Axel Ritsma Gao Qing Huang Man Yu

My Website Axel Ritsma

Deutsch home English home Chinese home

Back to:

Photo gallery

Li Jiang / Shangri La (Province Yunnan)

Holidays in August 2006

In August 2006, we took a plane for a holiday trip to Yunnan Province.

It is really a dreamlike landscape. In fact, I hate planes, but to see this landscape again, even only for a day or two, I would take a plane only to see this area again.

This province has everything you prefigure when you hear the word "China". There is everything from the old culture, old habits and customs, typical Chinese villages and their people in the typical national costumes. The landscape always changes, from Hills to mountains, forests, meadows and even several big modern cities such as "Kunming", the capital of Yunnan.

... ... ... ... ...

The city "Li Jiang", one of the bigger cities in Yunnan, became more famous, as in the 90's they had a quite disastrous earthquake there. However, the people did not give up. They rebuild this about 800-year-old city centre and made it a wonderful tourist attraction. There you find many little hotels and guesthouses, where it is quite cheap and comfortable to stay for some time.

Our guesthouse has been about 150 Yuan per room and night. That is about 20 $US. With a fantastic view over the city and the entire valley from the rooftop. The sunrise there is really worth to wake up early. .

Compared with many other cities here in China, quite a lot of the people there can speak at least a bit English. At least enough for some small talk and some conversations. They are already adapted to a lot of foreigners and tourists here in Li Jiang. There is even a little French Restaurant "Le Petit Paris", run by a French who settled here some years ago. . He travelled her, he liked it, and he settled here. A very good idea. Concerned to foreign food you will find here almost everything. There is also a little Italian Cafe with original Italian Cappuccino.

Except the fact, that here are still driving quite a lot of stinky and smoky old vehicles, they are doing much more for the environment than I have seen at other places here in China. They have realized that it is possible to do something good for the environment protection with some little things. As you get here in Shenzhen in the south in every shop a plastic bag for even two packs of cigarettes, they offer you here some kind of cotton bags. It feels like some kind of cloth and it is a bit more expensive but at least it is environmental friendly recyclable. However, you can see many locals carrying some baskets on their back. That is of course much more durable, stronger, and more convenient for shopping.

This of course only is posing for the camera. This one not. .

As you can see, shopping is possible without all these plastic bags and you even get both hands free.

In the old city part of Li Jiang there is party almost every night. Restaurants, Cafe's and Bars everywhere. Moreover, foreigners everywhere from countries all over the world. You simply have to experience that. In these little restaurants and cafes, mostly placed at one of the little canals in the city, there is music, laughter, and party everywhere. People are singing songs, trying to compete with groups in the bar across the canal, singing more loudly and funnier songs.

.. .. .. .. ..

It is wonderful to see, and in Europe we can learn from that, how warm-hearted and friendly foreigners are welcome and treated here in China. Moreover, you can be sure, that it is not because of the money the foreigners can spend. Of course, they want to and have to make money and earn their living, but mostly the people are much friendlier and not with such a pretended friendliness as in many other countries in Europe, I have visited.

Though very impressive, I experienced a 2-day-trip to Shangri-La in the north of Yunnan. A few of our group stayed in Li Jiang and the others rented a mini-bus with driver for a trip to Shangri-La, about 6 hours north of Li Jiang. As the driver told us, this route is recently the only connection to Lhasa in Tibet. To say it is the only main road to Tibet. Of course, there are several smaller side roads, but not interesting for the rapid transit from the South across Yunnan up to Tibet. This connection is mostly in a good condition, but at some places and villages in a condition as an old German county road in the 50's. That is normal, as the entire traffics from the South to Tibet have to cross this province. Everything from local vehicles, tourist cars, busses, and heavy trucks.

Nevertheless, along this route you will get a wonderful landscape to see.

Here are the upper reaches of the "Yang-Tse-River" as one name it later on. This river has its spring in Tibet. Caused by the impressive landscape and shape of the mountains the river is sometimes very wide, smooth and peaceful, sometimes very small, rough and wild. The smallest part of this river is only about 50 ft. wide. This is the so-called "Tiger-Leap-Valley".

.. .. .. .. .. .

Of course, this is an attraction nobody wants to miss. Not even those who are to lazy to walk or handicapped to get down all the stairs. You are simply carried down and up again. For about 8 $US you take a seat in a sedan chair and two strong guys carry you down that winding path and down the stairs to the bottom of the valley. However, it is even worth to walk down and up this exhausting path to see the exciting valley and the torrent of water pressing through this narrow part of this valley. An impressive view and deafening noise.

Following the course of the river to the spring there are several power plants. .

Here they make use of the speed of the floating river to make electricity. This electricity is distributed for little money to some smaller companies and businesses and in some areas free to the private households.

On the further route to Shangri-La, you pass some exciting and dreamlike landscape. Mountains, high plateaus, forests, meadows and little villages everywhere. All these little, nice villages are scattered in this area. On this partly smooth and wide road, there are many opportunities to stop for a short photo shooting. That for you should take a bit time if you are on the way north to Shangri-La. It is simply a waste of time to rush through this scenic area without taking some time for some quiet and peaceful moments to enjoy the landscape and watch the people and traffic passing by. Fortunately, the landscape and nature is not as spoiled and polluted as in many places in the South. In Guangdong, for example they take down hills or cut in aisles for another road. In addition, industries are quite rare here. Those who are looking for relaxation and a peaceful and quiet area will get their money worth.

. . . . . .

Of course, there are many opportunities to stay for a night or more in several hotels and guesthouses, mostly in the bigger villages and towns along this main road. As they told us, it is even possible to do some camping for a short time. However, that should be done with a local guide and not only with one or two tents. For safety reasons of course.

The entrance to the town of Shangri-La receives visitors with a giant monument. .

Here are mixed modern and traditional buildings in perfect harmony.

. . . . .

Shangri-La is situated at about 8.000 ft altitude. Probably that might be one reason why you will not see many people rushing or running. Everything is running the ordinary run of things. The air up here is already quite a bit thinner than down in the south but much fresher. The sky usually is clear and the sun burns quite hot so that you should take care not to be sunburned. It is my rule of thumb. The people here are exceptionally friendly and kind. Here are living since many, many years several minorities peacefully together in harmony. That, as we are told, is one reason, why Shangri-La became famous. By the way, there is a school-bus-service available for the kids in and around Shangri-La. Nothing special, usually. However, here it is remarkable, as this service has been initiated, donated and all the expenses are paid by a businessperson from Hong Kong. He came there, liked it, and built a house up there. Then he established this bus service for the students who are attending a school in Shangri-La. This way many more kids get the opportunity to attend, a school and the locals appreciate that and are very thankful.

Close to the monastery in Shangri-La, the second biggest in China, we had our guesthouse on a local farm for one night. For our group, five adults and four kids, we rented four rooms on that Tibetan farm. There we paid only about 1, - $US per night and person. A niece of the monastery’s abbot owns the farm. The eldest daughter of this farms family speaks even a little English. As we arrived there in the late afternoon, they immediately prepared a very delicious dinner for us. Never before, I felt almost at home that fast. The hospitality of the people here is really extraordinary and remarkable. If we will pass through this area and probably Shangri-La on our planed trip to Tibet in 2008, we will visit this family again, of course.

. . . . .

Although we had been in Shangri-La for only one day and one night, it has been quite hard for me to day farewell to the people and the landscape. I liked to stay for a while, but unfortunately, every holiday ends one day. Therefore, did ours. Therefore, we had to drive back to Li Jiang, but of course not without a short walk through the city centre. With wonderful memories of this dreamlike area, we headed back to our guesthouse in Li Jiang.

Should anybody get the opportunity to pass this landscape or even the city of Shangri-La it is really worth to stay for a few days.

The entire photo album you will find here.

I wish you a happy and relaxing holiday, wherever it may be.

Best wishes from

China-Alex