Shangri-la : Part 17 - Dongba Valley & Jade Water Village

Leaving Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Glacier Geopark, the next place to see is Dongba Valley. It was about a 30 minute drive. In this place, we will be seeing the homes of the Naxi people. Traditional writings of the Naxi ethnic are seen along the way in. The clear skies gave a nice photoshoot but it was so hot. There was a tour guide to bring us around and explain to us. I did not understand most of it, unless explained by my friends.

This is the God of Nature - shu.

Story telling time - Naxi people believe that the ecological environment (air, wind, rock, trees, lightning) we live in is called Shu. The ancestors of human being and Shu are brothers because we have the same father but different mothers.

Then, we saw a show where this man touches this burning steel with his barefoot. And then with his tongue. And we must said "wahseh (sort of means wow)" after his stunt.

This is a see-saw that can fit 4 people.

We reached the exit after 1.5 hours. The Black and White Road which is explained in Mandarin. So, I cannot read. I do wish I can read Mandarin, because I would have been able to write more on these photos. Well, I do hope that you at least have a brief idea on how the place is like, and what you can expect if you wish to get there. I hope that you are not disappointed when you read my posts. Anyway, I usually don't write much on my posts, because I let my photos do the talking. I mean, for photos that can 'talk'.

After Dongba Valley, it was Jade Water Village. This is a 4A tourist attraction. We were allowed 20 minutes inside here only. Although we did see in the map that the place was huge. Anyway, we were tired too.

According to the tour guide, this fish eats flesh. I thought it was a piranha. Then, a signboard says this is salmon. Hmmm. I thought I heard the tour guide wrongly, but my friend confirmed on my understanding too. 

Water for drinking in the village. A tourist was seen washing his face, and the officer reprimanded him. Pointing to the signboard. And he was a Chinese tourist too. Plus, if I could read the sign, the tourist definitely would be able to read the sign.

God of nature. 

Story telling time - Nature and man were brothers of the same father but different mother. After the parents' death, both brothers fought over property. Nature won and man got nothing. So, God of Heaven sent God of Dongba to settle the feud. But God of Nature was angry because man did not take care of nature - man killed animals, cut trees and washed bloodied prey in rivers. Then God of Dongba forced God of Nature and man to make peace. Only then did man get farming land, grass land and home land. God of Nature told man to worship him with incense and yak butter to show that man will protect nature.

These are the confessions of man to nature. 

My friend and I were competing on who will raise the leg first and kick the other person upon the click of the camera. I won! She said because I have longer legs. Haha!

It was just a walk around the pond, and we were out from the place.

Then, my friend treated us to a sausage. There was a stall selling snacks outside the entrance. Sausage seems to be the most common snack in China. It costs RMB2. Pretty expensive sausage. And corn to be shared. Sharing is caring. ♥

It was 5pm, and our tour has ended. We were back on the bus back to the Old Town of Lijiang  The tour guide did bring us to Shuhe Ancient Village, but he said that the bus will not wait for anyone who decide to give it a tour. Shuhe Ancient Village is very much near the town. Apparently, this Ancient Village was the earliest habitation for the Naxi people. I read online, and found out that Shuhe Ancient Village is a smaller version of the Old Town of Lijiang  which is the one we are staying in. We gave it a pass because the Old Town of Lijiang is a UNESCO Heritage Area. I think that is sufficient for me.