Lijiang – A Place That Enchants and Uplifts the Soul

I have a love-hate relationship with the sunshine here. I love the warmth it brings, but hate how its UV rays mercilessly damage my skin—yet I keep compromising in front of the beautiful scenery.

As I get older, I've started to prefer photos where I appear smaller, probably because I don't want to face the fine lines on my face.

The scenery at the other end of the old town unfolds like a scroll painting, instantly lifting my mood.

We all live in an era of superficial "like" friendships. Sometimes, we really should put down our phones and return to nature, where we might find our truest selves.

My friend Xiaoguo in Lijiang always leads me to off-the-beaten-path photo spots. And I'm still that girl who never tires of taking pictures, avoids outdoor jackets, and climbs mountains in a dress—a true tough girl.

I'm really fond of this dead tree with its uniquely shaped trunk. Against the backdrop of the snow mountain and blue sky, it looks incredibly cool in photos.

On the way toward the scenic area along the mountain road, you'll pass a spot for capturing distant snow mountain views, on the left side of the road.

Vast skies and wide wilderness, the wind blows through the grass but no cattle or sheep are seen. Running freely at the foot of the snow mountain gives a long-missed sense of freedom.

Many visitors ride horses here; it's quite nice to experience galloping across the grassland at the foot of the snow mountain.

Near the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain scenic area is Ganhaizi. This photo spot features expansive pools of water. On a clear day, the lake perfectly mirrors the distant Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, its thirteen peaks winding sinuously like a white dragon soaring and leaping, ready to dive into the surging Jinsha River at any moment.

If you happen to be heading to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, why not stop here? I'm sure you'll be as pleasantly surprised by the scenery as I was.

In the afternoon, the sunlight glistens on the water, creating layers of shimmering light—truly beautiful.

Some say Blue Moon Valley is like a mini Jiuzhaigou. The water here is crystal clear, and at a glance, it really does resemble Jiuzhaigou.

Due to the elevation differences, the scenic area has many small waterfalls, which are also great for photos.

The lakes in Blue Moon Valley are all formed by melting snow. As the water flows, it is blocked by the mountain, forming four larger bodies of water known as Jade Liquid Lake, Mirror Pool Lake, Blue Moon Lake, and Listening to Waves Lake.

As night falls, the sky turns deep blue, and the old town's lights come on one by one. Song drifts from the bar street, and Lijiang, with its evening lights just lit, looks even more enchanting.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain has a cableway that goes directly to the summit; it's probably the most convenient snowy mountain to access in China.

But note: to reach the summit, you need to take the large cable car, and you generally have to book tickets in advance, as daily numbers are limited.

After descending from Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, my second stop was Blue Moon Valley.

Sifang Street extends in all directions, and a nearby alley is filled with hanging colorful oil-paper umbrellas, especially romantic at night.

At an altitude of 4,860 meters on the snow mountain, every breath and heartbeat feels so vividly real.

The weather is crucial when visiting Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and today we had blue skies and white clouds—I felt like my luck was in full force.

On sunny days, the water is blue, and the valley is crescent-shaped. From a distance, it looks like a blue moon nestled at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, hence the name Blue Moon Valley.

The old town's roads are paved with red breccia. As the most popular ancient town, the flagstones have been worn smooth and shiny.

Lijiang under the night turns into another world, with tourists from all directions composing different revelry songs.

When I first heard of Blue Moon Valley, I thought its name sounded lovely. It was formerly known as the well-known "White Water River."

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain has a cableway that goes directly to the summit; it's probably the most convenient snowy mountain to access in China.

Laughing and running through the woods like a child, the warm sun slips through my fingers, leaving its warmth in my palms, while its heat enters my eyes.

On my travels, I always love finding unique photo spots. Looking at Shuhe Ancient Town from a high vantage point offers a completely different flavor.

In Shuhe, besides enjoying wonderful times, there's also unmissable cuisine. I went to the most popular local restaurant, which had a superb ambiance. Sitting by the window, savoring delicious food, admiring the flowers outside, listening to the singer's gentle voice, and sipping fine wine—it felt absolutely fantastic!

On a day with no itinerary, I enjoyed a garden afternoon tea at the inn. I have to say, whiling away time like this is too lovely.

Lijiang Old Town is an ancient city without walls. The smooth, clean bluestone paths, the earthen-structured houses, and the ubiquitous bridges over flowing streams, together with the passersby, create a lively and charming scene.

Shuhe Ancient Town feels like a condensed version of Dayan Old Town, only more serene. Stepping on the smooth bluestone paths, listening to the babbling stream, and popping into street-side shops—a day just slips by like this.

The rooftop of Huawushuang is almost worn out from visitors, but from my firsthand experience, you should try viewing Lion Hill from this angle.

I love the blue skies and white clouds in Lijiang. I visit several times a year, and each time brings different feelings and surprises.

Everyone dreams of traveling, wanting to capture beautiful moments.

Lijiang – the tranquility of the old town.