From Chengdu, this time we’re flying, to Lijiang, Yunnan (approx. 1,000 km/1.5 hr flight, €48/person including luggage). Lijiang is a city in the mountains (2,600m) and has a very beautiful historic town center that is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Mainly the Naxi people live here, and this province grows 95% of Chinese (Yunnan) coffee (but only about 2% of world coffee production), which is marketed quite expensively as a souvenir.
Honeymoon
The town is very popular with honeymooners and hikers, and so the town center is fully in tourist hands, nicely decorated with flowers and offering nightlife and live music in the evenings.
Moon Festival
The Moon Festival also falls within the lively, “Golden Week.” Astronomically, the moon is closest to the earth and sometimes glows a gigantic pure red. The Chinese see this as harmony and completeness, organize large family gatherings, and if you want, you can read the heart-warming legend of “Chang’e” link: https://www.chinahighlights.com/festivals/mid-autumn-festival-story-change.htm
(Note that the Chinese calendar doesn’t match ours).You can also buy the “Mooncake” everywhere in different variations.
And often you find some interesting and delicious sweets just on the road
What a beautiful, wonderful and colourful piece of the world !!