Lijiang and Dali are two of the most famous cities in southwestern Yunnan province, China. When I was in elementary school, I learned “Cangshan Erhai from textbook, and hoped to see those places someday later. Those days finally came after twenty years. In October of this year, I used an opportunity to attend a conference in Dali, had intimating visit to Lijiang and Dali, and fulfilled my long-cherished childhood wish.
Yunnan tour started after flying from Shanghai to Lijiang. We stayed in a family-style hotel in Shuhe Town, located in Lijiang Old Town (Gochen distract). This hotel was converted from an old Bai style house and had been carefully renovated for modern living. The landlord was a westerner who has lived in Lijiang for a long time and is very talkative. We didn’t spend much time in downtown Lijiang because it’s too commercialized. We visited many small villages far from the city, where Bai or Miao style architecture and culture are better preserved and subject to less human disturbance.
The weather in Yunnan is supposed to be breezy and sunny, but it rained almost every day when we were in Dali. Erhai Lake, right next to Dali, is not the same as in my mind. It wasn’t big and the water wasn’t clear, which disappointed me a bit. But when you overlook Erhai Lake from the mountain, whether in sunset or rain, it is beautiful and unique. On another heavy rainy day, we visited the main campus of Dali University. This is really the most beautiful campus I have ever visited in China.
Xisongbanna National Park is not far from Lijiang, so we went there to watch the elephants and the beautiful sceneries. The elephant was one of nice and graceful animals described in the villain book I read in elementary school, but unfortunately it was not in season, and the tour guide told us that elephants were generally shunned and hard to see animals. Luckily we saw a lot of beautiful peacocks.
This trip has left me with unforgettable memories of unique culture, architecture, incredible beauty and an intimate exchange in the deep hearts.
丽江和大理是中国云南省西南部最著名的两个城市。 小学的时候从课本上学过“苍山洱海”，那时就希望能以后有机会去看看那些地方。那一天终于在二十年后到来了。这年十月，我借去云南大理参加会议的机会, 去亲密接触了丽江和大理, 完成了少年时的夙愿。
云南之旅从上海飞到丽江后开始。我们在丽江古城区束河镇租了一家家庭酒店。这一栋酒店由白族风格老房子改建而成，经过精心装修，很适合现代生活。房东是一位在丽江居住了很长时间的西方人, 很健谈。 我们没有花太多时间在丽江市中心，因为它太商业化了。 我们参观了许多远离城市的小村庄，那里的白族或苗族风格的建筑和文化保护得比较好，受到的人为干扰较少。
云南的天气本来应该是风和日丽，但我们在大理的时候几乎每天都在下雨。 洱海，就在大理的边上，和我心目中的形象不太一样。 它不大，水不清澈，让我有点失望。 但是当你从山上俯瞰洱海时，无论在日落或雨中，它是美丽而独特的。在另一个大雨天，我们参观了大理大学主校区。 这真的是我在中国参观过的最漂亮的校园。
西松版纳国家公园离丽江不远，我们去那里看大象,看风景。大象是我在小学时读到的小人书中描述的好动物之一，可惜不是季节，而且导游告诉我们大象一般是避人的, 不容易见到的动物。幸运的是我们看到了很多美丽的孔雀。
这次旅行给我留下了关于独特文化、建筑、令人难以置信的美景和心灵深层交流的难忘的回忆。
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丽江玉湖村
丽江白沙古镇
大理喜洲古镇
喜洲古镇白族风格的房子
七河镇观音峡景区观音飞瀑
为亲人祈愿的地方
雨中的大理大学校园
雨中的洱海
洱海夕阳西下
西双版纳
傣族佛庙
