Lijiang and Shuhe, Yunnan, China (12/19/2011-12/23/2011)

Lijiang and its quieter and lesser-known neighbour, Shuhe, are very picturesque ancient towns representative of the Naxi minority tribe in the northern area of Yunnan province.  Lijiang is incredibly packed with people during peak season and even during my time here was quite full.  Shuhe, on the other hand, was a bit of a ghost town and much more pleasant to stay in.  Both have canals crossing through towns symbolizing the importance of water to the Naxi people. The cobble-stone streets were lined with amazing tea houses, great street food, and restaurants specializing in yak meat.  I used this area as a base for further exploration of Yunnan's natural scenic beauty.