Lijiang lies in the north of Dali, with its spectacular mountain backdrops.Yulongxue Shan hovers at 5596 meters. Lijiang is the base of Naxi minority who number about 250,000. They are descendants of Tibetan nomads who forsook their tents for log houses and settled in lush Lijiang valley many centuries ago.More than 1,000years ago their ancestors created mysterious pictographs wherein they recorded their religious scriptures that became the people's ancient encyclopedia and are now an important, source of history, language, and social religious customs of tribe. Lijiang is noted for its old town, an 865-year-old architectural gem, although it looks like a huge inkstone.It has been the political, cultural and educational center in the area, since it was build in 13 century and get renovated in 17 century.