Dongba Valley,Lijiang

Located at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and 15 kilometers away from Lijiang Old Town, the Dongba Valley is home and livelihood of Naxi people. Traditional houses of Naxi and other peoples are open to visit.

A trekking route leads to the amazing Dongba Valley. It is located at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and 15 kilometers away from Lijiang Old Town. The Dongba Valley is home and livelihood of Naxi people. Traditional houses of Naxi and other peoples are open to visit.

What to see
The walk along the lake on the edge of the forest - another boardwalk - is worth taking and passes a cemetery with memorials for extinct species, giving the name of the animal, the date of death of the last member of the family and the cause of extinction.

The Road to Heaven
To the Jade Water Village - en route, is "The Road to Heaven". It is a tranquil spot, its main feature is a long, colorful floor mural, showing the three realms: hell, earth and heaven, of the Naxi religion. On the right, sculptures represent good spirits and gods; evil spirits are depicted on the left.

Road and path
At the top of the road is a small hermitage and a set of temples with huge Buddha and Naxi Guides statues, but the favourite is the walk back down through the peace garden. This is a set of glades and paths filled with wind chimes. The temples and garden face the holy Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Jade Water Village
Further upward to the path, you could get to the Jade Water Village. It was built by a local wealthy man to preserve the Naxi and Dongba culture, this is a peaceful mix of museum, gardens and a holy water spring (the water source for Lijiang).

What to buy
A stone seal, a representation of the Naxi guardian angel and a carved dragon. but the prices here are higher than haggling would achieve in the old town.