, so that each piece of bean curd is covered with white sugar. When savoring it, the white sugar had not completely melted, and the smoothness of the tofu pudding mixed with the grainy texture of the white sugar. Chewing on the white sugar made a rustling sound, accompanied by the sound of sucking tofu pudding, becoming the only liveliness in this quiet alley and bringing a unique warmth and comfort to winter

IV. Comfortable Accommodation Guide in Lijiang during Winter

(1) Central Area of the Ancient City

Location Advantage:

The inn located in the center of the ancient city has many conveniences and is one of the excellent choices for tourists to stay in. Firstly, most of them are located near Zhongyi Market, which is a treasure trove in Lijiang. Every morning, Zhongyi Market is bustling with a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as local specialties such as snacks and handicrafts. Tourists who live nearby can easily get there on foot to experience the smoky city life, taste authentic food, such as hot thin jelly, soft glutinous and sweet handmade rice dumpling, and start a day full of vitality. Moreover, this place is close to the bus starting station, making travel very convenient. Whether you want to experience the magnificent snow scenery of Yulong Snow Mountain or feel the unique peaceful atmosphere of Shuhe Ancient Town, you can easily take the bus to get there without worrying about transportation problems, greatly saving time and energy on the journey and making the whole journey more relaxed and comfortable

Cost effective Choice:

In the central area of the ancient city, there are several cost-effective guesthouses worth recommending to everyone. Like "Yuelai Inn", the price range is roughly between 100 yuan and 300 yuan per night. The rooms are fully equipped with air conditioning, providing a warm and comfortable resting environment for tourists in the cold winter. They also guarantee 24-hour hot water supply, allowing tired bodies to enjoy the relaxation brought by hot baths after a day of play. The toiletries are also readily available and of high quality, providing visitors with the convenience of a home. There is also the "Hexi Inn", priced at around 150 to 400 yuan per night. In addition to the complete basic supporting facilities, its room decoration also has Lijiang characteristics. Wooden carved doors and windows, antique Naxi style decorations, etc., make people feel the strong Lijiang style as soon as they enter the room, as if they are in the unique cultural atmosphere of this ancient city. The cost-effectiveness can be said to be very high

(II) Scenic Inn

Lion Rock Scenic Inn:

The biggest advantage of Lion Rock Scenic Inn is its wide view. Standing on the observation platform of the inn, you can have a panoramic view of the beautiful scenery of the whole the Old Town of Lijiang. Under the sunlight, the scattered ancient buildings, winding bluestone roads and gurgling streams are like a beautiful scroll slowly unfolding. In the morning, you can see the ancient city slowly waking up in the morning mist, and at night, you can enjoy the lights of the ancient city