Vieille ville de Lijiang

Photo : CEphoto, Uwe Aranas (CC BY-SA 3.0)

This cultural heritage site in southwestern China represents a well-preserved example of ancient Han Chinese town planning and architecture from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Located in Yunnan Province, the old town developed as an important trading post on the Tea Horse Road, facilitating commerce between Han Chinese and ethnic minority regions. The layout reflects traditional principles of feng shui and Chinese urban design, featuring a network of stone-paved streets, wooden buildings with characteristic architectural details, and an integrated water system that served both practical and aesthetic purposes. The visual character of the town is defined by its vernacular architecture, incorporating elements from both Han Chinese and Naxi ethnic traditions, with particular attention to the decorative wooden screens and carved details on residential structures. The site demonstrates the successful coexistence of different cultures and the adaptation of Chinese architectural traditions to a mountainous landscape at high altitude.