Brief Introduction
Ljiang (丽江) is a city in the northwest part of Yunnan Province, China. It has an area of 21,219 square kilometers and a population of 1,244,769 as of 2010 census.
Lijiang is famous for its long history and splendid culture. The Old Town of Lijiang has a history of more than 800 years. Lijiang is the only place using Dongba characters, which has more than a 1000-year-old history. What is more, Naxi ancient music in Lijaing also is considered as the origin of Chinese musical form. All of these unique characteristics made Lijiang approved to be a UNESCO Heritage Site.
Besides the culture, Lijiang occupies beautiful natural scenic spots. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the most frequented travel attract ion there.
You can go to the offical Lijiang Tourist Administration website for more information.
Lijiang is famous for its long history and splendid culture. The Old Town of Lijiang has a history of more than 800 years. Lijiang is the only place using Dongba characters, which has more than a 1000-year-old history. What is more, Naxi ancient music in Lijaing also is considered as the origin of Chinese musical form. All of these unique characteristics made Lijiang approved to be a UNESCO Heritage Site.
Besides the culture, Lijiang occupies beautiful natural scenic spots. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the most frequented travel attract ion there.
You can go to the offical Lijiang Tourist Administration website for more information.
How Lijiang Fulfills Ecotourism
Lijiang is a leading site promoting ecotourism in China. Since my emphasis area in this blog is Pricing in China, I would like to highlight the usage of fund that contributes to ecotourism. In my opinion, it fulfills the ecotourism criteria below:
a. It should provide long-term benefits -to the resource, to the local community, and to industry (benefits may be conservation, scientific, social, cultural, or economic.
b. It should play an active role in conserving the natural resources, which provide the visitors their experience.
a. It should provide long-term benefits -to the resource, to the local community, and to industry (benefits may be conservation, scientific, social, cultural, or economic.
b. It should play an active role in conserving the natural resources, which provide the visitors their experience.
Improve Living Quality
Since 2003, Lijiang government has distributed two million Yuan to the Old Town residents every year. It also provides free pubic transportation to local people. What the government has done is to encourage local residents to take tge responsibility of preserving the Old Town from over development.
Since 2003, Lijiang government has distributed two million Yuan to the Old Town residents every year. It also provides free pubic transportation to local people. What the government has done is to encourage local residents to take tge responsibility of preserving the Old Town from over development.
Encourage Scientific Research
The Global Heritage Fund provided 2.31 million Yuan on recovering 299 historic local residences. It promoted the research of Naxi architectures, and contributed to the conservation of local culture.
The Global Heritage Fund provided 2.31 million Yuan on recovering 299 historic local residences. It promoted the research of Naxi architectures, and contributed to the conservation of local culture.
Preserve Ancient Culture
9.62 million Yuan has been devoted to preserve Naxi culture since 2002. In addition, 10 million Yuan every year is used to take back the right of managing stores on the Old Town. Instead, many culture showcase rooms have been built up within the Old Town. They are used to promote and develop the unique culture in Lijiang.
9.62 million Yuan has been devoted to preserve Naxi culture since 2002. In addition, 10 million Yuan every year is used to take back the right of managing stores on the Old Town. Instead, many culture showcase rooms have been built up within the Old Town. They are used to promote and develop the unique culture in Lijiang.
Conserve Natural Resource
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is impacted by over development. Thus, Lijiang government chose to raise the prices of entrance fee and ropeway to limit the number of visitors.
Does this make sense? I don't quite agree! Since compared with transportation and accommodation, the entrance and ropeway fee are not that unacceptable. Travelers who came a long way to Lijiang will not save that amount of money. However, it does benefit the tourism industry in Lijiang, and increase the cost of tourists. Is that real ecotourism? I think we need further discusion.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is impacted by over development. Thus, Lijiang government chose to raise the prices of entrance fee and ropeway to limit the number of visitors.
Does this make sense? I don't quite agree! Since compared with transportation and accommodation, the entrance and ropeway fee are not that unacceptable. Travelers who came a long way to Lijiang will not save that amount of money. However, it does benefit the tourism industry in Lijiang, and increase the cost of tourists. Is that real ecotourism? I think we need further discusion.
All in all, Lijiang still does a good job in developing ecotourism. And I encourage other regions in China that hope to develop tourism should learn something from Lijiang.