In a landscape loved by all, I love only you: Lijiang

📍 Lijiang · 👁 1 reads · ❤️ 61 likes

There is a beauty that lies in a life like poetry, like the dreamy, gentle Old Town of Lijiang;

There is a beauty that lies in the majestic Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, perfect for both action and quiet reflection;

There is a beauty that lies in the afterglow of sunset, the vast earth, and the seamless horizon of Lugu Lake;

Strolling through the old town, sampling lots of snacks. Diet? No way, I'd already lost 10 pounds before coming here. Now it's time to gain back those lost pounds in Lijiang, haha.

My husband really likes these little trinkets. Maybe girls aren't into them. If I had a son instead of a daughter, I probably would've let him buy a couple.

There are actually many little shops worth visiting, but the owners don't allow photos, so I can't share those interesting finds. If you're curious, you'll have to go see for yourself. Many say it's better to go to Gulangyu, but they're wrong. Lijiang has so much of its own character, completely different from Xiamen.

There are many Naxi grandmothers selling fruit in the old town, not expensive. Strawberries, cherries, blueberries are all 10 RMB a box.

Jiahua flower cakes—the packaging is really beautiful. I compared prices online with those in the physical store, and they were the same. We bought freshly baked ones at the shop. It wasn't crowded when we went, so we took our time choosing a few classic varieties to have packed and shipped back to Shanghai. We spent over 700 RMB on gifts for friends and family, and the staff split it into three boxes with free delivery.

The sunshine was just right, perfect for slowly taking it all in.

Great, the small pot rice was really good, super fragrant and delicious. The ingredients looked ordinary but tasted wonderful, incredibly aromatic. We had a happy meal, great service, great atmosphere. Thumbs up.

Lugu Lake. Heading to Lugu Lake, the driver Wenwen arranged was a Mosuo from the area, and he told us all about Mosuo culture along the way, really interesting. Also in the car were some travel buddies from Hong Kong; their Mandarin was so standard we thought they were from Beijing.

When you mention 'Kingdom of Women,' the first thing that comes to mind is the one in Journey to the West, full of beauties where men are both treasure and grass. But there's actually a 'Kingdom of Women' hidden in colorful Yunnan—Lugu Lake.

We dropped our bags, changed clothes, and went out for photos. Daluoshui Village is the largest settlement on the Yunnan side of Lugu Lake, with many distinctive inns along the lake and convenient transport. But developed earlier, I feel the guesthouses' decor and facilities are a bit dated.

Breakfast was exquisite, with several set menus to choose from.

Grass Sea. The Mosuo people, living in matriarchal families, practice 'walking marriage,' where men do not marry and women do not wed. Walking marriage is an integral part of Mosuo culture. It means the man visits the woman's home at night and returns to his own in the morning; neither becomes a member of the other's family. This 'Walking Marriage Bridge' is a wooden bridge over 300 meters long, spanning the Grass Sea and connecting villages on both shores, providing a convenient path for the 'walking marriage' men. Now the custom is gone, but the story of the bridge adds a touch of local flavor to the Kingdom of Women at Lugu Lake.

Lige Island Viewpoint. Lige is a village by Lugu Lake, developed a bit later, preserving its original ecology. It's divided into three sections: the first section at the village entrance is cheaper but has no lake view. Further in is Lige Bay, the second accommodation area, pricier than the entrance but with rooms facing Lugu Lake without obstructions, offering wide views. The third section is the famous Lige Peninsula, with many lake-view rooms where nothing blocks your sight; you can lie in bed and watch the clouds and morning sun over the lake. But prices are less pleasant—good rooms often cost over a thousand.

Luowa Wharf. This was a place recommended by our driver, and we never expected it to be so beautiful. It's truly the sky mirror of Lugu Lake. The tranquil lake surface is like an endless blue satin, so pure and intoxicating. There were hardly any tourists, making it especially serene. A few small boats drifted on the calm water, swaying with the breeze.

Here, the whole lake seemed frozen in stillness, everything so pure and beautiful, as if in a paradise.

We strolled around Daluoshui at leisure. Colorful pig-trough boats were moored on the lake, with a distant view of Gemu Goddess Mountain.

Lover's Beach. Lugu Lake has two Lover's Beaches: one in Sichuan called Libai Lover's Beach, and the other in Yunnan called Luoshui Lover's Beach. The name is very evocative, and just for that, it must be a must-visit spot for couples. There's a long sandy beach, crystal-clear blue lake water, so transparent near the shore you can see the bottom, and the surface is dotted with water poplars.

In the magnificent morning glow, in the splendid sunset glow, between dawn and dusk, through the cycles of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. In the evening, we admired the sunset from the large terrace of our inn. The sunset glow today was especially beautiful.

Travelogue Directory

1. Lijiang Old Town

2. Yunshanping

3. Blue Moon Valley

4. Lijiang Old Town

5. Shuhe Ancient Town

6. Lugu Lake

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