Jianshui Narrow Gauge Train, a must-visit guide for self-driving to the train station!

The Jianshui Narrow Gauge Train runs on a nearly century-old railway (narrow gauge refers to a track gauge of 1 meter) and was once part of the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, designed and built by French engineers. Today, only this 13-kilometer section of the railway and four train stations remain for sightseeing. 🚇 If you're not a railway enthusiast, it's better to self-drive or take a taxi to enjoy the experience along this section of the railway because: 1️⃣ Compared to the scenery along the way, the three train stations and nearby attractions are more interesting. However, the train stops for a short time and doesn't allow for walking further away; when a group of tourists arrives, it's quite crowded, making it difficult to take photos at the train station. 2️⃣ The pastoral scenery along the way is not very impressive. 3️⃣ The ticket prices are relatively expensive. 🚇 Jianshui Narrow Gauge Train Timetable 101 (morning) /103 (afternoon) 9:00-10:30 /14:30-16:00 Lin'an-Shuanglong Bridge (30 minutes)-Xianghui Bridge (20 minutes)-Tuanshan 13:00-13:40 /17:50-18:30 Tuanshan-Lin'an (non-stop in between) Tickets Hard seat 120 yuan (peak season) /100 yuan (off-peak) Soft seat 150 yuan (peak season) /120 yuan (off-peak) 🌼 Just plan your visit according to the train timetable, and you can have a pleasant trip! 🚇 Photo and sightseeing tips Taking photos inside the train carriage: The best time is before departure and after arrival at Lin'an Station, and at noon at Tuanshan Station. You can enter the carriage without a ticket to take photos in an unoccupied area, but you must leave before the train departs. Taking photos at the train station: As long as it's not during the train's stop, there are very few visitors, and you can enter the platform without buying a ticket. 1️⃣ Lin'an Station The renovated train station combines Chinese and Western architecture and is also a railway museum, with a train clock, old station building, and locomotive, making it a great place for photos. I think it's the best platform for taking photos of the tracks. There's a delicious restaurant inside the station, a Chinese-style beverage shop at the entrance, and a cultural and creative shop is also here. Nearby is the Jianshui Ancient Town. 2️⃣ Shuanglong Bridge Station The main attraction is the Seventeen-Arch Bridge, similar to the one in the Summer Palace: Shuanglong Bridge. 3️⃣ Xianghui Bridge Station My favorite train station, which retains its appearance from a century ago, with mottled walls that bear the marks of time. The wooden stairs, doors, windows, and parquet floors inside the station are very photogenic. There's a beverage shop and tea room in the backyard, perfect for taking photos. Not far away is Jianshui's only covered bridge: Xianghui Bridge. 4️⃣ Tuanshan Station The exterior colonnade of Tuanshan Station is very distinctive, and there's a coffee shop inside, but it seems to only operate during the train's stop. Be sure to visit the nearby Tuanshan Village, a Han Chinese tribe in Yunnan that has been around for over 600 years.