Not much to report for today. We fetched our visa extensions from the PSB in Dali with no troubles – we now have until September 17th to get out of China. I have to admit that the PSB in Dali is brilliant, unbelievably efficient and a pleasure to use. Back at the hostel it took 15 minutes to arrange and catch a local bus for the 4 hour trip to Lijiang. We have become accustomed to getting buses to anywhere without any hassles – it’s just such a pity that for Tibet the regulations don’t permit it.

The trip was on reasonably good and straight roads with the odd bit of rain. Unfortunately the mountains to the west were hidden by cloud. We listen to audio-books and dozed. Our hostel information recommended that we take a taxi from the bus station – a minibus quoted us £2 we laughed at the guy and got a taxi for 90p (we are occasionally getting it right).

Lijiang old town is a compact and demarcated theme park village surrounded by the new town. Our hostel is good (the Garden Inn) even if they botched the reservation they made good by putting us in the ‘deluxe’ room for the first night. On arrival we got straight to the business of sorting out our Tiger Leaping Gorge hike and asking about Tibet. It looks like Tibet may not happen overland from this side but we haven’t given up yet. This news put us both in a disgruntled mood which was enhanced by the lack of food in our tummies – not a good combination we have decided.

In the evening we went for a stroll in search of food. Lijiang has very little to offer in the form of authenticity but what it lacks in that department it makes up for in over zealous lighting and blaring music from the endless bars around the main squares. The place was teeming with tourists (of all kinds) – not really our scene but we’ll give the place a thorough once over tomorrow.

[Pictures: Looking down the stream behind the snack street in Lijiang old town.]

– Posted from my iPhone via Wifi