Lijiang Light and Shadow: A Romantic Poem at Zhuyixuan

Lijiang Light and Shadow: A Romantic Poem at Zhuyixuan In the early morning of Lijiang, the sound of flowing water gently awakens the ancient town from its dreams. Walking along the bluestone slabs of Qiyi Street, the carved wooden gate of Zhuyixuan·Yueshe Youting stands half-open in the mist. Stepping inside, the Naxi courtyard with its "four sides and five skylights" unfolds like a painting: the tea table basks in the morning light, koi fish stir the floating duckweed in the pond, wisteria hanging from the eaves softly brushes against the green tiles—every step feels like treading between the lines of a poem. As dusk falls, lanterns along Sifang Street light up one by one. Passing through the corridor of swaying oil-paper umbrellas, the flowing water under the Big Stone Bridge carries drifting lotus lanterns of wishes. Around the corner, the Sakura Restaurant wafts sweet aromas, while a plate of cured pork rib hotpot rises with the warmth of a Naxi family's hearth, the numbing spice on the tongue entwining with the evening breeze into a melody. By the tea table in the inn, an unexpected encounter with jiama printing quietly unfolds. The qilin patterns on the sandalwood board are awakened by cinnabar, and as plain paper is gently pressed and brushed over the carved grooves, the outline of the mythical beast gradually emerges in the palm. The ancient totem seems to breathe on the paper, as if one could hear the jingling of copper bells along the ancient Tea-Horse Road, carrying millennia of prayers toward the snow-capped mountains. Late at night, the courtyard sinks into a gentle embrace. Warm yellow lanterns outline the flying eaves, and the starry sky descends into the central courtyard. Leaning against the "beauty's rest" with a sip of Pu'er tea, moonlight spills over the carved window lattices, dyeing the printed qilin silver—time stands still in this moment, leaving only the breath of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain lingering in dreams. Travel Tips ✨ Inn Highlights: Zhuyixuan is located in the heart of the ancient town, just a 2-minute walk to Mu's Residence and Sifang Street. Its Naxi courtyard is recognized as a "Key Protected Architecture of the Ancient Town." 🎨 Intangible Cultural Heritage Experience: Jiama printing activities require advance booking, and the cinnabar prints can be taken home as souvenirs. 🌸 Night Stroll Recommendations: Oil-Paper Umbrella Street (3 minutes from the inn), Sakura Restaurant Terrace (a popular photo spot). In this 463-word vignette, every frame is a romantic footnote gifted by Zhuyixuan. When the patterns of jiama imprint on your palm, the moonlight of the ancient town forever lingers in the folds of your soul.