Blogs from Lijiang, Yunnan, China, Asia - page 4

Day 6Jinchuan Old TownThe road to Jinchuan today in constant sun, as usual, although coolish on bare arms until later in morning. The first 30k was along the valley heading North along what is a very busy route for lorries and every conceivable vehicle known to China, mostly the small trucks driven by donkey engines (single and twin cylinder diesels which make a loud knock when accelerated). The small trucks looked like they were in convoy there were that many of them heading to town. Those heading our way almost gassed us unless we could pass them, which was not always difficult especially on hills. The hills came in a big way with hairpin after hairpin for 25k and with a rough road surface in many places, especially on the bends. On the descent we also ... read more

Hi All, We decided to hire a bicycle to go out to Baisha. We chose to take a tandem which maybe wasn't the best idea. Going was hard work because we had a headwind a slight incline and a tandem built to withstand a tank attack!!! It must of weighed a ton. We shan't do that again. Baisha is about 10 kms north of Lijiang and is again another capital city of the Naxi minority. After walking around the backstreets of this little village I could begin to imagine what Lijiang may of been like before the facelift. In the village are some temples with some religious murals. It is the only place in China to have Taoist and Buddist murals together in the same temple. The murals aren't in the best condition and how they ... read more

We stayed in Shuhe by chance. Shuhe is a small village about 15 minutes from Lijiang. It also has a lot of guesthouses, restaurants, and shops but it is on a smaller scale than Lijiang and I thought it was absolutely charming. Probably the highlight of our trip. I had booked a hotel in Lijiang, so I thought. But the hotel I liked was in Shuhe so we ended up in Shuhe by accident and I am so glad that we did. We arrived on a rainy night and couldn’t see much but after a very warm welcome at the hotel were shown to our room and just loved it. The bed was very special, made from tree trunks. There was a sitting area, it was comfortable and cozy. We never spent a long time in ... read more

CHINA: Lijiang...Rectifying my Regret...4 years in the coming. We all have regrets. Why was I so impulsive? I could have handled that better. Wish I hadn't done that. In relationships...finances... shopping...sporting moments...in travel...aspirations. Wish I could go back in time...rectify...do differently. But it's passed...irreversible...opportunity lost. All we are left with is...REGRET...that insidious worm that sucks our confidence. Somehow I had the opportunity "to rectify a regret"...something really major...something that had been eating me up for 4 years...and I received a GOLD MEDAL for doing so...yep...a Gold Medal...crazy!!! We are in Lijiang in Yunnan Provence on my first trip to China...we had New Year in Dali...so this would be early 2003. Staying just outside the old city walls...Dayan Town...home of the Naxi People... read more

On July 26, we flew from Chengdu to Lijiang, in Yunnan Province. Our flight was in the afternoon so we were able to sleep in which was really nice. As soon as we arrived in Lijiang, we knew that life was about to get much better. The sky was blue, the hills were green, and the airport was incredibly cute and clean. Lijiang did not disappoint. It’s the oldest city in China and we were staying in the cobble-stone streets of the old town. Our first night we went wandering through the old city, stopping in random shops and sampling some snack food. We saw the historic waterwheel and the main square. We even saw some dancing! It was really, really nice. An interesting fact about Lijiang is that the old city isn’t walled. The story ... read more