Day 4 - Lijiang 丽江
Early in the morning, I departed for Black Dragon Pool/HeiLongTan Gong Yuan 黑 龙潭公园 (near Lijiang Old Town 丽江古城). It took me about 45 minutes to walk from my guest house near south gate. Later I got to know that I could have taken a bus outside south gate to Black Dragon Pool 黑 龙潭公园 . I walked towards main water wheel. There I asked people to point me the direction to Black Dragon Pool which is about 15 minutes walking distance away.
Black Dragon Pool is located at the foot of Elephant Hill, a short walk north of the Old Town
of Lijiang.
After the trip of Black Dragon Pool, I went to train ticket counter nearby Red Sun Square
bus stop (This is one of the main bus stop nearby Lijiang Old Town) 红太阳广场车站 to buy
the night train ticket back to Lijiang. The train ticket counter is about 20 minutes walking distance from Black Dragon Pool Park. Alternatively, we could get the train ticket via staff
at the guest house we check-in.
After getting my train ticket, I took a bus from the bus stop in front of Jin Fung shopping
mall 金方超市 (nearby Red Sun Square 红太阳广场) to Su He old town 束河古镇. No bus
could go directly to Su He old town 束河古镇. So I need to take bus no. 8 or bus no.11 to
XianGeLi DaDao 香格里大道 and then transfer to a small bus (at RMB2) to Su He old town. It takes about 30-45 minutes’ driving distance from Lijiang Old Town 丽江古城(大研古镇)) to Su He
old town束河古镇. Bus fare for all public bus (within town) is standardized at RMB1. No
matter how far or short distance you go in town.
By taking public transport, as a tourist, I had more chances to interact with the locals, to understand the culture and to see the activities of the locals there.
After walking around Su He old town for a few hours, I took a small blue van back to
Lijiang Old Town 丽江古城. I told the driver to stop me at South Gate Car Park Old Town
古城南门停车场 as I stayed nearby the South Gate.
I walked towards Dragon Spring Temple 龙泉寺 in Su He Old Town. On the way, I passed
Su He Square Street/Si Fang Jie 束河四方街 and the Qing Long Bridge 青龙桥.
Red Sun Square/HongTaiYang GuangChang bus stop
红太阳广场车站
Black Dragon Pool/HeiLongTan Gong Yuan 黑龙潭公园
Black Dragon Pool/HeiLongTan Gong Yuan黑 龙潭公园
Black Dragon Pool/HeiLongTan Gong Yuan 黑 龙潭公园
Entrance of Su He old town 束河古镇进口
Su He Square Street/ Si Fang Jie 束河四方街
Su He Square Street/ Si Fang Jie 束河四方街
Qing Long Bridge 青龙桥
Stores nearby Qing Long Bridge 青龙桥附进的店户
Restaurants nearby Qing Long Bridge playing soothing music
青龙桥附进的餐厅传来优美的音乐
Home stay nearby Qing Long Bridge at Su He Old Town
束河古镇青龙桥附进的民宿
Tourists may opt for riding a horse to go around Su He Old Town
游客可选择骑马游束河古镇
Dragon Spring Temple/LongQuanSi at Su He Old Town
龙泉寺于束河古镇
Home Stay nearby Dragon Spring Temple/LongQuanSi at Su He Old Town
束河古镇龙泉寺附进的民宿
Home Stay nearby Su He Old Town 束河古镇附进的民宿
Rose Biscuit is local delicacy in Lijiang 鲜花饼为丽江著名甜点
Private vans stopped nearby Su He Old Town 停于束河古镇附进的面包车
In the evening, I took a private van back to my guest house at Lijiang Old Town.
The van would only leave after taking enough passengers. I need not pay a single
cent that evening for my transport as a group of passengers from ZheJiang Province
divided my fare among themselves after knowing that I was a foreigner in the
van.
Initially, they thought that I was a Chinese tourist, just like them, from other
province. I was so happy to have had the change to enjoy the privilege as a foreigner
that evening. Dear ladies from ZheJiang, I felt grateful for your hospitality. I will
also treat foreigners nicely in my own country, just like what you did to me when
I was in your country.
Day 1-2 (27-28 August 2014) - From Kunming to Dali 从昆明到大理
Day 3 (29 August 2014) – From Dali to Lijiang 从大理到丽江
Day 4 (30 August 2014) – Lijiang 丽江
Day 5 (31 August 2014) – Lijiang 丽江