Lijiang – A Crossroad of Cultures

We arrived in Lijiang at sunrise, and it seemed like the entire city was asleep. When we agreed to go on holiday with our friends, we did not know what to expect. But as the sun rose over Leaping Tiger Mountain, we realized that we were in for a treat. The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it is not hard to see why. Lijiang, like so many places in China, is a city steeped in history. It dates back over 800 years. It was a major player in trading due to the old tea horse road which wound its way over 4000 km through the southwest Yunnan and Sichuan provinces and played a very important role in the development of China. Different Chinese ethnic cultures, such as the Dai, Yi, Han, Bai, Naxi, and Tibetans, have met, fused, and developed along the historic road. It is also famous for its orderly system of waterways and bridges. So when you combine the stunning panorama, the history, and the people into one place, you have the recipe for a wonderful time.
We spent the day walking through the ancient village, bartering with vendors hawking their goods, and taking snapshots to enhance the memories that were being made. At almost every turn there was a postcard worthy picture of a person, place, or thing. Do you realize that over five hundred years before Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock and the others penned that famous document that gave birth to a nation; this city was not only in existence but thriving. It is stunning to think that there is not one city in America that is as old as Lijiang, and it is not even close to the oldest city in China.
Amanda has already reported on our wonderful dinner (if you missed it checkout mandachino.blogspot.com) but I just have to say if you ever visit Lijiang you have to visit a Mexican restaurant called Frosty Morning. Now, who would have believed that among all the different cultures you have here in Yunnan, there would be an authentic Mexican restaurant, run by a Mexican family, or that they would have a burger there that I rate as one of the top three burgers I have ever eaten. I could probably rate it higher than that but I don’t want to seem like I am exaggerating. Honestly, I can’t remember having a better burger. Not only was the burger first-class, the fries were crisp and hot, and the beer was ice cold and smooth. (Can it get better than that?)
We ended our evening in Lijiang, once again taking in the view of the city only this time at night. The city skyline was completely lit up with shades of red, orange, green, and yellow coming from the sweeping roof tops and hanging laterns. In the town square there was music playing and people were literally dancing in the streets. We walked along one of the many streams flowing through the city and gazed at the reflected light off of the water and breathed in the pleasant aromas emanating from the many restaurants. It was almost sensory overload but in the most wonderful way. Now we were looking forward to what the next day would bring. – Frank
Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers, that the mind can never break off from the journey.
Pat Conroy (1945 - ),


http://brucesabroad.com/www.brucesabroad.blogspot.com/Ljiang%20pics.doc