Let’s go to a farther place together - Lijiang Travelogue

Number of days：5 days
Time: January
Average cost: 5,000 yuan
With whom: husband and wife
Tour kinds: Self-driving, free travel
Updated: 2025.01.07

Taking advantage of the five-day New Year's Day holiday, I took my wife to Lijiang, a place I'm most familiar with and love, a place I've visited many times and still long for. Looking through my social media, I realized that my previous visits to Lijiang were mostly for cycling competitions, and I was in a hurry. So this time I must slow down, see more, walk more, and carefully record the scenery and feelings along the way.

On the last day of 2024, we were in transit. Fortunately, we chose the Airport Hotel in Pudong T2. The flight the next morning was not particularly rushed, so we walked leisurely all the way to the boarding gate. Although it was a bit perfunctory, it was still an early riser to see the first ray of sunshine of the new year of 2025. After a three-hour flight, the plane landed in Lijiang. The landing wasn't as bumpy and terrifying as I'd warned my wife. Yunnan's airports are mostly nestled in the mountains. I still remember landing in Kunming several times, feeling like I was on a roller coaster, with children screaming and wailing. It was a good start. After landing, I collected my luggage and headed straight to the parking lot, where my rented Golf was waiting. Lijiang is a perfect place for a self-drive, with few cars and easy routes. The scenery along the way is especially breathtaking, especially the loop route around the foot of the snow-capped mountains, which is almost a must-do for visiting scenic spots. Although the mileage we covered over the past few days was quite low (the self-drive trip from Lijiang to Dali was canceled at the last minute), Gao Xiaohui's company still made the trip even more enjoyable. We stayed at an inn inside Lijiang Old Town for the first night. I had the impression that Old Town was all about shopping, eating, and drinking, so I only booked a one-day trial. I was pleasantly surprised by the viewing terrace directly opposite my room, offering a panoramic view of the old town. The next morning, I gritted my teeth and woke up early to watch the sunrise over the distant mountains. The ancient city looks much the same as when I visited ten years ago. The shops still sell the same things: silver jewelry, leather goods, tea, wild mushrooms, and yak beef. Perhaps because it's the off-season, the streets aren't as bustling as before, but instead are filled with people livestreaming their chats on their phones. I found the same spot on Sifang Street and the same shot from ten years ago to see what's different. Advertisements for were plastered all over the streets, promising a "must-see show in your lifetime." The hype was a bit daunting, but I managed to get a seat in the middle VIP seats on the inn's premises. I was blown away by the performance. It might not be a must-see, but it certainly was.

Since both of us had some altitude sickness and were out of breath after climbing even a little bit, we could only admire Jade Dragon Snow Mountain from afar, but we still decided to visit Blue Moon Valley. We drove to the visitor center, searched for the sightseeing shuttle bus for a long time, and waited in line for a long time, but when the blue and emerald green water of the pool appeared in sight, the trip was worth it. Blue Moon Valley is a perfect place for wedding photos. The route was packed with brides and grooms in their finest attire, adding to the festive atmosphere. My wife casually snapped a photo of me in the parking lot, and then, looking through the photos, I realized I'd taken a photo of myself in the same spot ten years ago. The scenery remains, but the youth is gone.

For the next few days, I stayed at the Pullman Hotel near Shuhe. The courtyard was quiet and relaxing, and I enjoyed tea and chats with my wife, feeling at ease. That evening, I went to Shuhe Ancient Town and found it sparsely populated with tourists. It even had a somewhat run-down feel. Chatting with shopkeepers, I learned that the area has been in decline since the pandemic. I just hope things will gradually get better. I wish the people here, and myself, the best.