History of Lijiang Old Town

Historical Significance

The town has a history going back more than 1,000 years and was once a confluence for trade along the “Old Tea Horse Caravan Trail” (茶马古道).

Dayan Old Town’s Water System

The Dayan Old Town (大研古镇) is famous for its orderly system of waterways and bridges. However, this system is fast becoming but a memory as the underground water table drops—likely due to over-building in suburban areas.

Cultural Fusion

Lijiang’s culture combines traditional Nakhi (纳西族) culture with elements learned from Ming dynasty (明朝) Han Chinese traders who settled here centuries ago.

Traditional Nakhi Architecture

  • The Nakhi people preserve a timber and mud brick housing style learned from Nanjing (南京) traders.
  • Local carpenters construct elaborate timber house frames from memory, without blueprints.
  • Houses feature intricate flower and bird carvings on windows, made by Bai (白族) artisans but following traditional Han Chinese seasonal motifs.
  • Even impoverished families prioritize carved windows over furniture. (These window panels are now sold as souvenirs.)

Nakhi Classical Music Heritage

  • The Nakhi learned Chinese classical music from Ming-era Nanjing visitors and still perform it today—long after it disappeared elsewhere in China.
  • Elderly musicians hold regular performances in Dayan Old Town and occasional shows in nearby villages.

Living Traditions

Nakhi Circle Dances

  • Nakhi circle dances (打跳) remain vibrant, often led by women in traditional dress.
  • Similar dances exist among Tibetan (藏族) and Bai (白族) communities near Lijiang.
  • While Tibetan/Bai settlements were relocated from tourist zones, their dances still occur:
    • Sporadically in Dayan
    • Regularly at Tibetan temple festivals (e.g., Wenfeng Temple 文峰寺, Zhiyun Temple 指云寺, Fuguo Temple 富国寺)

Traditional Nakhi Music Today

  • Popularized by local singers but remains authentic at funerals and family events.
  • Some nongjiale (农家乐) offer tourist-friendly performances with Mandarin explanations.

Cultural Paradoxes

  • Nakhi society is patriarchal, yet the government links it to the matriarchal Mosuo (摩梭) culture due to linguistic ties.
  • Mosuo music once featured in Lijiang cafés but has been replaced by Han performers in recent years.

UNESCO Recognition & Tourism Impact

  • Greater Lijiang (including Dayan, Baisha 白沙, and Shuhe 束河) became a UNESCO World Heritage Site (December 4, 1997).
  • Development prioritized Han Chinese tourist preferences, leaving few genuinely old buildings.

Nightlife Transformation

  • Evenings grow rowdy in the bar district, where tourist groups compete in singing contests (a commercialized twist on local traditions).
  • Authorities are relocating bars to Shuhe Village to preserve Dayan’s ambiance.

Nearby Attractions

  • Jade Water Village (玉水寨): A renovated site marketed as a Dongba culture (东巴文化) showcase.
  • Dongba shamans (东巴) still lead household rituals and seasonal ceremonies. Young apprentices train under elders to preserve traditions.
  • Lugu Lake (泸沽湖): A tourist hotspot due to its matriarchal Mosuo society, where women retain lifelong family authority.