Quaint Lijiang

Pretty

Tranquil

Easy going

After the past few days of climb and pant, Lijiang was a refreshing change. No more puff and huff only walk and play. It is what she is known as: charming and cheerful. But tourism has established its reign here. Packed with tourists both local and foreign, Lijiang has groomed herself to receive them in good strife. At every corner you will bump into eateries, shops, cafes, fashion outlets and there is a mixture of old and new. Apparently many older buildings have been demolished to make way for more modern ones. The new has to replace the old in fashion, style and needs.

 The sunny disposition is found at almost all corners of the town. Bright and colourful it escalates one's mood and make you feel happy. When in a happy place, you catch the mood and embrace joy.

 The famous bar street we were informed comes alive in the evenings when the overworked and under-worked gather in company for drinks, chats and letting go. Life is good. Modern music fills the air and Lijiang is contemporary.

Crooning and serenading is prevalent and the casual mood floods the town so not Chinese as seen in the olden days. But it is a commendable change I guess.

 Waterways or man-made canals zig zag across the town. They add beauty and genre to the palace.

The familiar crimson bougainvilleas barrages freely as though endemic here. 

 Hot and scorching, but we snaked in between shades to scour the town. 

How to miss the ins and outs?

Besides, garments and leather products, it is silver here and there. A silverware outlet is found at every other store and the choice is infinite. Prices are haggled to the last cent and vendors let go or lose.The buyer is the king. There are hundreds of articles and choosing is imminent.

The best ever change is this pretty thing. Flower pots dotted along man-made rooftops.

What can it be?

 Toilets.

Unlike those found along highways and byways, the toilets in Lijiang are first class. Clean, neat and immaculate, I could not believe my eyes and cannot not talk about them. World class.

Trudging along lanes and avenues, we found what we aspired for.

Better still getting a chance to meet a famous local artist who has been painting about Lijiang for the last 2 decades. Who could fathom that we found him at a corner where the local council accords his works? Very fortunate indeed. Dad is most crazy about local art works. He never fails to collect an item in all places he travels to. This time he was even more lucky. 

He found the man who drew them.

Hanging at home now are two of the paintings he bought in Lijiang. It was a scene on the old bar street caught way before the new image came up. What a chance.

The walls at home are adorned with paintings picked up in our travels.

Tucked in Lijiang too is a little church. We went into the building and found records of past missionaries serving the community and being part of the society then. That afternoon back home we were informed that mum in the hospital was not so great. We whispered a prayer for God's divine mercy and grace upon her. God is great. She recovered fully. We need peace to travel well.

Lijiang is love.

You will be surprised that Chinese cherry blossoms are found along the streets of Lijiang.

No need to go to Korea or Japan.

So that's the short trip to Lijang and her surrounding spots.

If you are free for a short 5 days, try Lucky Air and fly there.

Be happy.