Banyan Tree Lijiang . Destination Guide
Old Town Of Lijiang
Horizontal, vertical, sideways, facing the southeast, pointing to the west, each piece of sloping tiled rooftop in the old town of Lijiang is arched so tightly to the other, the entire collage is reminiscent of a big Chinese ink slab. This town with the gray sun-burnt rooftops was first built in the late Song Dynasty more than 800 years ago.
Lift the lid off this melting pot and you'll discover a civilization as old as the wrinkled cobblestone streets covering a 3.8 kilometer strip of terrain that doesn't allow trespassing of vehicles as a rule of thumb. So come with your best pair of walking shoes to explore an ancient town devoid of traffic lights, skyscrapers and modern trappings. Instead, it is filled with an array of canals and quaint bridges that connect the streets and have earned Lijiang the famed moniker of 'City of Bridges'. You can catch glimpses of Naxi women cleaning vegetables and washing clothes alongside the canals, utilizing water that stems from the northern Black Dragon Pool at Jade Spring Park. Situated at the foot of Elephant Hill, this scenic park was built in 1737 during the Qing Dynasty. The main highlights include the Black Dragon Pool, which is a beautiful sight with a sprawling pond, the magnificent Five Phoenix Tower, and you can also find exquisite Naxi-style architecture here. There are at least 500 species of flowers blooming in the garden across the seasons, and there are interesting seasonal horticultural shows and art displays.
Market Square is located in the center of the old town. Some of the wood and stone two-storey Naxi houses embellished with intricate carvings and elaborate courtyards have been converted into shops and restaurants - this is where you can find traditional arts and crafts, as well as authentic cuisine. If you are in the mood for entertainment, go to the Market Square concert hall to watch the fascinating Naxi orchestra perform classical Taoist music featuring early versions of instruments such as lutes, three-string violins and cymbals. This troupe has performed worldwide - they even had President Jiang Zemin performing on the flute with the orchestra when he visited Lijiang. In the evening when the red lanterns light up, the Naxi residents cloaked primarily in blue and white, will gather for rounds of vivacious folk dancing. With or without your dancing shoes, it is truly irresistible when the affable townfolk invite you to join in the merry-making. Another place of interest is the Shuhe Naxi Village where you can find interesting restaurants and pubs for entertainment.
In search of architectural splendor? Head south and visit the Mu Mansion, a cultural and historical monument that locals tout as bearing a close resemblance to Beijing's Forbidden City albeit on a smaller scale. The Mu clan ruled Lijiang for 22 generations and the old town is renowned as China's only ancient settlement without a city wall because building a fort is tantamount to drawing a box around the Chinese character Mu , turning it into Kun - meaning 'difficulty'. This superstition still reigns today, preserving the Mu legacy in an auspicious manner.
When dusk beckons, take a walk up Lion Hill for a magnificent view of the old town. Turn to the other side of the hill where the new town of Lijiang provides a stark contrast.
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