Lijiang, an ancient city in the northwest of Yunnan Province, is attracting an increasing number of tourists from home and abroad. Since 1998, 1.4 million domestic and overseas tourists have visited the city.

Thanks to the opening-up drive and the development of infrastructure facilities, Lijiang has become popular with more and more people. Today the area is basking in the sunlight of its reputation as one of the world's most beautiful scenic spots.

Lijiang is blessed with spectacular natural landscapes and unique local customs. The Yulong Mountain is a modern glacier in the southernmost point of the Northern Hemisphere. Its major peak, nicknamed "the fan-shaped peak" with an elevation of 5,595 meters, is also known as a virgin peak as no one has ever conquered it.

The Hutiaoxia Gorge on the Jinshajiang River, 15 km long and 3,000 meters deep, is the deepest of its kind in the world.

Visitors can enjoy the local Naxi customs while being refreshed by the gurgling springs.

Visitors can also see the Dongba hieroglyph, and the matriarchal society of the Mosuo tribe that are well preserved in Lijiang.

Flights from Kunming to Lijiang are available four times a day. In the busy seasons, the number of flight can rise to nine a day.

(1999.1)