Blissful Moments in Lijiang: Ancient Town Beauty, Sunshine, Blue Skies, White Clouds, and Unmissable Food

I woke up groggily and finally saw the full picture. The third-floor terrace had some flowers and plants, offering a private view of the mountain scenery.

A patch of blue appeared in the sky, as if it was about to drive the dark clouds away. I quickly packed my luggage and moved to the next place. Its location was much better, near the bar street yet nestled in a quiet alley.

After a simple bowl of rice noodles, I strolled through the quiet paths of Shuhe and arrived at Shilian Temple. It wasn't the temple itself that was particularly impressive, but climbing up to Shilian Temple offered a panoramic view of the entire Shuhe Ancient Town.

It was especially peaceful. Only an auntie was busying herself keeping the place in order. A father and daughter were about to leave, and I heard the father teaching the daughter to say goodbye to the Buddha.

After coming down, I followed a stream so clear it looked drinkable to Jiuding Dragon Pool. Along the way, I passed the Three-Eyed Well, where the three interconnected pools serve different purposes: the first for drinking water, the second for washing vegetables, and the third, the murkiest, for laundry.

The scenery along the way was familiar, no longer exhilarating but comforting.

The water of Jiuding Dragon Pool springs from the crevices of the rocks at the foot of Longquan Mountain, so it's crystal clear to the bottom, free of any turbidity. Trees on the bank cast reflections, and fish glide in the shallow water. It’s a beauty beyond words.

In Shuhe, my friend and I went into a restaurant with a superb ambiance to appease our grumbling stomachs. Not only was the setting great, but the food was also excellent, with wonderful flavors. We later learned that it's a locally renowned long-established restaurant, and many celebrities have dined there. I highly recommend this place; you must experience it yourselves!

The road from Shuhe to Baisha is an excellent cycling route. Alternatively, you can take bus No. 6, or simply take a taxi like we did.

There were hardly any tourists in the ancient town; most people were locals living there. For shopkeepers, business was quiet, but we were happy to wander the streets, stopping here and there.

There were quite a few tie-dye workshops. Some had stopped dyeing new pieces because few people came to buy, and faced with low-price competition, they just hoped to sell off the remaining stock. I asked about a piece the size of a bed sheet, and they quoted 120 yuan. Thinking it wouldn’t match my home’s style, I didn’t bother to haggle.

The ancient town is small; you can stroll around it in an hour. When I got tired, I sat down at a small shop with a sign saying 'Snow Mountain View'. The view from the second-floor scenic seat was indeed lovely.

We headed back, and since it was still early, we went to stroll around Heilongtan Park, a popular spot for locals to take a walk.

The scenery was indeed beautiful. The breeze was so soothing it made me drowsy. The back mountain area is off-limits after 4 p.m.

As night fell, the lanterns began to light up.

A beam of 'Jesus light' shot up from the ground.

Travelogue Directory: 1, Shuhe Ancient Town 2, Baisha Ancient Town 3, Heilongtan Park 4, Lijiang Old Town Travel Information Hotel Index Guide Index Flight Ticket Index Website Navigation Travel Index Cruise Index Business Travel Index Franchise Cooperation Distribution Alliance Friendship Links Corporate Gift Card Purchase Insurance Agent Agent Cooperation Hotel Franchise Destination and Scenic Area Cooperation More Franchise Cooperation About Ctrip Ctrip Hot Topics Contact Us Careers User Agreement Privacy Policy Business License Security Center Ctrip Content Center Intellectual Property Trip.com Group Algorithm Disclosure