We visited three "new" old towns: Lijiang(麗江), Dali(大理), and Shuhe(束河). Those old towns had existed on their sites for many, many a year, but I believe the old houses were already dilapidated or even torn down.  Therefore, the typical Chinese houses there, with white stucco and black roof, must have been refurbished or rebuilt.

But the towns have become too much commercialized, and every house thereof is just a shop, a restaurant, or a pub.  Now the question is: should we just reserve the towns simulated faces as close as the original ones, and the local government takes the responsibilities of maintenance; or should we return it to a residential complex of the ancients; or should we make it commercialized as it is now?  Its really a dilemma.

Among the three towns, I think Shuhe is the best.  The verdant weeping willows swinging in spring, crystal clear water flowing in the ditches, and stone bridges laying over golden ponds portrays Shuhe like the fairlyland that could only be seen in Chinese paintings.