The Lijiang Old City is 800 years old. It used to be an important commercial centre, an important stop along the Chama Route ( 'Cha' for 'tea' and 'Ma' for 'Horse') - as tea was an exchangeable commodity which was used in return for horses. The Chama Route also made up part of the ancient Silk Route - linking Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, India to China where silk and tea were traded together with spices etc.
The Lijiang Old City was destroyed by an earthquake in 1996? and being a Unesco Heritage Site - its rehabilitation and reconstruction was done to its original form with no highrise modern development being allowed. As such its ancient character and beauty was retained.....
How big is the old city - well, to pakdokter's estimate - it probably covers the whole area of our KLCC Park up to Berjaya Times Square beyond Bukit Bintang all included. With pleasant cool weather - it is an easily walkable town.....
no cars on the cobbled-stone streets of the city..
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