My remaining hours in Old Lijiang were spent hopping from shop to shop, snacking and buying some last-minute gifts.
I can see why, through all the Chinese people I have met over the years, why Lijiang Old Town is often mentioned as a favorite travel spot. Its endless maze of unique and character-rich shops, streets saturated with people from all over the east, culture-rich art, language and architecture, dominated by the Naxi and Tibetan people, and prominence of art and peace is unrivaled throughout the world. All this is surrounded by accessible yet wild natural wonders, now a rarity in China.
Thousands of different people walk down the twisting alleys each day, with their own purpose for coming here. The seemingly limitless shops and restaurants cater to some but not all. I can see visiting here for weeks at a time for several years, and not break the surface of where to eat and what to buy. It's that massive... and it is growing. With Old Town real estate dwindling, neighboring villages are building their own village-style outdoor malls. I don't see any of them carrying the history and charm of Lijiang nor bringing in the sheer number of visitors. People-watchers, this is your Mecca.
Here's a crappy picture, but it is a nice example of the Dongba script.
Every restaurant is unique, each has its charm, and because of the highly competitive environment, you are virtually guaranteed a good meal anywhere.
Shops sell a million different things embedded with the culture of the region. You don't just come to this minority village to pick up tax-free cigarettes and gas. The native art is alive and well, and it is a large source of income for the Naxi people. People appreciate it too. I bought several gifts here and I will not be able to find anything like these items elsewhere.
Centuries-old building house modern craft shops.
Every corner is a work of art.
Jewelry I thought was produced in a factory turned out to be hammered out on the streets in the evenings.
Every traveler is here for their own reasons.
A calligrapher helps keep the millenia-old Dongba writing system alive.
) 
