From Tengchong we travelled north, changing buses after 5 hours in Dali, then continuing further north to Lijiang. Lijiang is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the whole of China and in the summer months it's like Hahndorf on steroids. But it's much more sedate at this time of year. There's a lot to see and do in the Lijiang area and we spent several great days here in September 2007. This time though we're just passing through, to attend to some unfinished business with Tiger Leaping Gorge further to the north.But this afternoon we did spend a few pleasant hours strolling around the World Heritage Listed Lijiang Old Town Centre. Established 800 years ago on the route linking Sichuan with Tibet, the old town has retained much of its traditional character despite the ravages of time, the influx of tourists and a few strong earthquakes. The shops and cafes are now entirely tourist-oriented and loaded with trinkets, but the buildings themselves, the maze of narrow granite cobblestone streets, and the town as a whole remain very beautiful. And vehicles are banned from the old town centre which adds greatly to its appeal. Open channels carrying fresh water run along the edge of the streets; these and numerous associated water features add further to the streetscape atmosphere, as does the colourful traditional dress of the Naxi women who walk the streets hawking fresh local produce and rest in the beautiful market square when their work is done.
