by Darwin Ma / Pullman Lijiang Resort and Spa Exclusive / 2011-08-03
Short Intro to A Dan, 阿丹, and a few things you can visit while in Lashi Lake, Lijiang
1 / custom request any wooden furniture, copperwares and household-design items you would like from A-Dan …
2 / visit his “Monthly Open Vacation Home”, also by Lashi Lake, occuring every 17th of every month, where there are creatures and friendly faces enjoying each other over a bonfire and friends. (More details below …)
3 / visit his home and have a tea, view his own personal museums and not-for-sale antiques (with his permission)
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A special interview and tour was made in mid April with Pullman Lijiang Resort and Spa … his blog is at blog.sina.com.cn/pangulj
A-Dan, 阿丹, (above) is a Taiwanese entrepreneur, artist and packrat out near Lashi Lake 拉市海, west of Lijiang. A craftsman for over 20 years and living in Lijiang for over 10, A Dan left business in Taiwan and opened several antique and woodcraft shops and displays around Lashi Lake. He is one of the many ‘foreigners’ who enjoys, founds, and now creates the beautiful, natural atmosphere in Lijiang’s lakeside suburbia. A Dan has his own private collection of antiques from Lijiang and the area, all a few decades old, all an interesting story between each item. He turned a hobby into a collection and into inspiration, forming his craftsmen handiwork for the masses. A-Dan took a retired wooden boat, the kind that was made from ONE TREE CARVED OUT, and turned it into desks and chairs …
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His Children
There is a common modern concept that children should attend schools and get a strong basis of education for the world. His two daughters, Pipi 皮皮 and Dandan 蛋蛋, 10-13 years old, do not. “I do not believe in the public school system, in any country, as it’s the same idea of the same concept. Children are burdened with schoolwork and are not playing around and not enjoying childhood. That’s not how it should be … My girls are playing away and making a memory that will last forever, in the living and breathing beauty of Lijiang … and just … enjoying . Why do we [parents, adults] need squeeze their time away from schoolwork and preparation for moneycollecting, and forget about just living?”
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The ‘Monthly Open Vacation House’ happens every 17th of every month. It is open to everyone, everywhere, filled with pigs, ducks, hares, a monkey, chickens, a farm, small dogs, large dogs, and several grandmas playing card games. It is one of the first things you will notice when going to Lashi Lake … and at no admission fee …
‘Why not?’ asks would-be capitalists … “Every year, there are only a few days to celebrate because of holidays, birthdays, national days, religious days, whatever. Why can’t we celebrate life more, and more regularly? So I made this wooden getaway for everyone to get away more often, rather than a ‘once in awhile’ … no admission fee, free drinks, dancing, music and just to have an overall good time … my treat to have your company to celebrate!”
“Why the 17th, you ask? Look at my business card. my phone number ends in xxxxxxx1717 [I lost this phone number!].
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You may contact us at Pullman Lijiang to take you to A-Dan’s house at ecomm-relay@pullman-lijiang.com or +86-1362-888-5532,
or email him directly (in Chinese) at pangulj@sina.com or call 1338-8884548.
Get Closer … to the people and places around Lijiang …
ADan’s ‘Monthly Open Vacation Home’ [above] in Lijiang, open to all guests to visit.
A small get together party is held every nigh of the 17th of every month …
A child rests against the wood. Roots cut away into what looks like three different mythical creatures …
One of the antiques, an old fashioned iron – don’t see those around anymore!
Lazy Pigs and Happy Dogs
classic motorcycle and a skulled marked by the Tibetans
… the following are some pictures from his blog, showing the ’17th’ celebration days! Let’s chill out …
by Darwin Ma & Pullman Lijiang Resort and Spa / 2011-08-03
will update more later, here or there, as the 17th passes …
thePULL @ Pullman Lijiang Resort & Spa 