Yunnan Province (Southwest China) Lijiang

Located about 125 miles north of Dali, Lijiang, at 7800 feet in elevation, is thought to be the place that inspired James Hilton when writing his story of magical Shangri-la in "Lost Horizon." Set in a beautiful valley (with a nice, new airport) with a moderate climate, Lijiang is a great spot to spend several days. Lijiang's "Old Town" is reason enough to visit: an unending maze of cobbled streets, small canals, interesting shops and restaurants, and very old wooden structures. The Old Town dates back to the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) and has over 800 households confined to a relatively small area. Old Town is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Naxi are the major ethnic group in Lijiang. Naxi are believed to be descended from Tibetan stock and have a deep-rooted belief in Animism. What's most fascinating is that the Naxi are a unique matriarchal society—in Lijiang the women really do rule! While hiking to several nearby villages Bev and I noticed that most of the women assumed the physical labor tasks, while the men watched the children and smoked cigarettes! Quite a contrast from other parts of China! If you are in good physical condition, try hiking up Elephant Hill—moderately strenuous, but the reward to great views of the surrounding area is definitely worth the effort. Lastly, we were most impressed with the sweet, beautiful school children we saw throughout our travels around Lijiang—despite the lack of modern facilities and the kid's tattered clothing, they project such warmth and love for visitors! (Please bring pencils and paper for gifts!)

Randy & Beverly Lynch,
Founders of K&C