Lijiang
Yunan Province World Heratige Site A little kitchy, but charming all the same. Naxi culture, caryover from the Cultural Revolution with Mao hats and blue work clothes. Nonetheless, it looks like the inspiration for fashion designers. Matriarchal culture. narrow widing streets, cobblestone. Bars with singing wars, naxi-costumed street barkers dancing to disco music and light shoes.

Food adventures: Tree bark, yak stir fry with noodles, Over the bridge noodles.

Our hotel courtyard

View from hotel balcony

Interior courtyard balcony at one hotel.

It looks like English...sort of

I was told Octopus Pills are chopped octopus prepared in a batter, then deep-fried.

We did try these, sweetened rice compressed into bamboo tubes then extracted into take-away trays.

Fixings for "Over the bridge Noodles". Delicious.

Our favorite breakfast place, the Well Bistro. It served omelets, yoghurt with muesli and a wide variety of coffee, including italian.

This is "Gene" (or Jin- same pronunciation), the server who was always there when we were.

Marigold Blossom Tea

Birthday Dinner

Lijiang is home to the Naxi people, one of fifty-six official cultural minorities in China. The Naxi are somewhat notiorius because traditionally they are a matriarchal culture.

"Women seem to run the show, certainly in the old part of Lijiang. The Naxi matriarchs maintained their hold over the men with flexible arrangements for love affairs. Both partners would continue to live in their respective homes; the boyfriend would spend the night at his girlfriend house but return to live and work at his mother's house during the day. Any children born to the couple belonged to the woman, who was responsible for bringing them up. The father provided support, but once the relationship was over so was the support. Women inherited all property, and disputes were adjudicated by female elders.

There are strong matriarchal influences in the Naxi language. Nouns enlarge their meaning when the word 'female' is added; conversely, the addition of the word for 'male' will decrease the meaning. For example, 'stone' plus 'female' conveys the idea of a boulder; 'stone' plus 'male' conveys the idea of a pebble."
Source: http://www.paulnoll.com/China/Minorities/min-Naxi.html

The Market in Lijiang

Connor and Philana