Lijiang Ancient City

Synopsis

The Old Town of Lijiang is located in Lijiang City, Yunnan Province. It was initially built in the late Song and early Yuan dynasties, with a history of over 800 years, and is a famous tourist destination in China centered on Naxi culture. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 and is a National 5A-level scenic area, renowned worldwide for its small bridges over flowing water, ancient architecture, Dongba culture, and the backdrop of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Overview

Lijiang Ancient Town, also known as Dayan Ancient Town, is located in the Gucheng District of Lijiang City, Yunnan Province. It sits in the middle of the Lijiang Basin at the foot of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, with an altitude of approximately 2,416 meters. The ancient town was initially built in the late Song and early Yuan dynasties, boasting a history of over 800 years. It is one of China's best-preserved ancient towns of ethnic minorities. In 1997, Lijiang Ancient Town was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, becoming a globally renowned cultural and tourist destination and a National 5A Tourist Attraction.

Lijiang Ancient Town centers on Naxi culture, integrating cultural elements from multiple ethnic groups such as Han, Bai, Yi, and Tibetan, forming a unique cultural landscape. The ancient town is not surrounded by city walls—legend has it that because the ancient local chieftain (Tusi) of Lijiang had the surname Mu (木, meaning wood), building a city wall would be like putting the character Mu inside a frame (口), turning it into Kun (困, meaning trapped), which was considered inauspicious. Thus, Lijiang became China's only historical ancient town without city walls. The town is structured around water; the Yu River system divides into countless tributaries within the town, creating the unique scenery of "water flowing by every household and willows hanging at every door."

Core Attractions

Mu Residence is the most important historical building in Lijiang Ancient Town, serving as the mansion of the Mu family, the Naxi chieftains since the Ming Dynasty. Covering an area of about 46 mu (approximately 3.07 hectares), with a central axis about 369 meters long, the entire architectural complex is grand and imposing, blending traditional Naxi architecture with Han-style imperial palace architecture. The traveler Xu Xiake once marveled at the beauty of the Mu Residence, comparing it to a royal palace. The current Mu Residence has been reconstructed and houses a large collection of Naxi cultural relics and historical materials, making it an important site for understanding Lijiang's history and culture.

Shuhe Ancient Town is located 4 kilometers north of Lijiang Ancient Town. It is part of the Lijiang World Heritage site and a well-preserved important post station on the Ancient Tea Horse Road. Shuhe is quieter and more rustic than Dayan Ancient Town. The ancient dwellings along the Qinglong River, the clear spring water of the Jiuding Dragon Pool, and the bluestone-paved roads of Sifang Street all exude a leisurely and carefree atmosphere.

Naxi Culture

The Naxi people are the main indigenous ethnic group in Lijiang, possessing a unique and rich cultural heritage. Dongba script is the world's only pictographic script still in use, hailed as a "living pictographic script." Dongba religion is the indigenous religion of the Naxi people. The religious scriptures written in Dongba script by Dongba priests record the Naxi creation myths, historical legends, and knowledge of production and daily life, constituting a precious heritage in human cultural history.

Naxi Ancient Music is an ancient musical form that integrates elements of Taoist music, Buddhist music, and folk music, preserving many musical tunes and ancient instruments from the Tang and Song dynasties. Musicologists refer to Naxi Ancient Music as a "living fossil of Chinese music." Under the leadership of Mr. Xuan Ke, the Lijiang Dayan Naxi Ancient Music Association has introduced Naxi Ancient Music to the world stage.

Practical Information

Cultural Significance

Lijiang Ancient Town is a model of the perfect integration of Chinese ethnic minority culture and natural scenery. When it was inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1997, UNESCO's evaluation stated: "The Old Town of Lijiang perfectly integrates economic and strategic importance with rugged terrain, preserving the historical townscape in a true and complete manner." The successful inscription of Lijiang also provided important experience and reference for the subsequent protection of ancient towns and the development of cultural tourism in China.

Today, Lijiang Ancient Town is one of China's most popular tourist destinations, receiving tens of millions of visitors annually. The balance between the protection and development of the ancient town has been a topic of social concern. While preserving the original features of the ancient town, the local government is also actively exploring sustainable tourism models.

References

1. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/811
2. Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/丽江古城
3. Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/丽江古城
4. Lijiang Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism: https://www.lijiang.gov.cn