Culture's 'roots and seeds'

Zhang Wenyin Fei Xiaotong, a renowned Chinese sociologist and anthropologist, put forward a concept of cultural awareness in 1997 that said "history and tradition are roots and seeds for continuing culture".

The process of protecting the ancient city of Lijiang followed that notion.

Lijiang has made a great contribution to protecting ethnic elements, especially the Naxi culture.

The Naxi people are famous throughout the country for their well-preserved ancient folk music and Dongba pictographic characters. Twenty-two performing groups of their ancient musical teams and 14 schools teaching Dongba culture play an active role in preserving the Naxi culture. The most famous Naxi music group was founded by renowned Naxi musician Xuan Ke, praised as a hero for protecting the Chinese ethnic culture.

Naxi ancient music has gained international recognition since due to performances across the world including the United Kingdom, Norway and Finland.

Traditional crafts including wooden art, Dongba wax printing on cloth, Dongba paper, copper vessels and Naxi wall painting continue to be practiced and spread by a number of practitioners.

Beneficial coexistence between nature and humans have enabled the tourism industry in Lijiang to maintain rapid development, yet sustain the momentum in the future.

Jim Thorsell, a senior expert of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, once said, the reason he loves the ancient city of Lijiang most is its combination of cultural and natural heritage - as if the water of life originates from nature in the city.

(China Daily June 16, 2008)