In summer, come to Lijiang, Yunnan, and learn to abandon plans and travel freely

Many people do not recommend coming to Lijiang in the summer for a simple reason: it rains too much, the snow mountains have no snow, and the scenery's beauty can be severely diminished by rain or cloudy weather. Indeed, this greatly affects my travel mood. But fortunately, the weather was very kind to us on this trip. Although it rained sometimes, it hardly affected our sightseeing. I saw the glass-like Lugu Lake, the graceful water lilies, the magnificent snow mountains wrapped in blue skies and white clouds, and the Tiffany blue Blue Moon Valley. However, while marveling at the favorable weather, I also wondered what kind of mindset should be adopted to tour Lijiang in the summer? In my daily life, I am a top-level J person, with my itinerary even specifying the exact times to leave and arrive at each attraction. But clearly, this doesn't suit Lijiang, at least not Lijiang in the summer. So, letting go of my obsession with attractions was the first thing I did on this trip. Therefore, I gave up on Wenhai Village in the heavy rain and instead enjoyed afternoon tea at the homestay and leisurely strolled around Baisha Ancient Town. I also decided to abandon the morning boat plan and took the boat in the afternoon of the first day when it didn't rain. The second thing is to go with the flow. When I took the boat in the afternoon, the water lilies were not as open as in the morning, but they were still beautiful. However, it didn't rain the next morning either, so I took the boat again, feeling the wind on the lake and the clarity of the water. Of course, I saw the more graceful flowers in the morning. The weather was great when climbing Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, so I quickly recorded it with my phone, not insisting on reaching the summit quickly. Sure enough, a minute after reaching the summit, fog rolled in, and by the time I descended, nothing was visible. The third thing is to appreciate the delicate human touch more than the natural scenery. I am very grateful for the people I met on this trip. The driver who took us around chatted with me about everything, sharing his life experiences and reminding us where to go at the attractions, caring for us like an elder. Thanks to him, the long car rides were not boring and felt well taken care of. The boatman, a young guy who looked younger than me, enthusiastically introduced the advanced marriage customs of the Mosuo people, making it pleasant to listen to local customs while enjoying the lake breeze. The homestay owners carefully prepared various itinerary introductions, precautions, and local specialty snacks for breakfast, helped with luggage, and chatted with us when we couldn't see the snow mountains due to rain, showing us sunny day scenery. Almost all the homestays were responsive to our needs. In the cool Lijiang, I felt a magical warmth. The restaurant staff provided patient service, helped adjust sauces, inquired about dietary restrictions, and introduced dishes. This thoughtful and warm service is something I rarely experience in the fast-paced life of Shanghai. Because of them, I liked Lijiang even more; they made me feel the warmth and sentiment of Lijiang. So if you decide to come to Lijiang in a hot summer, I am very happy with your decision because at least you can temporarily escape the heat. If you are not too concerned about attractions and plans, I believe Lijiang in the summer will still surprise you. Of course, if you have more holidays and time, I even think Lijiang is worth a long stay. Have breakfast on the balcony of the homestay in the morning, chat with the owner, visit some attractions according to the weather, or find a café in the quiet Baisha Ancient Town to sit, have some snacks and tea, or find a craft shop to do some handicrafts, or sit by the window of the homestay room to read a book. Such random relaxation, why can't it be a way to tour Lijiang in the summer? As for the scenery, it doesn't matter; I can come a second time. After all, I already miss the food in Lijiang back home in Shanghai.