Lijiang—You, so lazy, quietly stole into my heart

📍 Lijiang · 👁 9759 reads · ❤️ 60 likes

I first came to Lijiang in May 2018. I came and left in a hurry. On the bluestone-paved streets of Sifang Street, I watched the ancient town in the rain, looking picturesque and undisturbed. I came again in May 2020. The city was full of cherry blossoms, red lanterns and green willows, ancient town tile-roofed houses row upon row. The central alley was bustling with people, very lively. What is your Lijiang like? Noisy? Commercial? I think that is just yours.

Travel Tips:

Departure: In Lijiang, it is cool in the morning and evening, hot at noon, with strong ultraviolet rays and dry climate. So I brought short sleeves, long sleeves, a thick coat, scarf, hat, sunglasses, and an umbrella. A 20-inch Bremei suitcase was enough for the four-day trip.

Accommodation: It is recommended to stay in a guesthouse inside the ancient town. The level of accommodation depends on your budget.

Activities: "What can you do here?" I think everyone's travel depends on their own habits, interests, and vacation time. Some people like to stay in the hotel and go nowhere, some like the outdoors, some like sightseeing, and some friends even go just for delicious food... When you decide to come to Lijiang, you might as well stop and see the slow-paced Lijiang, stay a day before deciding your itinerary.

In April, Dayan Ancient Town is full of roses, pink hanging on the corners of walls, drooping under branches, petals floating on the water, drifting away.

Dayan Ancient Town is built on three hills, blending with nature. From a distance, the entire ancient town seems to be in another time and space. Walking along the hills, find a high place to overlook Dayan Ancient Town. Green tiles and white houses, row upon row, nestled against green mountains, tightly embracing the ancient town. Brew a cup of tea, listen to guitar folk songs, enjoy the breeze, and let your mind go blank in the ancient town.

There are moments everywhere in the ancient town where you can slow down and feel with your heart: a dog's gaze, a window opening, a flower blooming, a passerby's smile, always making you stop and want to look a second longer. The slowed-down time always makes you want to talk to yourself, to recall some familiar moment. On the first day in Lijiang, there's no need to rush; leave time for every free moment.

Dinner time: Chen's mother at the guesthouse cooked a table of Sichuan dishes. The pickled fish was better than in restaurants. The happiness from the taste buds filled me with joy. The night in Dayan Ancient Town was a bit cool. I stayed in the guesthouse, brewed a pot of black tea, drank and chatted under warm lighting, spending the first night in Lijiang with the aftertaste.

Waking up naturally is a happy thing. Open the door and lazily embrace the sunshine in the courtyard, like the intimacy of a lover in love. The sun whispered in my ear, passionate, everything just right. Outside the ancient town, I took bus No. 6 to Shuhe Ancient Town and Baisha Ancient Town, but accidentally ended up in Yulong Village. Last April, I saw the whole village covered in blooming pear blossoms, clusters of white blooming in every corner. Coming from a city of skyscrapers, it was like a paradise. This year, the pear blossoms have faded, but the village is still quiet, a small village with almost no tourists, very peaceful. Walking, savoring, leaving a moment of tranquility here.

Baisha Ancient Town obviously has more shops than last year, but it's still quiet. I accidentally walked into a café. The cherry blossom tree in the yard had lush branches and leaves, petals falling profusely in the wind. Inside, almost everything was decorated with old items, every detail carefully done.

Baisha Ancient Town is quiet. The sunlight slants through the rose vines covering the wall. People sit at the village entrance under the vines chatting. Life is not poetry, but it's just like this.

From Baisha Ancient Town to Shuhe Ancient Town is 5 kilometers. You can take a bus or walk. Enter the alleys, stroll along the river. Shuhe Ancient Town is a well-preserved important town on the Ancient Tea Horse Road. Xu Xiake once walked this road when he visited Zhishan Jietuolin. In his records, he wrote: "Cross a dry gulch stone bridge, looking west at Zhonghai, willows dark and ripples winding, there is a large settlement on it, called Shihe Yuan." "Shihe" is the ancient name of Shuhe Ancient Town. Shuhe is quieter than Dayan Ancient Town. Sifang Street still sings heart-touching lyrics. In the quiet shops, you can find only traces of laziness, as if people come here just for another life away from the city.

Xiaopeng's ten years gave him a dream, a dream for those who love to wander. Book bar, theme rooms, daze corners, and a group of like-minded people who love life. How short a life is! Being with the lifestyle you love is the greatest happiness.

In the evening, I had a delicious meal in Shuhe Ancient Town. It was really good, especially the pot rice, super delicious, I really liked it. Also the beef brisket, boneless chicken feet, hand-ground tofu all tasted great, and the portions were generous. The young guy in the shop provided excellent service, must give a thumbs up. The environment was also nice, I liked it, and the price was reasonable, good value for money! You must try the pot rice, everyone!

If you've seen enough of ancient towns, you might take a day to go to Tiger Leaping Gorge. Walk among the steep rocks, shake off your usual laziness, and on the way look for the simplicity of ancient villages. Taste a strawberry washed by a clear spring, let fatigue drift away with the stream among the dense shade. Winding paths, small village earthen houses, clear waves and blue water, rippling in spring.

Life within reach is always a distant place. Longing does not necessarily have to be reached. I think, I recall, I have experienced, and that is enough!

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