How is the scenery of Lijiang? Nearly 20 million people a year is the best answer.
Lijiang is at the lowest point of the Greater Shangri-La circle, which is like a foyer. This circle includes Shangri-La, Meili Snow Mountain, Lugu Lake, and Dacheng Aden, and even if you feel bad about the commercialization of Lijiang, Lijiang is still the best place to get supplies and start the line when you go to these famous places.
Lijiang's altitude of 2400m, Lugu Lake 2800m, Shangri-La 3100m, Meili Snow Mountain, 3300m, Yading 3800m, if you are worried about high altitude reflexes, stay in Lijiang is the safest, when gradually adapted to Lijiang's altitude, and then gradually rise to go to the higher part of the tour is more secure.
Lijiang is the meeting point of Tibetan Buddhism and Chinese Buddhism. Tibetan Buddhism stopped its southward march here, and the five famous temples in Lijiang are all Tibetan Buddhist (Garma Kagyu school) monasteries. Therefore, Lijiang's ethnic and cultural elements include the Naxi, Bai, Tibetans, and the Pumi, once the aristocracy of the Tubo. Minority colors are reflected in the old town and the square dances at dusk, their movements come from the traditional bonfire party, the open municipal square can accommodate more than a dozen teams at the same time, that is definitely China's most square dance posture.
Lijiang is more than just a snowy old city. If you can find a local friend as a guide, eating, drinking and playing will have a full of compulsion, Lijiang men are famous will enjoy, they take you to the place to look good and good play, not many people.
It should be noted that the three major holidays to avoid going to Lijiang (New Year's Day, Labor Day, National Day), because Lijiang is like a crossroads, Sichuan and Chongqing self-driving and Guizhou and Guiyu self-driving from the north and south through the highway at the same time to kill, resulting in congestion within the city, the city outside of the parking nowhere, food and housing are lacking a good experience.
Don't expect a chartered car to take you anywhere, if you do your homework on Lijiang, renting a car on your own is the most cost effective. And bicycling in Lijiang is also a very special enjoyment, pure air, fragrant nature scent, wild fun full. Always feel much more comfortable staying outside than indoors.