Lijiang, since 1997 listed as UNESCO world heritage, is the old capital of the Naxi culture, a matriarchic structured society. Impressive how its architectonic structure could be kept/reconstructed over the whole area of the old town. It covers an area of maybe 1km2. The sum of the buildings together and the cobbel stones used on all the roads and bridges crossing the small water channel is very picturesque. In such consequence and size one would not find something similar in Europe. However it feels weird, how the merry crowd of shopping tourists is squeezing through the streets. All historic buildings are filled with either a restaurant, a hotel, a tour operator or a shop for silver jewelry, silky scarfs, drums, yak-milk-products, tea, flower cakes, cups + pots or bronce products. And these businesses are one next to the other along all the many roads and lanes. Tradition and history is interesting only in a form that produces as much money as possible.
We did ask ourselves, if the town would be given the world heritage label again, if it were evaluated today.
