Li Jiang 22 to 26 July 2014

丽江

A sign that confirms UNESCO Heritage site since 1999 by then Chinese President

High Altitude of approximately 2200 to 2400m. Because of the high altitude, temperature is a cooling 17 to 21 celsius in summer. High altitude will make breathing slightly difficult and sometimes there may be a need to grasp for air especially when there is strenuous exercise. It is also a rainy season in June/July. In July, the sun only set around 8:30pm.

It is a Unesco World Heritage site since 1999. The city is a tourist attraction town with many commercial activities. It is a city of mountain and water (山水之国). River dissects the town and there are bridges to cross. As a tourist attraction, there is effort to make the city (at least the old town) clean.

I stayed in Shu He 束河 which is a town about 30 minutes from Lijiang. Public bus number 11 travels from Lijiang city centre to Shu He main road. From the main road to Shu He gate is about 15 minutes walk. The public bus fare is 1 yuan (equivalent to SGD$0.2) whereas a taxi will cost 40 yuan. The public bus has announcement to inform the bus stop that it is stopping making it easy to navigate with knowledge of chinese.

Being a tourist attraction, prices are not cheap, a simple noodle meal costs between 15 to 20 yuan while a can of coke is about 4 yuan.  Road is well built but traffic in the city can be jammed up.

 

Singapore to Li Jiang is about 4 hours flight. Airport to city is about 45 minutes.