If You Love Me Too, Come to Lijiang to Meet Me

The fun of travel lies in encountering different scenery, and even more in meeting people with stories. A young woman, traveling alone far and wide, has trekked through Nepal, rolled over the Qinghai-Tibet plateau to Lhasa, and now roams Southeast Asia in a pair of flip-flops. Who gives you the courage to wander the world?

Every summer vacation, she would be seen in the streets and alleys of Lijiang Old Town, wearing a red dress and humming tunes. For some reason, she broke her appointment for two years. She says she wants to return to Lijiang once more, to dance among flowers in a pink chiffon dress, to open her arms and embrace the breeze blowing across Lugu Lake, and...

Lijiang Old Town is neither too big nor too small, with its maze of lanes where even GPS can get lost. She says she doesn't mind getting lost among its streets, treading on green flagstone paths, listening to cheerful Lijiang folk songs, and sometimes stumbling upon unexpected surprises within the old town.

For example, the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, revered as a sacred mountain by the Naxi people. The sacred mountain looms in and out of the ever-changing white clouds, where the mysterious 'Third Kingdom of Jade Dragon' exists, filled with one poignant and tragic love story after another.△

This is a 'suspended fish,' a distinctive feature of Lijiang. Under the eaves of many houses, there is a fish-shaped or leaf-shaped wooden ornament, which residents use to pray for 'abundant blessings.'△

The big waterwheel is a landmark of Lijiang Old Town. The old town is built of wood and earth, and fire safety is critical. The narrow roads and small water channels would make a fire difficult to control, especially with over 4,000 wooden inns. Since water can overcome fire, perhaps the big waterwheel also expresses the residents' wish to be free from fire disasters.△

I have to admit it's really popular—it's taken cities like Chongqing, Xi'an, Kunming, and Jinan by storm, and in Lijiang it's lit up spots like the Eternal Love scenic area. Drawn by the spectacular waterfalls and flames on screen, we were determined to see a 3D version. It's just over 6 km from the old town, very close.△

Not sleeping together in life but sharing a tomb in death—loving yet unable to be together. Thus, many young Naxi men and women resolutely chose the 'Third Kingdom of Jade Dragon' as the haven for their ideal love. Throughout history, 30,000 young Naxi lovers died for love. The Naxi have been dubbed a 'tragic people' by scholars, and Lijiang has been called the 'City of Love Suicides.'△

After watching 'Love Song of Lijiang,' we headed to the 4:30 show of 'Lijiang Eternal Love.' Near the grand theater, we found this wall, and as if by magnetic force, we were drawn to it, striking all kinds of poses. Ignoring the curious looks around us, I was compelled by her insistence to snap dozens of shots before saying, 'Your flip-flops that have traveled all over Southeast Asia really steal the show, haha.' P.S. I should be more careful with my words from now on [facepalm]△

Freedom of love, in their era, was bought with one heavy price after another. To resist the 'orders of parents and words of matchmakers,' he bravely headed toward the pure and unsullied 'Third Kingdom of Jade Dragon,' sacrificing himself for love without turning back.△

This is also one of the most beautiful spots to view Lugu Lake, provided you have good weather. We were incredibly lucky—it had rained for the two previous days, but today and the following days it cleared up.△

We began our trip around Lugu Lake. Here is Luyuan Cliff, the source of Lugu Lake. The water is purely, enchantingly blue. It's said that Lugu Lake's water comes from underground, circulating, but it's extremely deep, so don't foolishly try to swim—beware of losing your life.△

Lige Peninsula, seen from high above, is breathtakingly beautiful. But once you actually walk on it, it feels quite ordinary. If you have time, go up to the peninsula; if not, skip it.△

Lige's biggest feature is the multicolored 'pig trough boats'—dugout canoes named for their resemblance to a long pig trough. These boats, in all colors, are incredibly photogenic. They are the only means of transportation for the Mosuo people.△

A favorite photo trick by the lake is to interact with the water. The pose I always do is splashing water, then burst-shooting like crazy. Splash a few more times, snap a few more shots—there's always one decent enough to share.△

A few jumping shots too. Yes, that flying feeling is exactly what we want. But be careful not to fall into the water—there are monsters in Lugu Lake!△

As for the scenery, well, I'm starting to get a little jaded from seeing too much of it. But the clouds in the sky did adorn this beautiful lake view; otherwise, this island really wasn't worth the visit. Also, the weather at Lugu Lake is strange: both mornings had clear, cloudless skies, but by afternoon, clouds filled the sky.△

In a northern village lives a southern girl. She always likes standing by the roadside in a floral dress. She's not much of a talker, but her smile is so calm and graceful. What's hidden in her tender eyes? It's the sorrow of longing. She adores Zhao Lei, and says she's the 'Southern Girl' in his song. This is the last photo I took of her on this Lijiang trip. The words above are so fitting: 'If possible, I want to forget you, because then I won't miss you to the point of suffocation.'△

【The Warmth of Shuhe Ancient Town】

Shuhe Ancient Town is my favorite old town in Lijiang. Compared to the bustle of Dayan, I much prefer the tranquility of Shuhe. If you want to zone out, to savor life, to clear your mind, take a walk in Shuhe Ancient Town in Lijiang—you'll find your own answers!

The Jiuding Longtan (Nine Dragon Pool) in Shuhe Ancient Town doesn't give off any old-town vibe at all, but it's precisely this contrasting scenery that makes me see Shuhe in a new light.△

The number one ranked restaurant in Shuhe for Yunnan-Guizhou cuisine is incredibly popular. We had a satisfying meal and left contented.

'Pu'er Tea Braised Pork Belly' – Pork belly with skin, slow-cooked with Yunnan Pu'er tea until tender and flavorful, slightly sweet.

'Yellow Braised Black Goat' – Black goat with skin, paired with dried bean curd sticks to cut the richness; the lamb is not gamey and tastes excellent.

'Special Spicy Red Oil Boneless Chicken Feet' – Sichuan-style spicy and numbing, a generous portion, delicious.

'Stir-fried Glass Noodles with Cabbage' – It looks good, but by then the other dishes had already stuffed me like a melon; otherwise, I could have eaten just this as a full meal.

'Lemon Wild Black Fungus' – Small, thick, and crunchy, with a refreshing lemony fragrance, perfect for summer.

This is the liveliest bar street in Shuhe. My emotions were stirred once again, listening to familiar folk songs, feeling the warmth of the last night in Yunnan in the dreamy Lijiang night.△

Black Dragon Pool, about 1.6 km from Lijiang Old Town, offers a distant view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Legend has it that it was also a filming location for 'The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils.' After later renovations, it has become a poetic landscape garden. With its natural beauty, Black Dragon Pool is listed among 'China's Famous Springs' and 'China's Scenic Spots,' hailed as a piece of fine jade on the northwest Yunnan plateau.△

Compared to the cultural and human scenery of the old town, this place offers more beautiful natural landscapes—green mountains, clear waters, and a flowing charm. It's no exaggeration to call it the backyard garden of Lijiang Old Town.

Travelogue Contents: 1. Lijiang Old Town 2. Lijiang Eternal Love 3. Lugu Lake 4. Shuhe Ancient Town Travel Information Hotel Index Guide Index Flight Ticket Index Website Navigation Travel Index Cruise Index Corporate Travel Index Join Cooperation Distribution Alliance Friendly Links Corporate Gift Card Purchase Insurance Agent Agent Cooperation Hotel Affiliation Destination and Scenic Spot Cooperation More Cooperation About Ctrip About Ctrip Ctrip Hot Topics Contact Us Career Opportunities User Agreement Privacy Policy Business License Safety Center Ctrip Content Center Intellectual Property Trip.com Group Algorithm Announcement