What is the value of Lijiang Ancient Town?

Lijiang Old Town has a long history, is simple and natural. The urban layout is well-proportioned, with both the style of a mountain city and the charm of a water town. Lijiang folk houses not only integrate the essence of Han, Bai, Yi and Tibetan ethnic groups, but also have the unique style of the Naxi people. They are a rare and important heritage for studying the history of Chinese architecture and culture. Lijiang Ancient City contains rich traditional ethnic culture, embodies the prosperity and development of the Naxi nation, and is an important historical material for studying the development of human culture. Lijiang Old Town is a famous historical and cultural city with high comprehensive and overall value. It embodies local history, culture and national customs, and embodies the essential characteristics of social progress at that time. The flowing urban space, the vital water system, the architectural groups with unified styles, the residential buildings of suitable scale, the friendly and pleasant spatial environment, and the unique national art content make it different from other famous historical and cultural cities in China. The valuable characteristics of ancient city construction that respect nature, seek practical results, be frank, and be compatible further reflect the unique human creative spirit and progressive significance in urban architecture under specific historical conditions. The Old Town of Lijiang is a traditional settlement of ethnic minorities of great significance. Its existence provides valuable information for the study of the history of human urban construction and the history of the development of human nations. It is a precious cultural heritage and a treasure of China and the world. It is in line with joining the Reasons for the World Heritage List.

The Wufeng Tower located in Fuguo Temple in the city was built in the 29th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1601 AD), with a height of 20 meters. Because its architectural shape resembles five flying colorful phoenixes, it is named "Five Phoenix Tower". Wufeng Tower combines the architectural artistic styles of Han, Tibetan, Naxi and other ethnic groups and is a rare treasure and typical example of ancient Chinese architecture. The Baisha residential complex is located 8 kilometers north of the ancient city of Lijiang. It was the political, economic and cultural center of Lijiang during the Song and Yuan Dynasties (10th to 14th centuries AD). The Baisha residential buildings are distributed on a north-south main axis, with a trapezoidal square in the center. A spring is introduced into the square from the north, and four lanes lead from the square to all directions, which is very distinctive. The formation and development of the Baisha residential complex laid the foundation for the subsequent layout of Lijiang Ancient City. Shuhe Residential Building Complex is located 4 kilometers northwest of Lijiang Old Town. It is a small market around Lijiang Old Town. The residential buildings in the complex are scattered in a well-proportioned manner, and the layout is similar to Sifang Street in Lijiang Old Town. The Qinglong River passes through the center of the building complex, and the Qinglong Bridge built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) spans it. The Qinglong Bridge is the largest stone arch bridge in Lijiang.

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