Inside Lijiang's Baoshan Stone Town

Baoshan Stone Town is an old, small town with 108 households built on a huge stone on the upper banks of the Yangtze River. It is located in the Jinshajiang River valley north of Lijiang, Yunnan province.

The residents built their houses using items found nearby. Some people used stones to make desks, tables, water vats, kitchen items and even beds. All the stones were polished smoothly. The town serves as a historical record of the local Naxi people.

The town has a long history of over 1,300 years due to its unique geographic location. Below the stone town, towards the east, lies the Golden Sand River. Along the three other sides are steep cliffs. The top of the cliff serves as a guard post for the town.

With its unique charm, the town has attracted a large number of foreign tourists from different countries every year. "We lived for generations on this stone. There was no road or electricity in the past, but now living conditions have improved," a 77-year-old local tour guide said.

"With the improvement of the tourism environment, more visitors can travel to this town than ever before," said Mu Yichang, branch secretary in the village.

More than 10 inns have been built in the town to keep pace with the growing tourism.

Baoshan Stone Town was built in the late 13th century by the Naxi ethnic minority. They maintain ancient traditions and lead a free and peaceful life on the rock.