| The quaint and ancient city town of Lijiang in | | | | into Lijiang in order to station military garrisons |
| Yunan, a province of China is generously well | | | | and common people in the border areas. |
| endowed by nature with magnificent and beautiful | | | | As a result of the mass migration, the buildings of |
| mountains, rivers and a long history. Not | | | | Lijiang ancient city were very much influenced by |
| surprisingly, this county was entered into the list | | | | the architectural style of Anhui Province. The |
| of world cultural legacy by the World Legacy | | | | original buildings of the Naxi people can now only |
| Committee of the United Nations Education, | | | | be found in the rural areas surrounding Lijiang. |
| Science and Culture Organization in 1997. | | | | The Yuan dynasty and the Mongol Emperor then, |
| Lijiang's history can be traced as far back as 800 | | | | Kublai Khan stationed military garrisons in Lijiang in |
| years to 900 years dating from the Sung | | | | 1253. He brought the foreign Mongolian culture to |
| Dynasty. Why is town one of the most beautiful | | | | this city and as such, Lijiang was also influenced |
| tourist attraction and destination in the world? | | | | by the culture Central China, such as Buddhism |
| Well, firstly, it is one of the very few cities which | | | | and Taoism, and then Christianity and Islamic |
| is over a mile high above sea level. Smacked in | | | | culture from the early 1900s. The Naxi |
| the middle of the Lijiangba Dam, the town | | | | community assimilated all these cultures and today |
| surrounded by towering snowcapped mountains | | | | Lijiang is also very much appreciated for its |
| and a river that traverse through an oriental | | | | cultural landscape not only in China, but the entire |
| forest with small streams meandering into the | | | | Asia. Millions of tourists travel to Lijiang every |
| town itself. Some tourists even called this place | | | | year to enjoy Lijiang's primitive simplicity, |
| "Heaven On Earth" or "The Shangri-la". | | | | tranquility and elegant culture. |
| In Feb 1996, a tragic earthquake Lijiang measuring | | | | The folks in this town know how to enjoy music |
| 7 on the Richter rocked Lijiang killing more than | | | | too. You can hear the spellbinding tunes emanating |
| 5,000 people, mainly the of Naxi community. This | | | | from humble homes in Dayanzhen Town. The |
| ethnic tribal people is the major community in | | | | musicians carry their home made musical |
| Lijiang. The Naxi people are a hardy lot and they | | | | instruments to take part in household parties all |
| make a living by herding yaks and doing smalltime | | | | over the town. |
| retail businesses. | | | | The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang is |
| Although the earthquake was a shattering blow to | | | | perhaps one the most beautiful mountain range in |
| the local population, the catastrophic event caught | | | | the world, famous for its perilous, beautiful and |
| the attention of the world and suddenly, Lijiang's | | | | breathtaking landscapes. The peak of the Jade |
| natural beauty was exposed and tourism boomed | | | | Dragon Mountain is about 5596 meters (about |
| like never before. As such, Lijiang is now one of | | | | 17,000 ft) above sea level. The mountain's |
| the most popular tourist travel destination and | | | | thirteen peaks viewed from south to north look |
| attraction in China. | | | | an like elegant flying giant Chinese dragon. A very |
| The construction of the ancient Lijiang city was | | | | formidable view indeed. |
| quickly developed in the Ming Dynasty period. This | | | | So if you are visiting China, do drop by and take |
| is because the Ming Dynasty made a large | | | | in the sights of this breathtaking tourist attraction |
| number of people in Anhui Province to migrate | | | | called Lijiang. |