For some time now, Lijiang, the ancient capital of the Naxi Kingdom in Yunnan Province, has become a favorite destination for tourists, attributed to its rich ethnic heritage and beautiful scenery.
Lijiang is home to Dayan old town, one of China's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The place is a melting pot home to ethnic minorities, like the Naxi, Bai, Yi and Tibetans, with more than 800 years of history.
Dayan old town was once a major stop on the Southern Silk Road, also known as the Tea Horse Road, which connected Sichuan Province and Tibet Autonomous Region.
The city is also known because of Joseph Rock, who spent more than 25 years in Lijiang between the 1920s and 1940s, collecting native bird and plant specimens. He also studied the Naxi people, including their language and culture, with the help of the dongba, or local Shaman priests.
Tourists who visit Lijiang often visit Yuhu Village to visit Rock's former residence. The residence was reopened in March after undergoing renovation.
Yuhu Village is known for its view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and its excellent example of Naxi architecture.
Since ancient times, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain has been a sacred place for Naxi people. It is a 13-summit mountain range with year-round snow that supposedly looks as if a dragon is sleeping on top of it, hence the name.
At the foot of the mountain, director Zhang Yimou's "Impression Lijiang" is staged three times a day. With nature providing a scenic backdrop, the performance involves more than 400 male performers, all in traditional ethnic attire.
There are many other places to visit, including the Wangu Pavilion on the summit of Lion Hill. The pavilion dates back to the Qing Dynasty and contains 10,000 dragon carvings.
For those interested to visit Lijiang, accommodations fit all budgets, from backpackers to comfortable vacations, with boutique hotels converted from traditional houses being one of the more interesting options. Restaurants also range from cheap snacks to fine dining, making Lijiang a well-priced tourist destination.