Lijiang -- Yunnan Illustrated Dictionary

Author: Xu Ji
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Lijiang Ancient Town is the central town of Lijiang Naxi Autonomous County in Yunnan Province. It is the oldest and finest example of the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature that the world today strives to pursue. Lijiang Ancient Town, also known as Dayan Ancient Town, has been the home of the Naxi people for 800 years. The place is connected by spring and autumn all year round, with a pleasant climate and abundant rainfall. When the ancient town was first built, the Yuquan Spring was divided into three parts, and then further divided into nine, allowing the spring water to flow throughout the city, visible on every street.
In the northwest of Yunnan Province, there is a magical and beautiful place called Lijiang. It is named after the Jinsha River, located at the southern edge of the Hengduan Mountains, the middle reaches of the Jinsha River, and the connecting area between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. It spans from 99°23′ east longitude to 101°31′ east longitude, and from 25°59′ north latitude to 27°56′ north latitude. The east-west width is 212.5 kilometers, the north-south length is 213.5 kilometers, and the total area of the region is 20,600 square kilometers.
Lijiang has a topography that is low in the southeast and high in the northwest, with complex and diverse landforms. The Jinsha River flows through the entire region, with towering peaks and numerous rivers and streams. The area features a mix of mountainous, plain, and other landforms, with an elevation difference of up to 4,581 meters. The vertical climate and plant distribution are distinct, ranging from subtropical to alpine climates. It exhibits a typical "vertical climate" characteristic, with an average annual temperature of 12.6 to 19.9°C and an average annual precipitation of 910 to 1,040 millimeters. Winters are mild without extreme cold, and summers are pleasant without excessive heat.
Lijiang includes four counties: Lijiang Naxi Autonomous County, Yongsheng, Huaping, and Ninglang Yi Autonomous County. To the northwest, it borders Lamping County of Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, Zhongdian County of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, and Weixi Lisu Autonomous County in Yunnan Province. To the southeast, it borders Jianchuan County, Heqing County, Binchuan County of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, and Dayao County of Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province. To the northeast, it borders Muli County, Yanyuan County, and Yanbian County of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province. The total population of the region is 1.09 million. There are currently 22 ethnic groups, including Han, Naxi, Lisu, Bai, Pumi, Dai, Miao, and Tibetan, with a minority population of 620,000, accounting for 57% of the total population.