Tiger Leaping Gorge On The Yangtze and Lijiang
After breakfast, a drive from Zhongdian to Lijiang via Tiger Leaping Gorge and the First Bend of the Yangtze River. The Yangze runs...no surges...between the Haba Mountains and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain through one of the deepest gorges in the world. It was a dizzy view looking down and through this 16km/9 mile gorge. There are various hikes and treks through the gorge but I wouldn't have wanted to do it. The rushing water and possible landslides would be enough to deter me. There is, or was, a higher route along an old miner's track.
Sigu is on the first bend of the Yangze, China's greatest river. The People's Army crossed the river here in 1936 during their long march to the north. There was also a marble plaque commemorating a 16th Naxi victory over the Tibetans. This is where we changed changed tour guides. Halfway in Shigu, a village on the first bend of the river we met our guide for Lijiang. She took the local bus from Lijiang to meet us and would be our guide for the next few days. Farewell to the Zhongdian guide who took the local bus in the opposite direction, back to Zhongdian.
Tiger Leaping Gorge is also the world's deepest canyon, set at an altitude of around 2,500 meters/7,000 feet. We took a short walk on the tourist's trail, scary enough for us.
With new guide (who was late arriving and very laid back), we drove to Lijiang and checked into the Grand Lijiang Hotel*** the best available then and a few footsteps with the old town...
Lijiang, Naxi Autonomous District, is an old city in northwest Yunnan situated on a plateau at about the same altitude as Tiger Leaping Gorge. Lijiang dates back to the South Song period (1127-1279). To the north are Mt. Xiangshan with Mt. Jinhong and Mt. Shizi to the west. These mountains help shield Lijiang from winter winds and keep the climate mild. The Jade Springs flow into the town through three water channels creating canals and little streams throughout the area. There is even a sluice-gate on the West River in the town that is lifted occasionally to allow water to pour into the city for street washing.
Lijiang is famous for its Naxi culture, The children of the land of flowers. Almost every courtyard had a garden...houses are made of earth and wood...and they had a great system for using water. The Naxi have "three-hole wells" - water in the upper hole is meant for drinking; the next lower section is for washing rice and vegetables for cooking; and the bottom hole is only for washing clothes.
Lijiang was love at first sight...
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