June 5, 2023
Mandarin Immersion (Part 22)
By Simon J. Lau
I visited Shuhe Ancient Town, located a short distance from Lijiang. It’s the original settlement of the Naxi people, and it was an important place of commerce. On my way over, I was told that many overseas Chinese have recently moved there.
I wasn’t specifically seeking out other overseas Chinese to hang out with, but I did spend my afternoon at this hip coffee shop. I don’t typically rave about coffee shops, but I totally fell in love with this place. It was decorated like a mid-century modern British home.
I didn’t know that this was my thing, but I was totally into the decor. Since being laid off, I haven’t spent a moment thinking about work. It’s too dreadful. However, the atmosphere here made me want to consider my next steps. More on that later!
Since arriving in China, one thing that continues to surprise me is how nonchalant the Chinese can be when sharing their history. Case in point, this is one of the entrances to the Old Town of Lijiang. It’s sandwiched between a China Mobile shop and an obscure Chinese restaurant. One would think that given the cultural significance of this ancient town, the government would have done more to make this entrance far more appealing. But I guess their perspective is that China has over 3,000 years of history, and that this is just one of many ancient towns.
On my way back to my hotel, I saw my first Christian church in China. Strangely, it’s been recently renovated, but the government doesn’t allow religious practices inside. It functions more like a museum than as a house of worship. It felt unusual, if not a little bizarre to me.
Finally, I’ve noticed that Lijiang is far more dog-friendly than any other city I’ve visited in China. I see dogs everywhere: Tourist areas, stores, and cafes. It’s a welcome change for me, as someone who loves these furry friends. 🐶
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