LIJIANG — For Vietnamese travelers exploring the majestic Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang, China, sometimes the most surprising moments come from finding unexpected resemblances to their own homeland.
In a recent travel post, filmmaker and artist Thành Nguyễn shared his journey deep into the scenic pine forests of the region, noting a humorous and striking aesthetic connection between this famous Chinese destination and Vietnam's highlands.
A Multimodal Alpine Trek
Getting to the scenic viewpoints of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Núi Ngọc Long) is no easy feat. Thành Nguyễn humorously described the early-morning, multi-legged transit required to reach the area:
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A 4:30 AM wake-up call that felt like a nostalgic throwback to early-90s queuing.
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A relentless chain of transfers, transitioning from a tour bus to a walking tour, a shuttle bus, an electric cart, another walking segment, and finally a cable car.
After a grueling three-hour journey, the landscape finally opened up into a serene pine forest, complete with a pasture of grazing goats and a distant, cloud-shrouded view of the mountain range.
A Mix of Da Lat, Moc Chau, and the Central Highlands
As an artist, Thành couldn't help but draw comparisons between Lijiang's scenery and iconic Vietnamese landscapes. He described the pine forest atmosphere as a cross between the hilly pine woods of Bản Áng (Mộc Châu) and the rustic charm of Cù Lần Village (Đà Lạt)—though he playfully noted that in terms of sheer beauty, Vietnam's local spots still hold a superior place in his heart.
The most intriguing comparison, however, came from the striking wooden totems erected in the middle of the yard, featured in his shared photo. These tall, hand-carved wooden pillars immediately reminded him of the traditional tomb house statues (tượng nhà mồ) and cultural wood carvings of the Central Highlands (Tây Nguyên) in Vietnam.
With a touch of artistic critique, he joked that the designer of the Lijiang site must have either visited Vietnam's Central Highlands or browsed cultural pages online, as the carving style felt incredibly familiar—though perhaps executed with the skill level of an art student’s graduation project.
The Verdict on Budget Tours
Reflecting on the overall experience of the 15-million-VND budget tour, the filmmaker noted that while some of the packaged destinations felt a bit underwhelming compared to Vietnam's natural wonders, the cultural journey provided a fascinating study of landscapes, traditions, and the unexpected artistic threads that seem to tie different Asian cultures together.
