World Cultural Heritage: Lijiang

Author: Wu Wei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: The ancient city of Lijiang skillfully blends economic and strategic importance with rugged terrain, authentically preserving and recreating its primitive charm. The architecture of the ancient city has weathered countless dynasties, bearing the marks of time, and has gained fame for its fusion of cultural characteristics from various ethnic groups. Lijiang also boasts an ancient water supply system, which is intricate and unique, still functioning effectively today. Lijiang Ancient Town is located in Lijiang Naxi Autonomous County, southwestern Yunnan Province, China. It is also known as Dayan Town and is situated in the middle of Lijiang Plain. It is the only ancient city in China's famous historical and cultural cities without walls, because the ruling family of Lijiang was named Mu, building walls would have formed the character "trapped" () by adding a frame around "wood" (). The Naxi name for Lijiang Ancient Town is "Gongbenzhi," where "Gongben" means granary and "zhi" means market, indicating that Lijiang Ancient Town was once a hub for grain distribution. Lijiang Ancient Town was established in the late Song Dynasty and early Yuan Dynasty (late 13th century). The city is located on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau at an altitude of over 2,400 meters, covering an area of 3.8 square kilometers. It has been a renowned market and important town since ancient times. The town now has over 6,200 households and a population of more than 25,000, of whom the majority are Naxi people. About 30% of the residents still engage in traditional handicrafts and commercial activities, such as copper and silverware production, leather and fur trade, textiles, and brewing. The streets of Lijiang Ancient Town are built along mountains and rivers, paved with red conglomerate rock. They remain free of mud in the rainy season and dust in the dry season. The patterns on the stones are naturally elegant and complement the overall urban environment. The Square Street in the center of the ancient town is a representative of Lijiang's ancient streets. There are 354 bridges built over the Yuhai River system in the ancient city, with an average density of 93 bridges per square kilometer. The bridges vary in style, with the most famous including the Suocui Bridge, the Dashiqiao Bridge, the Wanquan Bridge, the Nanmen Bridge, the Mamiao Bridge, and the Renshou Bridge, all built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (14th to 19th centuries). Among them, the Dashiqiao Bridge, located 100 meters east of Square Street, is particularly distinctive. The Mu Palace in the ancient town was originally the office of the hereditary Mu clan rulers of Lijiang, built in the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368). After reconstruction in 1998, it was transformed into the Ancient Town Museum. The Mu Palace covers an area of 3.2 acres and contains 162 rooms. It also displays 11 imperial inscriptions from various dynasties, reflecting the rise and fall of the Mu family. The Five Phoenix Tower in Fuguo Temple, located within the ancient town, was built in 1601 during the late Ming Dynasty. It stands 20 meters tall and is named for its architectural design resembling five flying phoenixes. The ceiling of the tower is adorned with various exquisite patterns. The Five Phoenix Tower blends architectural styles from Han, Tibetan, and Naxi ethnic groups, making it a rare and typical example of ancient Chinese architecture. The Baisha Residential Architecture Group is located 8 kilometers north of Lijiang Ancient Town and was once the political, economic, and cultural center of the Lijiang region during the Song and Yuan Dynasties (10th to 14th centuries). The group is arranged along a north-south axis, with a trapezoidal square at its center. A spring flows from the north into the square, and four alleys extend from it in all directions, creating a distinctive layout. The development of the Baisha Residential Architecture Group laid the foundation for the later layout of Lijiang Ancient Town. The Shuhe Residential Architecture Group is located 4 kilometers northwest of Lijiang Ancient Town and is a small market near the ancient city. The residential buildings are arranged in a neat and orderly manner, with a layout similar to that of Square Street in Lijiang Ancient Town. The Qinglong River flows through the center of the group, and the Qinglong Bridge, built in the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), crosses it. The Qinglong Bridge is the largest stone arch bridge in Lijiang. Lijiang Ancient Town has a long history and a natural, primitive charm. Its urban layout is well-organized, combining the characteristics of a mountain city with the charm of a water town. Lijiang residences blend the essence of Han, Bai, Yi, and Tibetan ethnic groups while retaining the unique style of the Naxi people, making it an invaluable heritage for studying the history of Chinese architecture and culture. Lijiang Ancient Town embraces rich ethnic traditional culture, embodying the prosperity and development of the Naxi people and serving as important material for studying the history of human cultural development.