auspiciousness and wealth. The doorway is decorated with exquisite carvings, and the courtyard is paved with pebbles, colored tiles, or colored bricks. The middle room of the main row has six latticed windows ornamented with designs of flowers, birds and animals. A spacious veranda in front of the main rooms provides a space for the family members to relax in. Almost every household has a flowerbed and a pool in the courtyard.
Lijiang is surrounded by the snow-covered Yulong Mountains (Jade Dragon Snow Mountain). "There are four seasons on one mountain", says a folk song about Yulong, "and the scenery changes every ten li (five km)". The Lijiang area is known as a treasure house of animals and plants, and a huge natural reservoir. Water flowing down from melting glaciers and snow high in the mountains irrigates the fields and provides water for the residents.
Water, in fact, flows everywhere in Lijiang. Crystal-clear streams wind around all the houses and flow through the courtyards. Stone bridges span the streams. Streets paved with colored stones, including Sifang (Square) Street, are thus kept free from dust and mud in all seasons. The source of these streams is the Yuquan (Jade Spring) River, which meanders past the foot of Xiangshan (Elephant Hill), north of Lijiang. In addition, there is the Baimalong (White-Horse Dragon) Pool and wells sunk around the numerous springs. The local people have made ponds along the courses of the springs. The upper ponds supply drinking water, the middle ponds are for washing vegetables, and the lower ponds are for washing clothes. The spring water that overflows the banks is used for washing the streets.
All over the old town there are unique buildings inspired by and in harmony with Nature. Cultural relics, both tangible and intangible, also abound. In the vicinity of Lijiang there are the Shuhe Folk Residence and Baisha Folk Residence Complex, as well as cultural sites like the Five Phoenix Tower in the Fuguo Temple, the Great Treasure Palace and the Glazed Hall.