A Few Leisurely Days Under Jade Dragon Snow Mountain: Picking Flowers and Embracing the Local Life

📍 Lijiang · 👁 2 reads · ❤️ 140 likes

Lijiang is almost an unavoidable classic on everyone’s itinerary. Naturally, I'm no exception. Before, Lijiang had always existed only in other people's descriptions. Now that I finally have a few days free, I can't wait to set off for this holy land in my heart.

When it comes to Lijiang, what fascinates me most is its unique ethnic culture. Naxi culture is the soul of Lijiang, enabling the ancient town to flourish and yet remain reclusive. I've been deeply interested in these since childhood. Naturally, I'm also eager to experience Lijiang's beautiful scenery and delicious food.

Time seems to stand still here. The bricks and stones bearing traces of history instantly give you the illusion of traveling through time. If it weren't for the passersby in modern clothes reminding me, I’d truly feel that this place has always been like this, never changing.

I think, when you come to Lijiang, don't rush to chase the scenery along the way, nor treat yourself as a tourist. Instead, you can blend into the city calmly like a local, feel its profound history and culture, and touch its historical pulse that spans time. Whether it's the bustling crowds on the streets, the calls of vendors reaching your ears, the distinctive architecture, or the vibrant colors that keep catching your eye, you should learn to savor them slowly.

In the evening, be sure to watch a cultural performance. Actually, Lijiang is not just about the snow mountain and ancient town; it also has many ancient cultural relics. For example, the show 'Lishui Jinsha.' Watching the performance allows you to learn about the city's culture at the same time. The Lisu people's Pig-herding Tune, Tibetan weaving of pulu, the Dai Water-Splashing Festival, the Wa people's Rice-transplanting Song, and the Yi people's Serving-on-a-Plate Dance are all outstanding ethnic cultural displays. This performance is like a museum, embracing a wealth of cultures. The show lasts one hour, but it's so thought-provoking that you can't help wanting to watch it again.

The next day, I went to Nine-Colored Rose Town. It felt like a dreamy town, with houses painted in various colors. It was the season when roses bloom, absolutely stunning.

It's perfect for avoiding the crowds, and you could spend a whole day just strolling around.

My reverence and longing for the snow mountain have never faded. Against the backdrop of the majestic snow mountain, humans appear so insignificant, which always fills me with awe. So this time, I had to check it off my list.

The Glacier Park Cableway is probably one of the must-visit attractions for most Lijiang visitors, with top popularity. But considering the high altitude of over 5,000 meters and the idea of climbing while inhaling oxygen among throngs of people, it just sounds uncomfortable and boring.

The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain scenic area has three cableways: the Glacier Park Cableway at over 4,600 meters, the Yak Meadow Cableway at over 3,800 meters, and the Spruce Meadow Cableway at over 3,200 meters. It might seem like there aren't many sights and the three cableways aren't too far apart, but if you want to cover them all in one day, the schedule is still quite tight. Generally, choosing one is enough. Before the trip, deciding which cableway to take caused me, a chronic indecisive, a lot of agonizing.

Riding the cable car up to Spruce Meadow at over 3,200 meters, I originally planned to walk from the cable car station to the famous alpine meadow. But to my surprise, I was out of breath after just a few steps. I remember coming here 10 years ago and not having any shortness of breath or racing heartbeat at all. Perhaps my physical condition has declined in recent years; I didn't expect it to be so obvious this time.

The electric cart shuttled along the winding, rugged path through the towering spruce forest. Sunlight filtered through the dense branches onto the soft ground; tree shadows flickered past the cart windows one by one, a full forest atmosphere hitting you in the face.

Spruce Meadow is a vast alpine meadow hidden among the primeval spruce forest halfway up the main peak of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Shanzidou. Legend has it that this is where young lovers went to die for love in the Naxi myth of the 'Jade Dragon Third Kingdom,' hence its other name 'Love-martyrdom Third Kingdom.' In the Naxi language, it is called 'Wuluyoucuige,' a sacred place in the hearts of the Naxi people.

Blue Moon Valley is often called the little Jiuzhaigou of Yunnan. It's said that its colors change just like Jiuzhaigou's. On sunny days, when the sky is azure, the lake water turns into a sapphire, yet mixed with a hint of mint green radiance. On rainy days, the water becomes transparent and clear. Truly stunning! This trip to Lijiang has been well worth it.

If the recently internet-famous Shaxi is like Dali of years past, then Baisha is like Lijiang of earlier times. This ancient town, where time seems to have been paused, lacks the commercialism of Lijiang Old Town and the bustle of Shuhe Ancient Town. To some, it may seem desolate, but to me, it embodies the simple, natural beauty I have always yearned for.

Before going, friends told me that Baisha Ancient Town is tiny, and that an hour would be enough. But to me, staying quietly for two days in the ancient town, strolling through every tranquil alley, is the best way to understand this thousand-year-old town that has weathered so much.

In the early morning, the ancient town was peaceful and pleasant. There were no bustling crowds, only the warmth and mist rising under the morning glow.

Diligent Naxi grannies had already hoisted their heavy bamboo baskets onto their backs and were ambling out of their homes. A quiet little cat yawned, starting a new day of 'business,' while the 'little ones' who hadn't seen each other all night were happily wagging their tails, chasing and frolicking in the lanes as they greeted one another.

Baisha Ancient Town is filled with shops lining the streets. Among them are many interesting ethnic handicraft workshops and charming internet-famous cafes. If you have time, I highly recommend picking a shop and learning from a master to make a local handicraft. Just thinking about it seems so interesting.

Casually sit down at a roadside café, have a cup of coffee, watch the tourists coming and going on the street, and listen to the local vendors' cries. In this slow-paced little town, you feel as if time has frozen you right in this beautiful scenery. The leisurely and wonderful languor of the ancient town can only be deeply appreciated by sitting quietly like this under Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

The morning tranquility is always fleeting. As the sun rises, the number of tourists in the ancient town gradually increases. Wanting a quiet vacation, I decided to avoid the crowds. I passed through Baisha's iconic large archway and turned into a deserted alley I hadn’t walked down the day before, enjoying the peaceful and simple farmhouses and fields.

Following the path, I soon arrived at a residential area with no commercial atmosphere at all. After getting to know the Naxi culture over the past two days, the stone houses that once looked rustic now seem more and more charming. It really resonates with the popular saying: 'What is ethnic is global.'

Travelogue Directory

1. 'Lishui Jinsha' – Time-washed, Leaving Behind Ethnic Culture Refined by the Years

2. Nine-Colored Rose Town, Stepping into a Dreamy Fairytale

3. Spruce Meadow + Blue Moon Valley

4. Baisha, the Naxi Ancient Town Where Time is Paused

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