Old Town of Lijiang 麗江古城 @ Yunnan

Date: 26/12/2008
City: Lijiang, Yunnan, China
Remarks: Day 4

去雲南沒有去過麗江古城就像沒有到過雲南。麗江古城是雲南一主要旅遊點，是聯合國教科文組織世界遺產，有超過800年的歷史。麗江古城的舊建築是獨一無二的，融和了雲南的納西文化和傳統的中國文化。麗江古城是一個很大的古城，保留了其歷史悠久的城市景觀和它獨有的古老而複雜的供水系統。麗江古城的古老供水系統今天仍然運作，河流和小橋在舊城區幾乎無處不在。

古城裡是不准車子行駛的。在老城區的街道是鵝卵石鋪成的。街道兩側的房子大多是兩層高，有磚瓦的屋頂，二樓外部有走廊。

雖然這是一個古老的城市，但是它保育得很好，很熱鬧，而且高度旅遊化。雖然我去的時候是在冬天，應該是淡季，但是麗江古城仍遊人如鯽，到处都是遊客。整個古城沿著舊城區的街道走兩側都是賓館，紀念品商店，酒吧和餐館。所以，如果你在想像著一個細小的而寧靜的古城，麗江古城完全不是那一回事。我想現在應該沒有很多當地居民仍住在的舊城區裡。

然而，這個古城仍然是一個很棒的地方，一個買紀念品的地方和一個很有趣的地方。古城有一條街整條街都是酒吧和餐館。傍晚和晚上的時候整條街的酒吧門口都站着酒吧的職員，大聲的歡呼和唱，試圖蓋過另一家酒吧的声音。晚上走這條酒吧街是一個非常有趣的經驗。


Going Yunnan without visiting the Old Town of Lijiang is almost like you haven't been to Yunnan at all. It is a major attraction in Yunnan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has a history of more than 800 years. The buildings of the Old Town of Lijiang is unique to other ancient Chinese cities with the representation of Naxi culture and tradition. The town is a big one and has retained its historical townscape and its ancient complex water supply system which still functions today.  You can see rivers and bridges almost everywhere in the Old Town. Cars are not allowed in the Old Town area and the streets are paved with cobblestones. Most of the houses in the Old Town are two-storeyed, with tiled roofs and an external corridor.

Though it is suppose to be an ancient city, it is very well restored, very bustling and very lively.  The town is highly touristy. Although I was there in winter time, which was supposed to be the low season, the town was still flooded with tourists. Guesthouses, souvenir shops, bars and restaurants are all over the town. All different kind of shops are along the streets in the Old Town. So if you are thinking about a small, quite ancient city, the Old Town of Lijiang is totally not the case. I don't think there are much local inhabitants still living in the Old Town nowadays.

Nevertheless, the town was still a great place for souvenirs and a fun place to stay. There is a street full of bars and restaurants. It is very rowdy in the evening and at night where the bars trying to ousting each other by cheering and singing aloud. It is a very interesting experience to walk via the bars at night just for the cheering.