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The drive from Dali to Lijiang takes about three hours, and we arrived in Lijiang Old Town around 8pm.
There are nearly a thousand inns and B&Bs in Lijiang Old Town. One of the reasons why I chose Xinsu among these numerous inns was explained before I checked in: the inn has established a dedicated WeChat butler group, providing dedicated butler service from pre-check-in to after-check-in. Feel free to ask any questions, and any inn staff member will respond quickly.
The inn is located on Lion Mountain in Lijiang Old Town. Before I checked in, I was reminded that I could take a taxi up the mountain. When I got out of the taxi, the inn's butler, Xiaowu, was already waiting in the cold wind.
Although Xinsu Inn is not far from the taxi drop-off point, walking up and down the cobblestone streets in the ancient city is not easy at all. If it weren't for the inn's luggage assistance service, my nearly 50-pound suitcase might have fallen apart on the way.
The main gate of Xinsu
Through a small path is the lobby of the inn
The public space on the first floor of the inn is simple yet fashionable.
src="https://dimg04.c-ctrip.com/images/0100e120009afd2b699A8_R_800_10000_Q90.png?proc=autoorient" /> Coming to the cozy guest room on the fourth floor, this will be my home in Lijiang for the next four days.
In the early morning, the eastern sky was just beginning to brighten.
The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the distance slowly revealed its beauty as the sky gradually brightened.
Suddenly, a golden hue appeared on the top of the snow-capped mountain, and the magnificent scenery of the golden mountain under the sun began to unfold.
It was already 8:30 in the morning, and the sky had turned a beautiful blue.
The peak of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the distance is also clearly visible, appearing even whiter against the blue sky.
The biggest reason to choose Xinsu Inn is that it has an unbeatable viewing platform, from which you can overlook the entire Lijiang Ancient Town.
As the sun gradually rises, the golden sunlight gradually illuminates every rooftop in the ancient city.
The room number plates of the inn are very distinctive.
You can see the beautiful Lijiang Ancient Town from the corridor outside.
Activity room on the second floor of the inn
Coming to the public space on the first floor of the inn, this is also the inn's restaurant and tea room.
The breakfast was very exquisite, with two choices of porridge and rice noodles, both of which were delicious.
After breakfast, we walked out of the inn and officially started our first day of Lijiang Ancient Town tour.
On the way down the mountain from the inn, there was a beautiful wish wall on the roadside.
First, we arrived at the South Gate of Lijiang Old Town.
At the end of the year, Lijiang Old Town saw a combination of the off-season and the extraordinary period, resulting in very few tourists on the streets.
Sifang Street in the north of Lijiang Old Town is obviously much more popular.
One corner of Sifang Street
There is a very cute little Corgi at the door of a shop next to Sifang Street. It was a little alert when it walked by on the first day, but on the second day it continued to sleep without paying any attention to anyone.
Umbrella Street near Sifang Street
Starting from Sifang Street and heading north, you will arrive at a scenic avenue within Lijiang Old Town.
The road is lined with trees and flowers on both sides.
Walk along the scenic pedestrian street to the end and you will arrive at the Lijiang Ancient Town Folk Song Square.
The shelves next to it are also covered with wishing boards.
Next to the Ancient City Folk Song Square is the Ancient City Waterwheel.
Flowers next to the Ancient City Waterwheel.
The beauty of Lijiang Ancient Town lies in its small bridges and flowing water.
In a corner of the ancient town, as a breeze blows, countless golden leaves dance, and finally fall quietly on the water, carried away by the flowing river.
The beauty of Lijiang Ancient Town lies in its colorfulness.
In another corner of the ancient town, succulents of various shapes and sizes dot the sides of the street, a riot of color and brilliance.
Yunnan is indeed a paradise for succulents
Wishing boards on trees, very common
One of the most worthwhile attractions in Lijiang Old Town is the Mu Mansion.
Entering the Mu Mansion
Interiors of several buildings
The red pillars that can be seen everywhere are also a major feature of the Mu Mansion.
The pond inside the Mu Mansion
The sky suddenly turned gloomy, and the trip to the Mu Mansion came to a temporary end
In the evening, returning to the terrace of the inn, the dark clouds gradually dissipated, and a spectacular cloud surge was unfolding over the ancient city.
Lijiang Old Town at night is different from the tranquility during the day. It is bustling and noisy.
Umbrella Street at night
On the surface of the stream, small boats carrying candles slowly drifted away.
Aside from the world-renowned Lijiang Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is also a must-see attraction in Lijiang.
It takes about an hour to get to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain from Lijiang Old Town. Winter is the dry season in Lijiang, so there is no need to worry about rainy days affecting your trip. The only thing you need to pay attention to is to dress warmly.
Within the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area, there is a place known as the Little Jiuzhaigou: Blue Moon Valley.
From the scenic area's sightseeing bus, you can see the emerald blue water from afar.
Entrance to Blue Moon Valley
The mountain behind is Yulong Snow Mountain. It is now shrouded in dark clouds, with a few snowflakes drifting from time to time.
Under the pink tree next to the plank road, there is a cute yak.
Under the sunlight, the scenery of Blue Moon Valley after the snow is beautiful.
This is the White Water River in Blue Moon Valley. The clear water and white snow complement each other perfectly.
The lake is beautiful and the scenery is amazing.
src="https://dimg04.c-ctrip.com/images/0103p120009afh33i2630_R_800_10000_Q90.png?proc=autoorient" /> Pebbles on the water
Mini waterfall beside the White Water River
Panoramic view of Blue Moon Valley
There are several lakes of varying sizes within Blue Moon Valley, the largest and most beautiful of which is undoubtedly Yuye Lake
The turquoise blue lake is as beautiful as an emerald
If the sun had not been blocked by clouds, the scenery before us would have been even more beautiful, and the blue of the lake would have been even more transparent
If the weather in Blue Moon Valley is changeable, then the weather on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain can only be described as gloomy.
As we took the cable car up, the surrounding scenery gradually changed from turquoise to grayish white.
After getting off the cable car, there is a viewing platform outside the exit.
The altitude at this time is 4506 meters.
Outside the viewing platform, it is all white and visibility is very low.
This is the place called Glacier Park.
The winding path on the hillside ahead is the plank road leading to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain at an altitude of 4,680 meters.
You can vaguely see the red flag in the distance, which is the end of the plank road.
Walk onto the plank road and set off.
At this moment, the sky began to snow moderately, but there was still a long way to go.
The snow on the stairs is very thick, so be extra careful when climbing.
Halfway through the journey, we arrived at the viewing platform at an altitude of 4576 meters. Here you can take a short rest. There is still an altitude difference of 100 meters to the terminal.
It is amazing to see birds flying over at such a high altitude.
I reached the viewing platform and looked out at the plank road and cable car station below. I had walked so far without realizing it.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is at a very high altitude. Although I didn't suffer from altitude sickness, I was still out of breath after climbing just a few steps. I quickly picked up the oxygen tank and took a deep breath, which immediately restored my blood.
The closer we got to the top, the heavier the snow fell. I wanted to give up and turn back, but I decided to grit my teeth and persevere a little longer. I would reach the end.
After an hour and a half of perseverance, we finally reached the end of the platform at an altitude of 4,680 meters on Yulong Snow Mountain.
It's a pity that the weather was not good. The surroundings were all white. There was no beautiful scenery. It was a pity.
But just being here is enough.
After the difficult climb to the summit, the descent was much easier.
On the way back, we passed a grassland, which is also a great photo spot.
Yulong Snow Mountain is a sacred mountain in the hearts of the Naxi people. However, a few days later in Shangri-La, a local Tibetan bluntly stated that in their eyes, Yulong Snow Mountain is nothing. This view also exists in the eyes of an ordinary hiker nearby, because in their hearts, the only sacred mountain is Meili Snow Mountain.
Faith is a magical thing. Everyone has their own faith. Yulong Snow Mountain is a sacred mountain in the hearts of the Naxi people, and Meili Snow Mountain is a sacred mountain in the hearts of the Tibetans. Yulong Snow Mountain is suitable for tourism, and Meili Snow Mountain is suitable for hiking. Both snow mountains have their own unique characteristics. Snow mountains do not belong to anyone. No matter which snow mountain, they are the result of the movement of the earth's plates. What is the distinction between high and low?
If you ask which ancient town is the most famous in Lijiang, it must be Lijiang Ancient Town.
However, in fact, Lijiang Ancient Town is just a general name. Its real name is Dayan Ancient Town.
There are three ancient towns in Lijiang, and the most unknown one is Baisha Ancient Town, which is located in the northernmost part of Lijiang City.
This is a quiet and peaceful town that retains the most original style of the ancient town.
Baisha Ancient Town is located at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Walking along the streets of the town, you can clearly see the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in front of you.
Passing by a coffee shop, the sunshine is great.
Spot a cat and sit down for some close interaction.
A cute baby cat is happily playing in the sun.
Oops, I've been discovered
Compared with Lijiang Ancient Town, Baisha Ancient Town is much more simple and unpretentious, without the hustle and bustle of commercialization, and is worth savoring
To the north of Lijiang city, there is a low-key ancient town called Shuhe.
Due to its relatively recent development, this area offers both the bustle of Lijiang Old Town and the tranquility of Baisha Ancient Town.
The row of wishing boards in the square at the entrance is quite spectacular.
As a stop on the Ancient Tea Horse Road, Shuhe Ancient Town offers a unique opportunity to enjoy horseback riding around the town.
However, looking at the horses' innocent expressions, it's better not to embarrass them. We must not let the horses suffer while profiting from unscrupulous merchants.
Walking through Shuhe Ancient Town, there are almost no tourists.
Flying flowers touch the water, which is a very beautiful scenic area in Shuhe Ancient Town.
The scenery here is beautiful and the popularity has obviously increased a lot.
Standing on the plank road beside the pond, you can overlook the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the distance.
Here, one water, one flower, one world.
The pond is very clear, with several koi swimming freely in it.
The colorful flowers beside the pond make the place colorful
Come to the northwest corner of Shuhe Ancient Town, where you can see the original pastoral scenery
The Qinglong River flowing through has formed ponds of different sizes here
There is also a very beautiful Umbrella Street in Shuhe Ancient Town
Flower paper umbrellas, windmills and bells form a beautiful picture against the backdrop of the antique streets and blue sky and white clouds
On the way back, we passed a beautiful B&B with an American pastoral style setting, perfect for sitting quietly all afternoon
A new day begins
As the eastern sky gradually lights up, the ancient city of Lijiang slowly wakes up from the dark night
Early morning, quiet and beautiful
The Rizhao Jinshan Mountain in Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is worth getting up early to see again
With the rising sun, the ancient city of Lijiang gradually takes on color
The morning sun slowly shines into the inn, and the wonderful morning begins
On the last day in Lijiang Old Town, it is worth sitting down and enjoying the holiday
Different from the antique charm of Lijiang Old Town, Lijiang City is a clean and tidy national sanitary city
Greening on both sides of the street
Before leaving, stand on the viewing platform on Lion Rock and overlook the entire Lijiang City again. See you next time
Finally, here is a summary of Lijiang food:
小-chu-zi
bacteria-zhen-feast
everyone-bi-lao-wang
Dian-West-Wang-Zi
Duo-Yi-Cai-Yuan
Zhen-flavor-private-kitchen
云-雪-丽
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