The Yangzi River and the Yellow River are well-known as the two longest rivers in China and are noted as Giant Asian Rivers. Situated between 99o 30 E to 100o 50 E and 26o N to 27o 50 N, Lijiang can be easily located by every tourist from abroad when they trace along the Yangzi River from its mouth in Shanghai back toward its source. The ajncient town of Lijiang is a travelers wonderland which has been classified as a World-class Cultural Legacy by UNESCO, Nationallevel Scenic Zone and a National Town of History and Culture.

Lijiang is a beautiful shining jewel on the Northwest Yunnan Plateau neighbouring the southeast side of the Tibentan Plateau which is considered to be the Roof of the World . It covers an area of 20,600 square kilometers with a population of 1,030 ,000. The whole district is comprised of four counties: Lijiang, Yongsheng, Huaping and Ninglang. LiJiangs weather is remark-ably pleasant. Spring there lasts as long as 241 days and there is no hots ummer. Lijiang is 603 kilometers away from Kunming and 280 kilometers from the JingJiang Railway Station on the Kunming - Chengdu line. The airport in LiJiang had been opened in 1994.

Lijiang boasts of breath - takingly wonderful sights such as Jade DragonSnow Mountain (Yulong Xueshan) and its modern maritime glacier,the only one of its kind in the southern end of the Northern Hemisphere; Tiger Leaping Gorge ( Hutiaoxia ); the world - famous grand canyon; Lugu Lake, the culturalcradle of the Matriarchy of the Yongning Mosuo people in Ninglang; the Old Town of Dayan Lijiang, which is referred to by European and American tourists as the Oriental Venice .All these natural sceneries and these cultural treasures of the minority peoples, such as Dongba Culture, Naxi Classical Music,Baisha Murals and Mosuo Customs, have been continuously drawing tourists from all over the world and have recently vote Lijiang as one of the favorite destinations in China.

In 1989, Lijiang was ranked as a Level - 1 Tourisrn Hot Spot of China by the yunnan Tourism Bureau. In 1992, it was rated as one of the four provincial - level travel zones of Yunnan by the provincial government. There is a saying which goes: Visit not Lijiang, visit not Yunnan ! Lijiang is now opening its gate ready to heartily welcome guests from all over the world and show off its exotic and alluring scenery as well as the rich and colourful ethnic customs of its people.