Nujiang·Lushui——Yunnan's 'First-Tier City'

Heading north along the Nujiang Grand Canyon, we finally arrived at the 'first-tier city' hidden in the canyon——Lushui. Lushui is the capital of Nujiang Prefecture, located in the Nujiang Grand Canyon. Squeezed by the cliffs on both sides, it has been forced to become a first-tier city, literally a first-tier city. From the moment we saw the urban built-up area related to Lushui, the city of Lushui stretched nearly 20 kilometers along the Nujiang River, but its width was less than 100 meters, and in some places, there was only one road. The widest part is where the municipal government is located, about 1 kilometer, which is already the widest part of Lushui. Compared to its narrowness, Lushui's more significant feature is its steepness. As mentioned in the previous article, north of Mangkuan Beach, the Nujiang River has deep valleys and rapid waters, with no large river beaches. Basically, the mountains on both sides extend directly into the Nujiang River. Therefore, the roads in this area, and even Lushui City itself, are carved out of the mountains. Lushui City is carved out of a series of terraces along both sides of the Nujiang River, on the eastern foothills of the Gaoligong Mountains and the western foothills of the Nu Mountains. The city is distributed in layers on these terraces, with varying heights, making it a true 8D city. The main city of Lushui is divided into two main areas: the old city in the north, located between the Nujiang River and the Nu Mountains, and the new city in the south, located between the Nujiang River and the Gaoligong Mountains. The two districts are connected by only two riverside roads. However, the facilities in Lushui are quite good. The city's infrastructure is relatively new, as most of the urban areas were likely built in recent years with the arrival of technology and funding. A pedestrian system has been created along both sides of the Nujiang River, connecting the two banks and becoming the best urban landscape. In every corner of Lushui, you can hear the majestic roar of the Nujiang River in the background. It's no wonder it's named Nujiang (Angry River); the rushing waters seem to roar endlessly, sounding even louder in the confines of the deep valley. My two favorite places in Lushui are the west bank of the Nujiang River, where we stayed and will talk about in detail later, and the Lushui Municipal Government. The government building is located at the highest point, backed by the Gaoligong Mountains, facing the Nujiang River, and overlooking the Nu Mountains. It is an excellent viewing platform, and the stepped government square provides different heights for viewing, making the scenery of the Nujiang Grand Canyon even more charming. More impressive than the scenery is Lushui's level of development. This border city, the farthest from the inland, is only ten kilometers away in a straight line from the war-torn northern Myanmar region on the other side of the Gaoligong Mountains. On this side of the Gaoligong Mountains, walking on the brightly lit commercial streets, looking at the rows of shops and a dazzling array of goods, inland clothing and catering are still prevalent here. It is hard not to marvel at the strength of the country and the care of the government, allowing this borderland to enjoy peace and experience a lifestyle no different from the inland. Coupled with the unique natural scenery, Lushui may become the next world-famous leisure destination.