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We depart Dali for the four hour drive to Lijiang over mountains and through river valleys before arriving into Lijiang by lunchtime. Lijiang is an enchanting spot, set at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, an ancient village and a World Heritage Cultural site. On arrival we will take a walk through the old town visiting the Mu Chieftans house, a lavish series of buildings, hidden by a large gate and encompassing courtyards, gardens, reception halls and living quarters. The last Chief made it to 1949 before the Maoist revolution swept through. It is more like a palace than a house and a winding stone path leads to the top of a hill where a Taoist temple sits. The view is commanding, the roof tops of the old town spreading out below, mountains in the distance.
Accommodation: The Grand Lijiang Hotel Xinyi St, Dayan Town Lijiang Ph: 88 888 5128888
A full day of sightseeing around Lijiang as we head for the Jade Dragon Snow mountain, an enormous peak that reaches over 5000 meters above sea level. The drive takes around forty minutes past local villages of Yi and Naxi people. We continue to the small village of Yuhe where there is a magnificent temple to the Goddess of Mercy. The temple is constructed from wood in a series of joints and angles with no nails used. It dates back some 500 years and its walls are decorated with well preserved frescos of the Goddess of Mercy.
After lunch we will visit the Black Dragon pond at the foot of Elephant Mountain. This natural spring was the original water supply of the old town of Lijiang and is known for its purity. The water from this spring still gushes through the old town in a series of open culverts and drains. This evening we will attend a performance of the local Naxi Orchestra in traditional songs and dance.
Accommodation: The Grand Lijiang Hotel Xinyi St, Dayan Town Lijiang Ph: 88 888 5128888 Last changed: Saturday October 18, 2014
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