Short after boarding of the bus, the driver decided it was time for lunch and he stopped at some dodgy road side restaurant / Kurz nachdem wir in den Bus gestiegen sind, hat der Fahrer entschieden dass es Zeit ist für Lunch und er hielt bei einem komischen Restaurant an der Strasse
Taking the bus has the advantage that you get to see more of the landscape / Den Bus zu nehmen hat den Vorteil, dass man mehr von der Landschaft sieht
No machines but lots of labour / Keine Maschinen aber viel Arbeitskraft
Beautiful foot of the Chinese dude sitting in front of us / Wunderschöner Fuss des Chinesischen Sitznachbarn
After arriving we went to walk around through the alleys of the old town. Very charming and since it was Friday, not so many tourists. The old town of Lijiang is part of the UNESCO world heritage programme and therefore quite well kept. It is really beautyfull with all the waterways and the bridges - the Venice of the East so to speak :) 
Many of the local Naxi people would still wear traditinoal clothing / Viele der lokalen Naxi Leute tragen immernoch traditionelle Kleidung
Nice old buildings, but lots of them were transformed in commercial shops / Schöne alte Gebäude, aber viele von ihnen wurden in kommerzielle Läden umgenutzt
*bääääääääähhhhhhhhhhh*
Great - there was Dali beer as well in Lijiang / Sehr gut - es gab Dali Bier auch in Lijiang
Red lanterns everywhere give a nice ambiance / Rote Laternen überall geben ein schönes Ambiente
Beautiful foot of the Chinese dude sitting in front of us / Wunderschöner Fuss des Chinesischen Sitznachbarn
Lijiangs history is going back more than 800 years and was once a confluence for trade along the old tea horse road. The Lijiang old town is famous for its orderly system of waterways and bridges. The old town of Lijiang differs from other ancient Chinese cities in architecture, history and the culture of its traditional residents the Naxi people. For these reasons Lijiang is very popular among local and international tourists and is (unfortunately) over-crowded with tourist-groups.
Our guesthouse (Panba guesthouse) was located a bit off the main streets within the old town which was perfect.
After arriving we went to walk around through the alleys of the old town. Very charming and since it was Friday, not so many tourists. The old town of Lijiang is part of the UNESCO world heritage programme and therefore quite well kept. It is really beautyfull with all the waterways and the bridges - the Venice of the East so to speak :)
First impressions of Lijiang - very beautiful / Erste Eindrücke von Lijiang - sehr schön
Many of the local Naxi people would still wear traditinoal clothing / Viele der lokalen Naxi Leute tragen immernoch traditionelle Kleidung
Nice old buildings, but lots of them were transformed in commercial shops / Schöne alte Gebäude, aber viele von ihnen wurden in kommerzielle Läden umgenutzt
*bääääääääähhhhhhhhhhh*
Great - there was Dali beer as well in Lijiang / Sehr gut - es gab Dali Bier auch in Lijiang
Red lanterns everywhere give a nice ambiance / Rote Laternen überall geben ein schönes Ambiente
But walking around we as well realised that it is very commercialised here, with lots of tourist shops selling dust-collectors and lots of restaurants targeting the gwai-los. Having gotten a good first impression of Lijiang we looked for a dinner place and found a cosy small restaurant off the main tourist tracks.
Lijiang by night is especially beautiful, so we enjoyed that a lot on our walk back to the guesthouse.
Lijiang by night / Lijiang bei Nacht
Different traditional Naxi costumes / Verschiedene traditionelle Naxi Trachten
You like Pasci's new glasses? / Magst Du Pasci's neue Sonnenbrille?
Lonely rooster.... / Einsamer Hahn...
The next day we had brunch at a Naxi restaurant, to try some of the Lijiang local dishes. Very interesting.
Soft bed, noisy people outside...no, we didn't sleep to well tonight! / Weiches Bett, lärmige Leute....nein, wir haben nicht so gut geschlafen heute nacht!
Different traditional Naxi costumes / Verschiedene traditionelle Naxi Trachten
You like Pasci's new glasses? / Magst Du Pasci's neue Sonnenbrille?
Lonely rooster.... / Einsamer Hahn...
The next day we had brunch at a Naxi restaurant, to try some of the Lijiang local dishes. Very interesting. Soft bed, noisy people outside...no, we didn't sleep to well tonight! / Weiches Bett, lärmige Leute....nein, wir haben nicht so gut geschlafen heute nacht!
Mishell is happy - Porridge for breakfast :) / Mishell ist glücklich - Porridge zum Frühstück 
and local ham / und lokaler Schinken
and some egg-plant / und Auberginen
Lijiang is beautifully situated and ideally in the Feng shui terms with the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the Black Dragon Pool (lake) in close distance. So after our brunch we went to the scenic spot of the Black Dragon Pool. 
Turkish Kebab in China??! / Türkischer Kebab in China??!
Does that mean, one is not allowed to make a fire when you're naked? :) / Bedeutet das, dass man nicht erlaubt ist ein Feuer zu machen, wenn man nakt ist? :)
and some egg-plant / und Auberginen
Lijiang is beautifully situated and ideally in the Feng shui terms with the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the Black Dragon Pool (lake) in close distance. So after our brunch we went to the scenic spot of the Black Dragon Pool.
To avoid paying the ridiculous entrance fee of 80RMB we were advised by our guesthouse to walk along the fenced area of the lake past the main entrance and take the 4th turn right - and et voila, there was the unguarded 'inofficial' back entrance. Mishell explained to Pasci that there is always a way to avoid paying in China...hmmm.....And wow, this is really beautiful here.
Local folklore dance on the city square / Lokale Folklore Tanz auf dem zentralen Platz in der Altstadt
Turkish Kebab in China??! / Türkischer Kebab in China??!
Does that mean, one is not allowed to make a fire when you're naked? :) / Bedeutet das, dass man nicht erlaubt ist ein Feuer zu machen, wenn man nakt ist? :)
Official front entrance to the Black Dragon Pool, where they charge you 80RMB / Offizieller Vordereingang zum Black Dragon Pool, wo sie 80RMB Eintritt verlangen
'Inofficial' back entrance to the Black Dragon Pool - Entrance fee 0 RMB / Inoffiziller Hintereingang zum Black Dragon Pool - Eintritt: 0 RMB
The calm waters reflect the mountains nearby and in the background you get a glimpse of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (which was unfortunatlly covered in clouds on that day). It is beautiful to spend some time in this extensive park, and observe people who are playing Chinese chess or mahjongg.
Beautiful views of the Black Dragon Pool / Schöne Aussicht auf den Black Dragon Pool
What a beautiful day! / Was für ein schöner Tag!
More folklore dances on a different square / Mehr folklore Tänze auf einem anderen Platz
Even the dog was interested to see the performance! / Sogar der Hund wollte die Aufführung sehen!
Family dinner :) They gave us some to try...very friendly! / Familen-Essen :) Sie gaben uns ein bisschen zum probieren....sehr freundlich!
Ahhhh...a cold beer after a hot day! / Ahhhh...ein kaltes Bier nach einem heissen Tag!
More folklore dances on a different square / Mehr folklore Tänze auf einem anderen Platz
Even the dog was interested to see the performance! / Sogar der Hund wollte die Aufführung sehen!
Family dinner :) They gave us some to try...very friendly! / Familen-Essen :) Sie gaben uns ein bisschen zum probieren....sehr freundlich!
Ahhhh...a cold beer after a hot day! / Ahhhh...ein kaltes Bier nach einem heissen Tag!
Above the roofs of Lijiang / Über den Dächern von Lijiang
Basic but clean - a channel drain toilet / Einfach aber sauber - eine Kanal-Abfluss Toilette
Basic but clean - a channel drain toilet / Einfach aber sauber - eine Kanal-Abfluss Toilette
Since it was a sautrday, today Lijiang was super crowded. And we as well spotted an entire stretch of cheesy bars, where half-dressed girls were singing (badly) or where girls announced 'happy hour'. Not very appealing..... But then we made another interesting discovery, a Turkish Kebab store! Cool :) As we spoke to the part-owners (some young turkish-german dude) we found out that today was the great opening and that the chef is from Turkey and doesn't speak a single word of Chinese. That's how touristy it is in Lijiang....
Many tourists were enjoying the party-atmosphere along this strech of bars / Viele Touristen gnossen die Party-Atmoshpäre entlang den Bars
The city square was super croweded, even at around 22.00ish... / Der Stadt-platz war sehr voll, sogar um ca. 22.00..
The city square was super croweded, even at around 22.00ish... / Der Stadt-platz war sehr voll, sogar um ca. 22.00..
The kebab stall was flourishing / Der Kebab Stand was am florieren
To escape busy Lijiang again and discover the more rural villages around Lijiang we rented some bikes and started cycling. About 12km north of Lijiang, or 45min on the bike, is a village called Baisha Village.
It is easy to get around here on a bike / Es ist einfacher sich ein bisschen umzuschauen hier auf einem Velo
'Why are you so slowwww, Pasci!?' / 'Warum bist Du so langsam, Pasci!?'
2 persons and 1 ox to plow a field / 2 Personen und ein Ochse um ein Feld zu pflügen
Modern garages with all the equipment can be found here :) / Moderne Werkstätte mit kompletter Ausrüstung kann man hier finden :)
It is the original settlement of the Naxi people who came to the greater Lijiang Valley over a thousand years ago. It has a typical Chinese "old-town" setup, consisting of a stone paved street with a mixture of Chinese trinket sellers-shops and several quaint cafes to stop at relax.
Another highlight in Baisha village is the world wide famous doctor Dr.Ho who has his has a sign outside his door:'The clinic of Chinese Herbs in Jade Dragon Mountains of Lijiang'. Obviously we had to pay him a visit (since he is even mentioned in the Lonely Planet) and since Mishell had some trouble with her stomach and indigestion, she asked him about some herbs. As he wanted to prescribe her some pills and Mishell wanted to know more about the effects of the pills and what they should help against, he got a bit unhappy (that she questioned him) and explained to her, that it she would need to study medicine to understand the effects otherwise it would be a waste of time for him. Oh well...no medicine for Mishell then.
Another highlight in Baisha village is the world wide famous doctor Dr.Ho who has his has a sign outside his door:'The clinic of Chinese Herbs in Jade Dragon Mountains of Lijiang'. Obviously we had to pay him a visit (since he is even mentioned in the Lonely Planet) and since Mishell had some trouble with her stomach and indigestion, she asked him about some herbs. As he wanted to prescribe her some pills and Mishell wanted to know more about the effects of the pills and what they should help against, he got a bit unhappy (that she questioned him) and explained to her, that it she would need to study medicine to understand the effects otherwise it would be a waste of time for him. Oh well...no medicine for Mishell then.
Therefore we drank a tea and ate a Naxi-pie in one of the coffee places. It was a great day to cycle, perfect sunny weather.
Pasci was demonstrating to the locals, how Swiss rock the guitar! / Pasci hat den Einheimischen gezeigt, wie Sie in der Schweiz auf der Gitarre spielen
What a cosy get together / Was für eine gemütliche Runde
Cute dog / Süsser Hund
The 'one' stone paved street in Baisha village / Die 'eine' Strasse mit Pflugsteinen in Baisha Dorf
Cute dog / Süsser Hund
The 'one' stone paved street in Baisha village / Die 'eine' Strasse mit Pflugsteinen in Baisha Dorf
Get together to play card games / Gemütliches Beisammen sein um Karten zu spielen 
The pigs are trying to escape: ruuuuuuun! / Die Schweine versuchen zu entkommen: laaaaaaaaaaauf!
WOW...amazing landscape! / Wow...wunderschöne Landschaft!
C'mon honey - stop taking pictures and let's go! / Komm schon Schatz, hör auf Fotos zu machen und lass uns gehen!
C'mon honey - stop taking pictures and let's go! / Komm schon Schatz, hör auf Fotos zu machen und lass uns gehen!
Getting some more energy - dessert! / Mehr Energie - Dessert!
We signed up for the staff dinner provided at the guesthouse on that day. It was really tasty and only costs 16RMB per person.
Staff dinner - basic but delicious! / Mitarbeiter Essen - einfach aber köstlich!
Our favorite on the tour through Yunnan - Yak Yoghurt / Unserer Favorit auf der Tour durch Yunnan - Yak Yoghurt
Next on our backpacker tour is a two days hike called 'Tiger Leaping Gorge' - according to many sources one of the most beautiful hikes in China. We were both a bit nervous on what to expect, i.e. how though will it be really?! We heared mixed stories...but we shall see.
Next stop: Tiger Leaping Gorge
Oooops - obviously forgot important detail?! Suncream....*douh* / Oooops - ofensichtlich ein wichtiges Detail vergessen?! Sonnencreme....*douh*
Next on our backpacker tour is a two days hike called 'Tiger Leaping Gorge' - according to many sources one of the most beautiful hikes in China. We were both a bit nervous on what to expect, i.e. how though will it be really?! We heared mixed stories...but we shall see.
Next stop: Tiger Leaping Gorge
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