An overlook of the ancient city.

The Sifang Street, the heart of the ancient town.

    The Helong Pond is the water-head of the Yu River in the City. The spring water gushes out from roots of old chestnut-trees at the foot of the Elephant Mountain, forming a huge and mystical pond of debouchure. The spring water in the pond flows from the northwest of the ancient city to the Yulong Bridge, which has a dam with three channels for shunting the water. The water of Yu River is shunted into three streams: the East River. The Middle River and the West River which flow into the city. Henceforth, the water of Yu River which is the living source of the ancient city flows gently as a murmuring stream.

   The water of the West River, Middle River and East River has been further shunted into numerous tributaries to every street of the ancient city. The city's free layout not sticking to one pattern is due to this favorable natural condition. The main streets of the city stand by the rivers while lanes are constructed along channels; the roads extended in line with the twists and turns of the channels, while sites of houses are well selected in accordance with the topography; it is marvelous to say that "every family can enjoy spring water and appreciate picturesque willow at windows". It is beyond doubts that tourists both at home and abroad called it "Suzhou on the Highland" or "the Oriental Venice".

    Entering the city along the rivers or channels, the outline of the ancient city is clearly discernible. The water system will surly be accompanied by all kinds of bridge. The bridges of Lijiang city are full of charm. Only when looking for the Nahsi old men, women and children bustling with activities in the street and pondering over the Nahsi vernacular dwellings and their life could you understand the intimate relationship among water, bridge, building and the ancient city.

    Stepping into the ancient city, you can find the roads paved with greenish marble lead the tourists to roam in the city. The greenish marble roads are different from the common roads paved with slab stones, the polished faces of the marble have shown colorful motifs, which are composed of pebbles in different colors. The marble is a kind of natural stone, which is called "5-color marble". All slates were extracted from the mountains of Lijiang basin. If you have a careful observation you may find the uneven faces of the marbles are full of black spots with different shades, which have written down the vestiges of human steps and horse-heels in several hundred years. In recent days, more attention is paid to the southern silk route. Some argued that here was the trade passage and cultural corridor earlier than the Northwest silk route. Lijiang was one of the important posts (where former couriers changed horses or rested) on the ancient tea-horse road. In fact, the vestiges left by the caravans are the cultural imprint, a mark of cultural communications and integration.

   The street fairs of the ancient city had formed general appearance of the city custom. The Sifang Street was the representation of the country fair of the ancient city. In ancient times it was just a primitive country fair and later on it had become an important place for tea-horse exchange on the ancient tea-horse route. Now street peddlers gathered here while people are dazzled by antiques and articles for daily use. The great landscape of the country fair are composed of opening tarpaulin canopies, big umbrella made of butter paper and the traditional pedlars. In the west part of fair gathered all kinds of ancient or old handcrafts while at the east part of fair, people are selling articles for daily use, such as pans, bowls, gourd ladle and basins and so on.

   The big pot cover can be used as straw hat while the copper gourd ladles and spoons are as bright as mirrors. The square for country fair has four streets radiating in four directions, i.e. Guangyi Street, July 1 Street, May I Street in the east and Xinhua Street in the west: while each street has several lanes. Thus, an opening arrangement has been formed with the Sifang Street at center surrounded by shopping stores, hotels and restaurants. After careful observation you may find the streets of the Nahsi City are markedly different from those traditional streets arranged in the shape of Chinese character . Other street markets also have their own characteristics. They are the extension and complementary of the Sifang Country Fair.