Jianshui, an ancient frontier city

Yunnan Jianshui | A historic ancient city forgotten on the frontier 🏯Jianshui was built as a city by the Nanzhao regime during the Tang Dynasty. It is a historic city on the frontier of Yunnan. Compared to other popular tourist spots, it is quite niche with a strong sense of history and the atmosphere of daily life. There aren't too many tourists, and the weather is also quite suitable and comfortable. 1️⃣ Jianshui Little Train - With a track gauge of one meter, it is known as the 'meter-gauge'. A train ticket costs 95, but personally, I don't think it's necessary. Just taking photos is good enough, and it's quite photogenic. Around 6:30 pm at Lin'an Station, you can even catch the train arriving, which is just a bit outside the ancient city and very close to the city gate. That's a great time for photos. 2️⃣ Jianshui Ancient City - Founded during the Yuan Dynasty and renovated during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it is an ancient city from the Ming and Qing periods. Inside the city, there are mostly shops for dining and shopping. Jianshui barbecue, Jianshui tofu, and Jianshui grass sprout rice noodles are all considered to be unparalleled in Yunnan. 3️⃣ Chaoyang Tower - Built during the Ming Dynasty, it is a central landmark that you won't miss when visiting Jianshui. It is the only city tower in Jianshui that has been well-preserved. It was completed earlier than the Tiananmen and has a similar architectural style, hence it is known as the 'Little Tiananmen'. It stands in contrast to the surrounding low houses, and the tower indeed has an extraordinary presence. The words 'Dominating the Southeast' on the city gate seem to speak of Jianshui's status. Here you can climb the tower to overlook the entire ancient town, and it's also a good spot for photos. 4️⃣ Confucian Temple - Highly recommended for those who love history and culture! It is the second-largest temple complex in the country after the Confucian Temples in Qufu and Beijing. Among them, the Hall of the Great Teachers houses eight plaques from the Qing Dynasty emperors, with inscriptions such as 'Teacher for All Ages' by Kangxi, 'Unparalleled in Educating the People' by Yongzheng, 'Participating with Heaven and Earth' by Qianlong, and others. 5️⃣ Seventeen-Arch Bridge - Also known as 'Shuanglong Bridge', it is one of the oldest and most well-preserved ancient bridges in Yunnan Province. It has an important place in the history of bridge construction in China. The bridge spans the Tacheng River with seventeen stone arches, and its construction is grand and spectacular. The bluestone slabs on the bridge are laid so smoothly that they are like a mirror, and the beautiful light and shadows cast on the bridge by the setting sun through the bridge arches are a sight to behold. 6️⃣ Ant Workshop - Designed by the same designer behind the Maitreya East Wind Charm, inspired by ant nests, it is composed of colorful hollow bricks forming a group of dopamine buildings that are very photogenic on a sunny day. 7️⃣ Big Slab Well - A well with a lot of history, and it's very big! Many locals still fetch water here, which is quite interesting. Next to it, there's a shop making Jianshui tofu where you can buy soy milk and tofu pudding, which I personally think tastes pretty good! ➡️ As for the current popular tourist spots, I prefer these niche places because only then can I truly calm down and thoroughly appreciate the history, culture, and local customs.