The ancient town of Shuhe has a unique charm on rainy days

The ancient town of Shuhe is worth visiting for its attractions, Sifang Listening Pavilion The name 'Sifang Listening Pavilion' comes from the traditional 'Sifang Street'. Major events in Shuhe, such as the Snow Mountain Music Festival, Qixi Festival, model competitions, Naxi ancient music, bonfire parties, and various cultural performances, are all held here, making it one of the most important venues in the ancient town. 'Sifang Listening Pavilion' is the core area of the Shuhe Tea Horse Inn and the cultural center of the Shuhe scenic area. To the west is a stage that showcases the songs and dances of various ethnic minorities along the Tea Horse Road. Qinglong Bridge Qinglong Bridge is located on the west side of the old Sifang Street, built during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, with a history of over 400 years. The bridge faces Jubaoshan Mountain on its central axis, a design by the Mu chieftain. It is also a symbolic architecture of the Mu chieftain's heyday, measuring 25 meters in length, 4.5 meters in width, and 4 meters in height, ranking as the finest among Lijiang's ancient stone bridges. The surface of Qinglong Bridge, weathered by centuries of wind and rain, has become mottled and aged, yet it retains its heroic spirit and a sense of solemnity and weight. Sifang Street Sifang Street in Shuhe, called 'Shaowu Zhi' in the Naxi language, means 'the market of Shaowu'. It is said to have been developed by the Mu chieftain during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty and later became one of the four major markets in Lijiang, often gathering farmers and merchants from all directions. The Sifang Street of Shuhe Ancient Town is not more than 30 meters long and wide, with four roads leading in all directions, surrounded by water, and serving as a market during the day. It is one of the oldest markets in the Lijiang basin. In ancient times, there was a night market on Sifang Street of Shuhe, where people strolled as freely as city dwellers do today, stopping as they pleased, looking at curiosities, eating what they wanted, and participating in games they enjoyed. People holding torches at the night market wandered along the Qinglong River, like fireflies on a summer night, creating a scene known as 'Night Market Fireflies', which is listed as one of the eight scenic spots of Shuhe. Jiuding Longtan Jiuding Longtan, also known as 'Dragon Spring' by locals, is fed by water emerging from the crevices at the foot of Longquan Mountain. The pond is not deep, but its waters remain clear in summer and do not shallow in winter. A clear stream flows out from the stone crevices, perpetually nourishing the ancient town. Around the pond, willows touch the ground, and cypresses point to the sky. The spring water is clear, and there are many fish in the pond, which are revered by locals as divine fish. According to the 'Qianlong Lijiang Prefecture Chronicles', 'Jiuding Longtan is located ten miles west of the city, with clear waters and countable fish, covering ten acres, surrounded by exquisite rocks and deep forests. Legend has it that in the past, someone who tried to net the fish was met with sudden thunder and hail, and since then, no one has dared to do so.' It is said that anyone who steals the divine fish from Longtan will suffer misfortune. As a result, the divine fish are protected, reproducing and living leisurely in the spring waters. These fish are commonly known as 'face fish', but their real name is 'plateau loach', a rare and slender fish with fine scales. In fact, the sudden thunder and hail are merely natural phenomena, and the underlying message of this story is to educate people to respect nature and cherish the ecology, which reflects the value of the Naxi people's ecological culture.