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Destinations: Middle East, Africa, Asia,
Australasia, South,
Central & North America.
Read all about it. Written
by Dr Samiramis Sarkardei.
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Lijiang
Entry 81 of 252 | show all | print this entry |
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This is a relatively new city, as the whole city was rebuilt in 1997 after the Earthquake. It looks immaculate and it is amazing what a fantastic job the people have done and are still doing in keeping this beautiful place clean. The city is located between 9923' - 10131' east longitude and 2559' - 2756' north latitude, and northwest of Yunnan province, middle reaches of Jinsha River. Neighbourhood areas include Sichuan province and Guizhou province; Tibet Autonomous Region and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It lies in lies in the joint area of Qingzang Altiplano and Yungui Altiplano. The nationalities living here include Han, Lisu, Pumi, Nuosu, Tibetan and Naxi. The most significant geographical feature of this city is an intimate mountain town of stone and tile, laced with swift canals; a gathering place of rugged mountain people from various ethnic groups.
Well this city is another relatively smaller city here in China. The population is very similar to that in Dali. The city is very pretty. It is close to Tibet, so you can almost see a difference in people's faces and way of living. It does feel like you are getting out of China, if you can understand what I mean. People are very happy here and almost in every face you can see a story. The older generation here, are very active. Their faces glow with happiness and the saying that every line on their face carries a story is very true. They have very expressive smiles and they really like dancing. Almost in every corner of this city you see old women dancing as though they are excercising, something like Tai Chi, but with rythem and music.
The city is lit at night with amazing hanging good luck lights outside the shops and restaurants. The local girls singing and dancing outside the shops is a way of attracting the customers. And it is very effective. We sat at the restaurant last night for our last supper with most of the people from the group and I almost went deaf with the high pitched voices of the girls singing outside the shop! It was painfull. The religion here in Lijiang is referred to as Dongba, which is also the religious figure. It is a pictography which means they use pictures instead of words to explain things. One of the attractions of Lijiang is Jade Spring Park (Heilongtan Park). Walking north from the Old Town of Lijiang, exactly at the foot of Elephant Hill, is the Black Dragon Pool (Heilongtan), an influx of limpid spring. Since the water of the pond is as green as a shining jade, the park of Black Dragon Pool, which was built in 1737 during the Qing Dynasty, is also entitled the Jade Spring Park (Yuquan Park). Jade Spring Park (Yuquan Park) occupies an area of 11,390 square meters and includes many distinctive and ravishing sites. Hiding in the lush trees or standing along the liquid pool is the antique and exquisite architectural pieces, which are in the style of Naxi (also spelt Nakhi or Nahi). On the gate of Jade Spring Park hangs a tablet with four bold and unconstrained Chinese characters - Yu Quan Gong Yuan (Jade Spring Park) written by the Wu Zuoren. Two stone-carved lions squat like loyal guards of this peaceful land. Going inside the park, you can see a charming white marble bridge lying across the emerald water. It is the Suocui Bridge. The symmetrical five bridge holes make a beautiful inverted reflection in water. On a good day unlike yesterday you can see the reflection of the bridge together with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Elephant Hill, the sapphire sky and the white clouds thereinto. Shame that wasn't the case for us!
As you roam along the bridge and get to the center you will see the Moon-Embracing Pavilion (Deyue Pavilion). The original pavilion was built in the late Ming Dynasty (1638 - 1644) and was well-preserved until the contrived fire in 1950. The present one is a reproduction built in 1963. Dragon God Temple (Longshen Temple) which is at the east of the park was built by the local Naxi people in 1737 and was given the title of 'Dragon God of Jade Spring' by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty in the same year. The famous flying cornices and threefold overlap Five-Phoenix Tower (Wufeng Tower), also called Fayun Pavilion, is located at the north end of the park. The Five-Phoenix Tower which was built in the 29th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty was originally situated in Fuguo Temple, which is 30 kilometers to the west. It was moved to Jade Spring Park in 1979 for the convenience of the tourists. It is 20-meter-high and has got the name five-Phoenix Tower for its octagonal shape, pretty wing-like eaves, painted rafters and carved beam make the pavilion looks like five phoenixes spreading their wings for fly from any angle of view.
Last night we had a meal with Phill, Julie, Phillipp, Jens, Emma and Michelle. It was one of the most memorable evenings for me from this trip. Phill and Julie although older than us, are so young at heart and they made the evening for every one of us, extremely enjoyable! Phill consistently throws in his one liner jokes and there is not a single sentence that can go by, without him throwing in an innuendo! He is a great man and a great laugh. That night we had a mixture of Chinese/Tibeten and Western food. I think Yens is staying well away from any Chinese food at the moment due to his upset stomach. I had the noodle soup which was great. The others braved it and ordered some Yak, which is the hairy cows you see in Tibet. It is quite tasty, only it made us go yak yak yak all night! You see Phill and I couldn't stop adding yak to the end of each sentence that night and to make it even more interesting (at least for us and not the locals) we also added the word Er, which is two in Chinese at the end of each sentence! I think the owner was ready to chuck us out, if it wasn't chucking down with rain! :) Saved by the rain!
We are leaving this beautiful place this evening and also saying goodbye to the last remaining from our tour, Jens, Phillip and Michelle. It is very sad seeing them go their separate ways, since we have had the most amazing time together. I do hope that a good friendship has come out of this and I am sure we will be seeing each other soon. At least that is what I keep telling myself! :) More thumbnails ...
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