Old Town of Lijiang (1997)
China
The Old Town of Lijiang, which is perfectly adapted to the uneven topography of this key commercial and strategic site, has retained a historic townscape of high quality and authenticity. Its architecture is noteworthy for the blending of elements from several cultures that have come together over many centuries. Lijiang also possesses an ancient water-supply system of great complexity and ingenuity that still functions effectively today.
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The stamps are identified through the numbers appearing in their lower right corner.
| Lijiang, a beautiful, quiet ancient city, sits in the
northwest of Yunnan Province. Established in late Southern Song Dynasty, it was
once the capital of the ancient Naxi Kingdom. It has a mixed population of
10-odd nationalities including Naxi.
The millennia-old, deep-rooted Naxi culture, blended with Confucian, Buddhist and Taoist cultures, has granted graceful charms to the city. Surrounded by verdant mountains, and with green streams meandering across, Lijiang is reminiscent of a waterside town in southeast China, hence it is reputed as "Suzhou on the Plateau". Inside the city, there are closely built folk houses, streets and lanes paved with pebbles, and numerous stores. Once a place where the Southern Silk Road and the ancient Road of Tea and Horses met, Lijiang is still an important city of trade between Yunnan and Tibet.
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Please note that in 2006 China has issued a set of four stamps dedicated to the Lijiang River. More information with stamp images is available at China Philatelic Information.
Sources and links:
Other World Heritage Sites in China (on this site). Inactive links are not described on stamps. Please refer to the UNESCO-listing, section China for further information about the individual properties.
Revised 24 jun 2007 |
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