KS2 Geography: A child-led tour of Lijiang in China

My name is Wang Yu Shi.I'm 11 years old. I live in Lijiang.Lijiang has lots of old parts.The buildings here werebuilt in ancient times.It's home to the Naxi people.My family is Naxi.

Lijiang is locatedin the province of Yunnan.It's near the famousJade Dragon Snow Mountain.For everyone living herethis is a sacred mountainbecause it gives us water,wood and thousands of plantsthat we use for Chinese medicine.It blesses the local people,so we believe it must be protected.It's always covered in snowall year round.Once we played snow wars andwe built snowmen, it was great fun.

My dad's a driver.Sometimes he takes me on trips.I love going on trips with my dad.My dad knows all the funand good places.

There's also a big lakecalled Lake Lashihai.This lake is the largest lakein Lijiang County.Local fishermen fish here, and lotsof tourists like to come and visit.There are lots of fish in this lake,most of them are grass carp.You can try some fishif you take a boat out.A fisherman will grill it for you.It's got lots of bones,but it's delicious.In the summer the fisherman sayshe can get about 60 a day.The way the fisherman speaks isvery funny. Like a fish!

This is also a good placeto watch birds.Many birds spend the winter here,then they leave in the spring.

Near Lake Lashihai there'san ancient tea route.Over a thousand years ago peopleused to use horsesto transport tea that's still grownin the fields of Yunnan.

The horses are quite special, theyhave short legs and are very strong.They had to carry the teaand climb high hills,to go to different countriesand areas.They went through forestsand mountains,until they reached Burma,Laos and Vietnam.They also went toour neighbour provinces,Tibet, Szechuan,Guizhou and Guangxi.

After I arrive,we stop at a teahouse.The lady shows mehow the horses carry the tea.The tea leaves are squashedinto a tea brick.These were put into bamboo boxes.This protected them from the rain.The most famous Yunnan teais called Puer tea.

The area where I was horseridingis a place where lots of Naxi people live.My tea trail guide was a Naxi man.Naxi men often wear a sheepskinto keep them warm.My family is also Naxi.In China, the Naxi people havea population of over 250,000.

TRANSLATION:

My grandma still wears a Naxi costume every day.Grandma's costumehas seven stars on it.They represent the seven starsof the Big Dipper.Naxi women are extremelyhard-working.They work from first lightuntil the moon comes up.

Here's a Naxi lady.She is weaving scarves.I am off to fetch my friend,to see if we can catchsome Naxi dancing at a wedding.My friend is called Wang Qing Chen.

HE CALLS OUT FOR HIS FRIEND

We are in the same class together,and our dads are also friends.He lives quite near to me.We walk through Lijiang old townto get to the wedding.

Here's some Naxi language.This one is to talk.This one is to dance.This one is to eat.This shop is very famousfor fresh yoghurt.Lots of tourists buy it.We eat it with sweet red beans.It's very tasty.

The wedding is in here.

ROUSING SINGING AND MUSICWHOOPING AND SINGING

Music and dancing are strong partsof Naxi tradition.My friend and I lovewatching their performance.Qing Chen and I hope theNaxi traditions will last forever.