Rough Edge

Lijiang splits into two cities, the Old Town and (remarkably) the new one. It is tourist heaven in the Old Town, which was reconstructed in typical Naxi architectural style after an earthquake here in 1997. The authorities noticed how well the older Naxi style buildings withstood the quake and set about creating the Old Town (some of it new, but ‘old’, if you see). Nearly every shop that isn’t a restaurant is a souvenir shop or an authentic fabric outlet. Not my kind of place, but (this time for the first time on this trip, thanks to Lonely Planet and I have found a superb but simple courtyard hotel, run by a very hospitable family). As a stopover it is mildly interesting and when the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain shows its peak it looks stunning (shots soon, when me, the mountain and the camera coincide at the right time). Meantime here are some of the people I have seen on the streets during my walkabout. (Lijiang 9 July)

	Rough Edge Adventure China 09