Our group began the day with our final Tai Chi and Qigong class. We closed with a lecture on Nature and Man as One. We covered a great deal of material in this journey: body opening Nei Gong, Eight Pieces of Silk Brocade, Qi Gathering and Replenishing Techniques, External Qi Healing, and medical Qigong. All our students on this trip will receive a certificate for their training which counts toward Qigong certification.
The Black Dragon pool was our next stop. The Black Dragon pool was built as the meditation garden for the Dongba priests. The well preserved site features an amazing view of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
Part of our group was fortunate enough to meet one of the few remaining Dongba priests. He seemed to really like our group and performed a special blessing ceremony. He also gave everyone a piece of calligraphy written by him and his father, the head priest, on the rare Dongba paper. The paper is made with the root of local tree and can last over 700 years. The calligraphy is written in the Dongba script, which is the oldest living hieroglyphic language in the world. Very few people can still use it.
Afterwards we walked in Old town Lijiang, a UNESCO world heritage site. Lunch featured yak meat, a local specialty. We also bought strawberries from the locals. When you do this you have to make certain the fruit is in good condition. Then had the restaurant wash them in water that has been boiled and salted.
While shopping, we stopped at a local tea wholesaler. She prepared a variety of teas for us to taste, using the Kung Fu tea style. We negotiated a very good price for the teas for our group.
We had our farewell dinner at a famous local fish restaurant where we enjoyed fresh fish from the pristine mountain streams.
That night we strolled through the old town one last time. We bought several bought several silver bracelets and a Dongba bell. The Naxi ethnic group is distantly related to the Tibetans. The bells they make bells are very similar to the Tibetan singing bowls in sound, but hang suspended like a normal bell.
