Shuhe Naxi Village
» Lijiang, Yun Nan

束河古镇 丹凤含书之地 清泉之乡 农耕图腾 茶马遗迹

Old Town of Shuhe

In the whole Lijiang area, Baisha and Shuhe are another two places protected as "the world culture heritage site" in the Lijiang Old Town. Shuhe Naxi Village is also one of the first settlements of Naxi ancestors.

Another name "Dragon Spring Village"

Shuhe Naxi Village situated 4 km northwest of LiJiang, is also known as Dragon Spring Village for a nice spring that rises in its vicinity. There are around 1000 families living here, whose population is totaled near 3000. Like Lijiang Ancient Town, in the center of village, there is a small square market which serves as the activity center of local residents. The organization and layout of this village is quite similar to that of the Old Town.

The former center of Lijiang

In fact, this village is the former center of LiJiang and has a history of more than 1000 years, when Lijiang was granted title of World Culture Heritage City in 1997, Suhe, together with another ancient village, Baisha, was included as an indispensable component part.

What to buy

It is not only a very important town in the Tea-horse Road that leads to Tibet, but also a famous cobbler town. The cobblers here are as skillful as those in Italy. The leather products that they make are the best seller in Tea-horse Road.

What to see

Rivers, channels, and houses

Shuhe, facing the river, was built along the mountainside. There are two rivers on each side of it that go through the whole village. Rivers, channels and roads make a dense web and link the town in a tight structure just like a honeycomb. People use stones in the nearby mountains to make the walls of their houses. Compared to those in the Lijiang Old Town, the houses here are even more natural.

Shuhe Square Market

Right in the middle of Shuhe Naxi Village, there is a square market, which is called Shuhe Square Market. Which serves as the activity center of local residents. Walking in Shuhe, people will have the feeling that this ancient town of Shuhe is the model of the Lijiang Old Town while the Lijiang Old Town is the tension and development of Shuhe Naxi Village.

Jiuding Dragon Pool

About one hundred meters north of the Shuhe Square Market, there is is "Jiuding Dragon Pool." The water is clean and transparent. the fountains spurt out day and night. The Naxi hold the spring as holy. Beside it, people built a Longquan Temple (Dragon Spring Temple) to enshrine and worship the founder of cobbler handicraft.

Cycling here

Village is 13 km from Lijiang. It cost around 20 yuan to take taxi there, so money goes to driver's pocket as an introduction fee for taking a taxi. However, Cycling is an good idea, if you can take a back route to the village. It is interesting cycling on the village road, please try it...

  Weather

  1. Does it rain a lot in Lijiang?
  2. When is the best time to go there?

  Shopping

  1. Do bargain

  Travel

  1. Cable car cautions

  Other Hints

  1. Beware of the religious hooligans
  2. Is it easy for me to make telephone calls there?
  3. Toilet Facilities
  4. Altitude sickness
  5. Avoid busy holidays
  6. OMG! I'm lost! What should I do?
  7. Useful Phone Numbers
  8. Emergency Numbers
  • Does it rain a lot in Lijiang?

    It rains a lot in July and August. That's important to know because heavy rains can trigger rock and mud slides, which can block roads. This can cause long travel delays or even cancelled plans (such as your trip to Tiger Leaping Gorge).


  • When is the best time to go there?

    April and October is two ideal months suitable to visit Lijiang. The temperature is pleasant and it doesn't rain as often.

    January and February are not superlative months either because of wintry temperatures.


  • Toilet Facilities

    A number of toilets with good facilities and service have been built in the Old Town. The charge is usually no more than CNY 0.5 per person.

  • Do bargain

    Souvenir prices tend to rise the closer you get to Sifang Square. And remember, always negotiate. You should be able to lower the initial price by 30%, sometimes more.


  • Cable car cautions

    Wear warm clothes. It's freezing where you'll be going (a lookout near the summit of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain). Winter parkas can be rented before you board the cable car gondolas. The same is true for oxygen bottles, for those who may need one.

    To avoid long, time-consuming lines waiting to board the gondolas, go early or late in the day. But before leaving Lijiang for the ride, find out if the high-elevation viewing platforms are expected to be shrouded in clouds when you'll be there. If so, you won't see much, including the stunning panoramic views of the mountains and valleys.


  • Beware of the religious hooligans

    Watch out the religious hooligans when you visit the Black Dragon Pool Park in Lijiang. It will be nighmare if you do. Specifically there was a so-called Dongba Culture Institution, you are right, the lexicon should think about giving a amendment to this word if they insist calling themselves an 'institution'.


  • Is it easy for me to make telephone calls there?

    A number of public IC card telephones have been installed in the Old Town, and some stores in the Old Town provide public telephones with which visitors can make direct domestic and international calls. Mobile phones can also be used freely within the area of the Old Town.


  • Toilet Facilities

    A number of toilets with good facilities and service have been built in the Old Town. The charge is usually no more than CNY 0.5 per person.

  • Altitude sickness

    Before your respiratory and circulatory systems adjust to a high elevation, your body suffers to some degree from oxygen deprivation. That's altitude sickness. Symptoms include dizziness, tiredness and headaches - and difficulty in catching your breath when, for example, walking up steps.

    The best defense is not to go suddenly from one altitude to a much higher one. Do your upward journeys in stages so your lungs can more readily adapt to thinner air.

    We recommend that you do not travel from a low-altitude city (such as Beijing or Xian) to Lijiang on the same day. Instead, spend at least one full day in Kunming to acclimate your body to its relatively thin air (spend the time visiting the nearby Stone Forest, a Hillman Wonders Bronze Medal winner). This will help prepare your body for the even thinner air in Lijiang. Stay there for at least a day or two before heading to Zhongdian or Deqin, where the air is even more rarified


  • Avoid busy holidays

    During some holidays, hot destinations are packed with tourists, bringing you inconvenience or even unpleasantness, and also unless you have firm hotel reservations, skip these ultra-popular Chinese holiday periods (or you may end up without a room):

    • Spring Festival (Lunar New Year celebration). Its start date varies from year to year, anywhere from mid-January to mid-February.
    • May Day - Occurs during the first two weeks in May.
    • National Day - Takes place in the first two weeks in October.


  • OMG! I'm lost! What should I do?

    Well, calm down first. It's easy to get lost in Lijiang Ancient Town because of its labyrinth of meandering passageways. But that's part of the enjoyment because you will discover picturesque alleys that you would not have seen otherwise.

    Before you leave your hotel, do write down the name of the hotel in both English and Chinese. Taxis can be easily found in the city so you can just grab a taxi and show your address. If you are at a far place where you cannot find a taxi, please call 110 and ask the police for help.


  • Useful Phone Numbers

    • Tourist Complaint: 5123432
    • Lijiang Airport Inquiry Telephone: 5173081
    • Scheduled Flights and Ticket Inquiries: 5161289 5161291 5173079

  • Emergency Numbers

    • Fire: 119
    • Ambulance: 120
    • Police: 110
    • Traffic: 122

It is not only a very important town in the Tea-horse Road that leads to Tibet, but also a famous cobbler town. The cobblers here are as skillful as those in Italy. The leather products that they make are the best seller in Tea-horse Road. That is the Shuhe Naxi Village. Compared with Lijiang Old Town, Shuhe is smaller, but more peaceful, original, and life of the local is more authentic, although some commercial development plan is already going on here.

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