grandma has no problem posing for the camera, the little one has her doubts
while downstream the laundry is done
one of the narrow streets, they get very slippery when wet
houses and shops are accessible by gangboard only
fresh streaming water is everywhere
having a horseback ride with daddy
a waterwheel sits in the city center
vegetables are washed in the clear stream, to the right is upstream and where locals collect their drinking water
At that time the town was inhabited by the Naxi
people and an important stop at the
Southern Silk Road. Lijiang was famous for its silk embroidery industry.
The town
features an elaborate system of waterways so that everywhere people have access to streaming, fresh water. There is a strict hierarchy
in using the water, the first well is for drinking water, the second one is used to clear vegetables and the third one for doing the
laundry.
After Lijiang was hit by a
1996 earthquake it was named a UNESCO World Heritage site which greatly helped the
rebuilding to the original looks.
Since then tourism has increased and in summer the town is flooded with people strolling
the old roads, enjoying the Naxi circle dances and Dongba performances.
We visited Lijiang's old town in August 2005 and, despite
the heavy rains, very much enjoyed the scene.
the old town seen from above. It is raining all day, a hallmark of the region
an overview of Dayan, Lijiang's Old Town
you can exchange the latest gossip even when the rain keeps pouring down
you can wash your hands everywhere
descending into the Old Town in the rain means slippery roads
it is crowded at the vegetables market
