Trip Moments Recommendations
#Jianshui Ancient City Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Explore the off-the-beaten-path destination of Jianshui in Yunnan
Avoid the crowds | Explore the lesser-known gem of Jianshui in Yunnan|||🌄 Are you still struggling with where to go for fun? If you want to avoid the crowds and find a quiet place, don't just focus on Dali and Lijiang. Jianshui in Yunnan is a great choice.
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🏞 Attractions:
1️⃣ Jianshui Ancient Town. The ancient town boasts a long history and culture with a rich cultural heritage, including the Chaoyang Tower, Zhu Family Garden, Confucian Temple, Lin'an Government Office, and the Big Well. Chaoyang Tower is an ancient city wall that predates even the Tiananmen, and it has stood firm through many battles; Zhu Family Garden is a building from the Ming and Qing dynasties, and the Big Well offers a glimpse into the local lifestyle of Jianshui.
2️⃣ Jianshui Little Train. Whether to take it depends on personal preference. The train stations it stops at are very distinctive and worth visiting. There are also ways to enjoy the area without taking the little train, see the guide below👇
3️⃣ Tuanshan Folk Houses. Well-preserved traditional buildings and beautiful natural scenery, with winding flagstone paths flanked by quaint houses and shady courtyards, evoke a sense of peacefulness through the ages.
4️⃣ Ant Workshop. An art piece transformed from an abandoned brickyard, very photogenic, suitable for taking pictures.
5️⃣ Shuanglong Bridge. The 360-degree unobstructed Shuanglong Bridge, also known as the Seventeen-Arch Bridge, has withstood two hundred years of wind and rain and still retains its original appearance, making it a great spot to watch the sunset.
🍜 Cuisine: Jianshui tofu, grass sprout rice noodles, steam pot chicken, papaya water.
🏨 Accommodation options: You can stay inside or around the ancient town. Jianshui is not big, and taxi fares usually start at the base price. I stayed at the Qianyu Inn next to the ancient town, which is very convenient to get to the ancient town, and the landlady will call you home every night to eat grilled tofu.
🚗 Transportation
✈ Fly to Kunming, then take a high-speed train from Kunming to Jianshui.
It's only a 2-hour drive from Kunming to Jianshui, and you can also drive or take a taxi.
👀 Travel TIPS:
✅ When you first arrive in Jianshui, you can spend a day wandering around the ancient town and the surrounding alleys. Jianshui is known as a 'living ancient town' not only because of the large number of well-preserved ancient buildings but more importantly, because the local lifestyle is well preserved, unlike some ancient towns that are left with nothing but a shell.
✅ The Ant Workshop is very photogenic, but be sure to choose a sunny day🌞 to go, otherwise, it's quite ordinary. Next to the Ant Workshop is the Wulong Lake Park, which can be visited together, and Jianshui's 'Little California' is located within this park.
✅ Ways to enjoy the area without taking the little train. If you don't want to take the little train but still want to visit each station, you can choose to take a taxi🚗 or a scooter🛵. Most people choose to visit Lin'an Station - Xianghui Bridge Station - Tuanshan Station, and then go to Shuanglong Bridge to watch the sunset🌅. I took a taxi to visit the three stations and Tuanshan Folk Houses first, then took the No. 19 tourist bus🚌 to Shuanglong Bridge to enjoy the sunset. It's very convenient to get a taxi around Shuanglong Bridge.
brianna.likes.adrenal.cortex Jianshui, Yunnan, this small town, I just want to say 【Too Late to Meet】
Yunnan really has too many ancient towns and stories,
Jianshui is one of them, low-key yet profound.
You can describe it with the phrase "Too Late to Meet".
Both quaint and modern,
from the Daban Well outside the west gate of the ancient town, where residents fetch water every day, to the French-style narrow-gauge train that passes through the countryside,
from the Jianshui tofu roasted on charcoal in every household, to the bizarre and dopamine-rich colors of the Ant Workshop,
Jianshui is really suitable for slow travel experiences.
Go before it becomes too famous!
【Recommended Places】
1⃣️ Jianshui Ancient Town
This is an ancient town that is slower than Dali and more quaint than Lijiang. It is the 'living' small town in our hearts, with over a dozen ancient wells still in use, Jianshui tofu eaten by every household, the cigarette box dance in the square at night, ancient buildings (Zhu Family Garden, Confucian Temple, Chaoyang Tower), and a large number of indigenous people still living here, all reasons why we love this place.
2⃣️ Jianshui Little Train
Ride the retro yellow train from the city to the countryside, with the spring breeze blowing by your ears, check in at different retro stations (Xianhui Bridge Station, Shuanglong Bridge Station, Tuanshan Station), and see the trendy market at Xianhui Bridge and the sunset at Shuanglong Bridge.
Along the way, there are baskets of strawberries sold by villagers, delicious and cheap.
You can also rent a bicycle and ride along the train's route, starting from the south gate of the ancient town, heading west along the 'Baituan Highway' all the way to 'Tuanshan Folk Houses'.
3⃣️ Shuanglong Bridge
Also known as the Seventeen-Arch Ancient Bridge, listed among China's top ten ancient bridges, the ancient bridge is beautiful, and the sunset is even more stunning, with local specialty stalls all around the bridge.
4⃣️ Xianhui Bridge Station
French architectural style, there is a small market next to the station, and a retro literary cafe. Order a cup of coffee here, and time should be wasted in such a place.
5⃣️ Ant Workshop
This is a fairy-tale world created with colorful brick walls, great for taking photos. If you don't like taking photos, you can skip it (if you order coffee, you can enter without buying a ticket, saving 40 haha).
🚗【Transportation】2.5h drive from Kunming, or 2h by high-speed train from Kunming to Jianshui.
🍜【Cuisine】Jianshui tofu, grass sprout rice noodles, Jianshui barbecue, steam pot chicken, papaya water.
Recommended restaurants: Tuwafang, Weidao Lin'an, Banjing Tofu Workshop, Yao's Barbecue, Li Hua Jian.
🏠【Accommodation】: Jianshui Tingziyun Hotel
A genuine hundred-year-old courtyard, quaint and quiet, very suitable for friends or family to rent a small courtyard for a trip,
Have afternoon tea and chat in the courtyard, the hotel will also provide ancient well water, which is perfect for brewing tea, located within the ancient town, very convenient location.
The temperature during the Spring Festival is very comfortable, and compared to other popular cities in Yunnan, it will not be too crowded, highly recommended to come here this Spring Festival to experience spring in advance!
China's last living ancient city is more down-to-earth than Lijiang and has lower prices than Dali
It has a history of over a thousand years and was once the absolute center of southern Yunnan. In the Ming Dynasty's 'Dian Lue', there was a record of 'Gold in Lin'an, Silver in Dali', where 'Lin'an' was its old name, indicating its wealth and prosperity at the time;
It escaped the massive demolitions of the last century's construction boom. To this day, the original inhabitants still live in the city, leading lives not much different from their ancestors, and thus, it is known as 'China's last living ancient city'.
This ancient city,
is the Jianshui Ancient City, which exudes a sense of relaxation from the inside out.
Yunnan-Kunming ‖ May Day Tour filled with surprises and wonderful strategies
Puzhehei, a secret journey to the southeast of Dian✨
💫In the southeast of Dian, there is a mysterious and beautiful land, far from the hustle and bustle, full of poetry. Here you can find the picturesque scenery of Puzhehei, the rippling blue waves of Fuxian Lake, the ancient charm of Jianshui Ancient Town, and the artistic allure of Mile Dongfengyun🎨.
🌸Come to Puzhehei, feel the romance of the blooming peach blossoms, climb Qinglong Mountain, and overlook the magnificent scenery🌄.
🌸At Fuxian Lake, soar with the seagulls in the blue sky, and enjoy the tranquility and beauty🕊️.
🌸Step into Mile Dongfengyun, immerse yourself in the atmosphere of art, and leave unique memories📸.
🌸Stroll through Jianshui Ancient Town, touch the traces of history, and feel the sediment of time🏯.
📍【Jianshui Ancient Town】
Ancient streets and alleys🛤️ | Ancient buildings🏯 | Cultural heritage🎞️ showcasing its unique charm.
📍【Fuxian Lake】
The lake water is clear to the bottom, and the surrounding scenery is stunningly beautiful🌊.
📍【Puzhehei, the Human's Fairyland】
The poetic and picturesque scenery makes one linger and forget to return🌸.
✅This is a journey full of surprises and beauty, taking you to appreciate the endless charm of the southeast of Dian💖.
🚗Travel Itinerary
🔆D1: Starting point - Kunming
🔆D2: Kunming - Fuxian Lake - Jianshui Ancient Town
🔆D3: Jianshui Ancient Town - Puzhehei
🔆D4: Puzhehei - Mile
🔆D5: Mile - Kunming
🔆D6: End of the journey, return trip🛫.
Come and start your secret journey to the southeast of Dian🚗! You will gain unforgettable memories🌈!
The Yunnan Governor's Political Academy Examination Sheds are located in the middle section of the ancient city of Jianshui
They served as the examination venue for ancient scholars' imperial examinations. The original site from the Ming dynasty was in the southeastern corner of the city, but in the 30th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing dynasty (1693), it was moved to its current location. It was the venue where the Yunnan Governor's Political Academy regularly held the court examinations. Candidates came from Lin'an, Yuanjiang, Kaihua (now Wenshan Prefecture), and Puer (now Simao City's four prefectures), and only those who passed could go to the provincial capital to participate in the provincial examinations. The examination sheds are arranged in a row, with a central axis strictly symmetrical, forming a four-courtyard layout, solemn and respectful, giving a sense of progressive layers. The last courtyard is the office of the Political Academy. The court examination at the Jianshui Political Academy was a preliminary examination before the imperial examination. Those who were admitted by the court examination could receive generous treatment and from then on enter the path of the national imperial examination selection of scholars. After passing the provincial examination to become a successful candidate, and then passing the metropolitan and palace examinations to become an advanced scholar, one could be appointed as an official, realizing the dream of 'being a country lad in the morning and ascending to the emperor's hall by evening.' Visiting here allows one to understand the ancient imperial examination system and feel the atmosphere of the ancient imperial examinations, making it a good place to learn history and understand principles.
Compared to Dali, I have a deeper affection for this severely underrated small city in Yunnan
Compared to popular destinations, I prefer distinctive and less-known places.
Yunnan has a city with profound cultural heritage—Honghe Jianshui🏯
Here, not only can you find a massive ancient city, numerous ancient buildings, and many ancient bridges, but also spectacular karst caves, the small trains of the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, and a rich array of cultural and natural landscapes, along with characteristic barbecue and reasonable prices🎉
After visiting enough internet-famous spots, a place with a slow pace, full of cultural heritage and the atmosphere of daily life is worth visiting‼️
Take a few days to organize a good travel plan and consider saving it❗
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🚌How to get there
🚗High-speed train:
There are bullet trains from Kunming to Jianshui, 2H
🚗Self-driving:
The highway is also very convenient, only 2.5H drive from Kunming.
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🗺Travel Guide
𝐃𝐚𝐲𝟏: Kunming➠Jianshui Ancient City, Confucian Temple➠Zhilin Temple➠Zhu Family Garden➠Chaoyang Tower➠Ancient Wells Group, etc.➠Xiaogui Lake
𝐃𝐚𝐲𝟐: Lin'an Train Station➠Shuanglong Bridge➠Xianghuiqiao Station➠Tuanshan Village➠Swallow Cave➠Return trip
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✅✅✅Recommended Visits
📌Confucian Temple
Built during the Yuan Dynasty, it is grand in scale and well-preserved. It is the third-largest Confucian temple in the country.
Ticket: 38
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📌Zhilin Zen Temple
Built in 1295, it has been around for more than 700 years and is a rare well-preserved ancient wooden structure from the Yuan Dynasty. It also houses two Ming Dynasty Buddhist fine-line murals.
Ticket: Free
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📌Zhu Family Garden
Known as the Grand View Garden of the southwestern frontier, the layout of the houses is orderly, and the courtyards are layered, forming a maze-like architectural complex. The garden design is also very impressive.
Ticket: 35
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📌Ancient Wells Group
Jianshui has a large number of ancient wells, some located in busy markets, some hidden in private houses, in various shapes, and they are still used by locals for daily water fetching.
Ticket: Free
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📌Chaoyang Tower
A landmark of Jianshui, built during the Ming Dynasty. Not only is it grand in scale, but the dougong brackets and plaques on the city tower are also very interesting, especially the night view.
Ticket: Free
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📌Xiaogui Lake
A small lake next to the ancient city, surrounded by various teahouses and bars, full of the atmosphere of daily life.
Ticket: Free
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📌Lin'an Train Station
An ancient train station on the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, both the exterior and interior have retained the style of the Republic of China, very picturesque. You can also take the meter-gauge train to visit attractions such as Shuanglong Bridge and Tuanshan Village.
Ticket: Free
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📌Shuanglong Bridge
A spectacular seventeen-arch ancient bridge, with smooth bluestone slabs and exquisitely designed pavilions, it is even more beautiful at sunset.
Ticket: Free
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📌Xianghuiqiao Station
An even more niche ancient train station, with mottled French-style station buildings and swaying plane trees, it feels like being transported to Europe in a second.
Ticket: Free
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📌Tuanshan Village
A treasure trove of ancient residential buildings, dozens of well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasty houses, a visual feast.
Ticket: 35
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📌Swallow Cave
A spectacular karst cave, where you can also watch thrilling performances of harvesting swallow nests.
Ticket: 55
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🏠Accommodation | Jianshui Chuxi Homestay
✔Close to Lin'an Station, very convenient to walk to the ancient city
✔Clean and tidy, with many surrounding amenities
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🥙【Food Recommendations】
▪Jianshui Renjia: The environment is average, but the steam pot chicken is very fragrant
▪Yaojia Barbecue: A very characteristic Jianshui barbecue
▪Xianghuiqiao Station Restaurant: A restaurant built inside an ancient train station, with great scenery and atmosphere
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𝐓𝐢𝐩𝐬
🔸If you have enough time, you can combine trips to Mengzi and Shiping for a visit
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.
Jianshui in Yunnan, an underrated niche spot for family outings
The May Day holiday is approaching, and I want to share a hidden gem in Yunnan that I really like 👉 Jianshui
During the Spring Festival, I traveled to Yunnan. Wanting to avoid the crowds, I had a great time with my child in this small town rich in cultural history.
For a three-day, two-night trip, the cost per person was less than 800 RMB, and this is how I planned it
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📒Itinerary
Day1🚄Kunming to Jianshui, 2H, stay in Jianshui
Visit Jianshui Ancient Town in the afternoon, enjoy Jianshui barbecue at night
Day2 Morning grass sprout rice noodles, Ant Workshop, afternoon ride on the century-old rice rail train, Tuanshan residences
Day3 Visit Zhu Family Garden, eat Jianshui grilled tofu, return to Kunming from Jianshui at night
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1️⃣Jianshui Grilled Tofu
I was very interested in Jianshui's grilled tofu after watching a food show. There are many tofu shops at the west gate of the ancient town. Sitting around the grill with the ladies and eating while they grill is a very special experience.
2️⃣Zhu Family Garden
Jianshui Ancient Town has four gates, and the Chaoyang Gate looks very beautiful when lit up at night. The architecture of the ancient town is very distinctive, and Zhu Family Garden is well worth a visit. 🎫Ticket price is 35 RMB, and it's very suitable for wearing traditional costumes, but it's best to avoid the crowded times.
3️⃣Century-old Rice Rail Train
I really wanted to give my child this experience before coming to Jianshui. During peak season, it's necessary to book tickets in advance.
The train runs twice a day from 9:00-13:40 and 14:00-18:30. Hard seat costs 100 RMB, soft seat 120 RMB. Personally, I feel the hard seat is more retro and suitable for taking photos.
🚂The train passes through Shuanglong Bridge - Xianghui Bridge Station - Tuanshan residences
The train stops at each place to let tourists take photos, with a longer stop at the last station. You can choose to visit Tuanshan residences, 🎫ticket price 30 RMB
4️⃣Ant Workshop
🎫50 RMB, includes 30 pottery coins, which can be used to buy things
The architecture here is great for taking photos, and the cave café is very interesting
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About the Food
Jianshui is really, really delicious~
Jianshui grilled tofu, Jianshui barbecue, and rice noodles are all amazing
Zengji Banjing Tofu, Huihui Guoqiao Garden, Lei Lao Liu Guoqiao Garden Rice Noodles, Jianshui Chicken Foot King are a few of my favorites
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Accommodation
Hotel prices range from 150-500 RMB. I recommend staying near the ancient town for more convenient dining and travel
Free Travel in Eastern Yunnan and Guangxi (14) / The First Landmark of Jianshui / Chaoyang Tower, the Premier Building of the Dian Prefecture
📍 Jianshui is a national historical and cultural city, and Chaoyang Tower is the foremost historical landmark building of the ancient city, known as the 'Mini Tiananmen'. Climbing the city tower, one can overlook the lively life of Jianshui people full of the smoke of everyday life.
📍 On the east side of Chaoyang Tower is the giant plaque 'Xiong Zhen Dong Nan' written by Tu Rizhuo, a calligrapher from the Qing Dynasty hailing from Shiping, depicted in picture 2. It is one of the four famous Qing Dynasty plaques in Yunnan and the only one that has survived. Each character is nearly 2 meters in size, with structure and brushwork that are unparalleled in the world. On the west side hangs a replica of the Tang Dynasty calligraphy master Zhang Xu's cursive script plaque 'Fei Xia Liu Yun', shown in picture 4.
📍 Chaoyang Tower was built in the 22nd year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty, 28 years earlier than Tiananmen. Stretching nearly a hundred meters from south to north, with upturned eaves, painted beams and carved rafters, towering and majestic, it is reputed as 'Dominating eight hundred li of the southern border, rightfully called the premier building of the Dian Prefecture'. The Ming Dynasty bell on the tower, over 2 meters tall and weighing 1700 kilograms, depicted in picture 10, can be heard from miles away when struck. Built on a high platform, Chaoyang Tower has three stories, with a dignified and domineering appearance, a traditional architectural structure without nails or rivets. It has withstood countless storms and several major earthquakes, yet stands firm, a testament to the glorious history of ancient Jianshui.
📍 To ascend the tower, one must purchase a separate ticket for 15 yuan per person. Before entering the ancient city, don't miss the opportunity to check in at the tower.
What else is there in Jianshui besides tofu?
"The land of culture and literature in southern Yunnan"—Jianshui. The star⭐️ journey begins with a high-speed train🚄 ride from Gejiu to Jianshui (Gejiu is my favorite place on the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway line, which I will write about later).
First, let's take a look at Jianshui. There are quite a few iconic attractions: Zhu Family Garden, Confucius Temple, Purple Pottery Street, Chaoyang Tower, and Pupu Spring.
Pupu Spring, also known as Daban Well, is a famous ancient well within the old city of Jianshui. Located outside the west gate of the old city, it was built in the early years of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty and has a long history and rich cultural connotations. The name of Pupu Spring comes from the 'Zhong Yong' in the Confucian classics, which means 'broad and profound, and the water flows out in time,' symbolizing that the water source is extensive, deep, and never-ending.
Due to the excellent water quality, locals often drink this water, and the well is always bustling. Many households and teahouses drink only water from Daban Well, believing it to be sweet and smooth, with a unique flavor. People come to fetch water here every day, and some even carry water from Daban Well to sell on the streets, creating a unique business model.
Jianshui tofu, made with water from this well, is delicious and an indispensable part of the old city of Jianshui.
🚉Transportation tips:
High-speed train🚄 Mengzi-Jianshui
It is about 7 kilometers from Jianshui Station to the old city of Jianshui. You can take the 919 bus next to the high-speed train station for about 35 minutes, or a Didi ride is also very convenient, costing around 12 yuan.
The scenic spots are all within the old city, which is about a 10-minute walk, not far apart, within 2 kilometers.
🍽【Food Guide】
Vietnamese rolls: Opposite to Xiangmanlou on Academy Street
Fei Cui Coffee: Shop No. 49 on Academy Street
The ancient charm still lingers in the He Courtyard
Within the thousand-year-old Jianshui Ancient Town, besides the well-known and majestic Wen Temple, the Shuanglong Seventeen-Arch Bridge, Chaoyang Tower, and the exemplary garden - Zhu Family Garden, there is also a free, thickly ancient-styled He Courtyard right by the side of Guangci Lake!
Little bridges over flowing water, pavilions and towers, artificial hills and water management, groups of koi fish swimming freely in the green ponds, the quiet and elegant environment, the exquisite patterns and shapes on the doors, windows, and columns, all showcase the cultural charm of Chinese architecture!
The He Courtyard, another classic architectural gem in Jianshui Ancient Town with rich cultural connotations, is very much worth visiting!
Jianshui Little Train
🌟 Highlights:
The Jianshui Little Train runs on an old-fashioned track, with each station along the way having its own unique scenery. Tickets are divided into return and round-trip, with the round-trip being more economical. The entire journey takes 4 hours, departing at 2:30 pm and ending at 6:30 pm. Due to time constraints with the child, my mother took the child on a one-way trip, and I drove to the final station, Tuanshan Station, to pick them up, arriving at around 4 pm. My mother mentioned that each station was very distinctive,
👍 Most recommended:
Definitely buy a soft seat, which is a sofa seat. It doesn't cost much more, but there will be far fewer passengers in the carriage compared to the hard seats.
Kunming, Jianshui, Mengzi, Mile, a train spring tour guide to four lesser-known cities in Yunnan
"Yunnan's eighteen oddities, do trains run slower than cars?" nono, now train travel in Yunnan is as convenient as it gets! Join me, Yaya, this spring on a train journey through the beautiful Yunnan, checking in at four cities in four days.
Day one Kunming city walk
Touch the historical and warm buildings of Yunnan
In the morning, encounter the beauty of early spring at Cuihu (Green Lake) with birds singing and seagulls flying overhead, then visit the Yunnan Military Academy across the street to feel the charm of a century-old military school, and explore the mysterious mansion of Lu Han, who once initiated the Yunnan uprising. In the afternoon, head to Kunming's old street to check in at Fuzhao Tower, and don't miss the most beautiful corner, the Moon-Embracing Tower.
tips It is recommended to experience authentic Yunnan cuisine at the Southwest United University themed restaurant next to Fuzhao Tower, and consider staying at the Moon-Embracing Tower Hotel, which is very sentimental.
Day two Jianshui Kunming-Jianshui by train 2 hours
A city with picturesque landscapes, Jianshui with a thousand years of culture
Jianshui Ancient Town: Visit the Chaoyang Tower that has witnessed 600 years of time, walk through the Li Men Yi Lu (Ceremonial Gate and Righteous Path) in the Jianshui Confucian Temple, which is second only to the Confucian Temple in Shandong, stroll through the exquisite Zhu Family Garden, known as the Grand View Garden of the Southwest frontier, and search for ancient wells hidden in the alleys of the old town... Each one bears witness to the living ancient city of Jianshui
Jianshui Ancient Town Mini Train: There is also one of the only remaining French-style meter-gauge mini trains in the country, with wooden carriages, the temperature and sentiment of an old era, slowly taking you to unknown sceneries station by station.
Jianshui Cuisine: Said to be the pinnacle of the Yunnan food pyramid, such as Jianshui tofu made with well water from Dabanjing, the must-try steam pot chicken feast, and the casual strolling and eating on Jianshui Purple Pottery Street, with freshly baked food that is full of the taste of life.
tips
The mini train takes 4 hours for the whole journey, with a round-trip ticket costing 100, passing by Shuanglong Bridge, Xianghui Bridge, and Tuanshan folk residences, all worth getting off to visit.
Day three Mengzi Jianshui-Mengzi by train 1 hour
In the morning in Mengzi, you must have a bowl of cross-bridge rice noodles from its place of origin, recommended at the Fire Burning House.
In the morning, visit the Bise Village Station, a filming location for the movie 'Youth', a small Paris brought by train, full of French charm. Be sure to dress up in Republic of China school uniforms or cheongsams for photos (renting a set for 10 yuan is too cheap).
In the afternoon, wander around the old site of the Southwest Associated University in Mengzi, as well as the nearby Nanhu Park and the most beautiful Yunnan bookstore, the Southwest Associated University Pioneer Bookstore. After dinner, take a night boat tour on Nanhu Lake in a covered boat, which is very comfortable.
Day four Mile Mengzi-Mile by train 1 hour
"This is a city whose name is full of temptation."
Mile Dongfengyun Art Town: A magical city in the East is built with red bricks, with castles from an ancient mystery appearing like a kaleidoscope inside, the illusion as if from the future, and the design lines of hotels and art centers are very beautiful, making for great photo opportunities.
Mile Taiping Lake Forest Park: It's like falling into another dream.
The flower sea here is so vast, it connects into a piece like a secret garden out of a Monet painting, and the Cactus Park is like traveling to Morocco.
The four-day train journey is wonderfully comfortable, and perhaps only by experiencing it yourself will you understand the affection Yunnan people have for these small towns, wanting to privately own the feelings of each.
Self-driving tour in Southeast Yunnan, my 2 days and 2 nights itinerary and experience in Jianshui
After leaving Yuanyang, the next stop on my self-driving tour of Southeast Yunnan was Jianshui. I set off from the Yuanyang terraces in the morning, covering a distance of 130 kilometers. As a long stretch of the journey was through mountain roads, it took me 2 and a half hours to reach Jianshui. Since self-driving is convenient, I chose a hotel near the high-speed train station and gave up on the homestays in the ancient city. I settled into the hotel first, then drove to Jianshui Ancient Town.
I navigated to Chaoyang Tower and found an underground parking lot nearby to park. Walking on the streets of Jianshui, I felt as if I had traveled back in time, to the slow-paced days of 10 or 20 years ago. Under the blue sky and white clouds, Chaoyang Tower was majestic, and it really gave off a bit of a mini Tiananmen vibe.
After passing through the tree-lined Lin'an Road, I chose Lin'an Restaurant for lunch. It still retains memories from decades ago, where you first buy a ticket at the window and then take the ticket to collect your meal. The steam pot chicken was different from what I imagined, a bit greasy and salty. The roasted buns were also a bit too rich for my taste, which might have been related to my cold affecting my appetite.
After lunch, I went to Zhu's Garden, with an admission fee of 35 yuan. Although I've visited many unique gardens in various places, I was still amazed by the clever layout and the exquisite and lavish decorations of Zhu's Garden, which is definitely worth a visit. Strolling through Jianshui Ancient Town, I was attracted by the unique charm and slow pace of Jianshui, so I decisively changed my itinerary from 2 days and 1 night to 2 days and 2 nights.
The next morning, I set out for my first stop, Beishan Taozhuang, with an admission fee of 30 yuan. The landscape made up of various ceramic products was well-arranged and photogenic, making it worth a visit.
Then I experienced the Jianshui narrow-gauge train. For the sake of time and convenience for taking photos, we chose to self-drive along the train line. First, we went to the farthest Tuanshan Station, then to Xianghui Bridge Station. We spent an afternoon in the station restaurant, basking in the sun and looking out at the rice fields. Later, we went to see the Shuanglong Bridge. Since it was Saturday, it was very crowded and traffic was heavy, so we left before sunset. Back at the west gate of the ancient town, we first visited the miraculous Daban Well, where many people came to draw water from a pool of azure well water. You can try the 5 yuan self-service tofu pudding and soy milk across from the well.
There weren't many tourists in the west gate ancient town. The sunlight shone on the shiny stone roads, and people sat leisurely in the small shops along the street, eating grilled tofu. The griller was unhurried, and the eaters were relaxed. Jianshui, in my heart, is just like this grilled tofu, soft times wrapped in the trials of the years.
Every weekend, at 8:30 pm, there is a light show at Chaoyang Tower that can be seen from the roadside. It lasts for 15 minutes and is really beautiful, lifelike and impressive. After the light show, I strolled around the streets. The temperature was neither cold nor hot, and people were happily dancing in the square. I began to understand why many people choose to travel and live in Jianshui.
On the third day, I packed up my luggage. Before leaving Jianshui, I visited the last attraction, Yigongfang. The admission fee was 40 yuan, and it came with a 10 yuan voucher for consumption. Yigongfang is not very big, the main attraction is the colorful brick maze near the parking lot, which is suitable for taking photos. After snapping away, I left in less than an hour, and our next stop was Fuxian Lake.
I am Yilan, a photographer who loves to travel. Join me to explore new and beautiful places to have fun and see.❤
Jianshui | You might have a better time without taking the small train!!!
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Two hours away from Kunming, it's really comfortable to stroll and eat in Jianshui on the weekend. If you're not in a hurry to catch the small train, then this guide is very suitable for you.
My Special Forces One-Day Route:
Lin'an Station ➠ Chaoyang Tower ➠ Stroll and eat in Jianshui Ancient Town ➠ Jianshui Confucian Temple ➠ Zhu Family Garden ➠ Ant Workshop ➠ Seventeen-Arch Bridge
👉【Tour Guide】
The 1️⃣st stop: Lin'an Station
The starting station of the Jianshui small train, both the exterior and interior have maintained the style of the Republic of China. Even if you don't get a train ticket, you can still take photos here! Especially photogenic, you can also encounter the train at 18:30 in the afternoon.
The 2️⃣nd stop: Chaoyang Tower
It costs 10 yuan to climb the tower. This is a landmark building of Jianshui, built during the Ming Dynasty. It is said to have the same structure as the Tiananmen but was built 25 years earlier. Not only is it grand in scale, but the dougong brackets and plaques on the city tower are also very interesting.
📌tips:
The best light for climbing the tower is at sunset/sunrise, and you can also overlook the panoramic view of the ancient town.
At 20:00 in the evening, there will be a projection show on the city tower, which you can go and watch.
The 3️⃣rd stop: Jianshui Ancient Town
An ancient town left from the Ming and Qing dynasties, it is also the only well-preserved city tower in Jianshui. There are many small shops worth exploring in the town, and you can try Jianshui barbecue, Jianshui tofu, Jianshui grass sprout rice noodles, steam pot chicken, etc.
✅Recommended restaurants in the ancient town:
▫️Papaya Old Shop (A must-visit beverage shop in Jianshui Ancient Town, highly recommend the yogurt purple rice drink and papaya water)
▫️Xiang Man Lou (Recommended for stir-fried pot rice noodles, generous portions and delicious, with a unique environment)
▫️San Yan Jing Snacks (Recommended small pot rice noodles, braised chicken wings, braised chicken feet, roasted tofu)
▫️Qi Wei Xuan (Recommended steam pot chicken, wild mushroom hot pot, seasonal wild vegetables)
▫️Zi Xing Roast Duck Cold Shop (Roast duck, fried meat, local specialties of Jianshui)
The 4️⃣th stop: Jianshui Confucian Temple
If you like history and culture, you must come here to see. It is the second largest Confucian temple in the country. As the cultural center of Jianshui Ancient Town, you can feel the solemnity and connotation of traditional culture.
The 5️⃣th stop: Zhu Family Garden
The ticket is 35 yuan, known as the "Grand View Garden of the Southwest Frontier". The layout of the houses is orderly, and the courtyards are layered, forming a maze-like architectural complex. The garden design is also very outstanding.
The 6️⃣th stop: Ant Workshop
The ticket is 30 yuan, a rising internet-famous spot in Jianshui, and together with Maitreya Dongfeng Yun, it was created by Luo Xu. It is known as "Yunnan's Morocco", with dopamine colors + geometric elements of architectural style, very suitable for taking photos and checking in.
The 7️⃣th stop: Seventeen-Arch Bridge
A symbolic spot of Jianshui, with a history of over 200 years. You can take the No. 19 tourist line from the west gate of the ancient town to get there. The evening is very suitable for taking sunset photos, a must-visit place for photographers.
🌟【Notice】
▫️Transportation: It takes about 2h by high-speed train from Kunming. Many other surrounding cities do not have direct access and can only transfer through Kunming. It is more convenient to drive by yourself.
▫️Accommodation: It is recommended to stay near Jianshui Ancient Town, where transportation is convenient, food is concentrated, and there are also youth hostels to choose from.
Jianshui Ancient Town
Jianshui Ancient Town is a small frontier town with a history of 1200 years, located 220 kilometers south of Kunming, Yunnan. It was formerly known as Butou, also called Badian. The county has nearly a hundred ancient temples, with more than 40 in the urban area alone. These treasures, weathered and mottled with age, have considerable historical and artistic value.
Zhu Family Garden
Zhu Family Garden, located in the middle section of Jianxin Street in the ancient city of Jianshui, Yunnan, was the residence and ancestral hall built by the Zhu Wei Qing brothers, who were gentry at the end of the Qing Dynasty, and is known as the 'Grand View Garden of the Southwest Frontier'.
The Zhu Family Garden covers an area of more than 20,000 square meters. The main building is laid out in a 'vertical four and horizontal three' pattern, which is a flexible combination of the traditional residential style of Jianshui, typically 'three rooms with six ears and a three-room hall, with one large courtyard and four small ones'. The layout of the houses is orderly, with courtyards layered upon each other, totaling 42 courtyards of various sizes. The entire group of buildings features steep ridges and flying eaves, carved beams and painted rafters, all exquisitely elegant. The arrangement of the courtyards and halls is reasonable, with a rich and endlessly varied spatial landscape, forming a 'maze-like' architectural complex.
In the ancient city of Jianshui, the best attraction in my personal opinion is the Zhu Family Garden
I love this treasure of a small city even more than Yunnan
The cultural and travel enthusiast prefers unique and distinctive destinations. Jianshui in Yunnan's Honghe Prefecture is such a city with profound cultural heritage. It boasts a grand ancient city, numerous ancient buildings and bridges, spectacular caves, and the cultural and natural landscape of the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway's small train. The characteristic barbecue and reasonable prices attract countless tourists. Such a slow-paced place, full of cultural atmosphere, is definitely worth a visit! A carefully organized guide is recommended for collection!
Travel Tips:
High-speed train: There is a direct high-speed train from Kunming to Jianshui, which only takes 2 hours.
Self-driving: The Jianshui expressway is convenient, and it takes about 2.5 hours to drive from Kunming.
Tourism Strategy:
Day1: Depart from Kunming, head to Jianshui Ancient City, visit the Confucian Temple, Zhilin Zen Temple, Zhu Family Garden, Chaoyang Tower, and the ancient well cluster, and finally stroll around Xiaogui Lake.
Day2: Visit Lin'an Railway Station, admire Shuanglong Bridge, Xianghui Bridge Station, then go to Tuanshan Village and Swallow Cave, and finally return.
Tour Recommendations:
Jianshui Confucian Temple: The Confucian Temple, which was built during the Yuan Dynasty, is grand and well-preserved. It is the third largest Confucian temple in the country, with an entrance fee of 38 yuan.
Zhilin Zen Temple: The main hall was built during the Yuan Dynasty and has a history of over 700 years. It is a rare ancient wooden structure from the Yuan Dynasty, with free admission.
Zhu Family Garden: Known as the Grand View Garden of the southwestern frontier, the houses are orderly and the garden design is outstanding, with an entrance fee of 35 yuan.
Ancient Well Cluster: There are many ancient wells in Jianshui, each with a different shape, still in use by locals today, with free admission.
Chaoyang Tower: A landmark of Jianshui, built during the Ming Dynasty, the city tower is magnificent, especially beautiful at night, with free admission.
Xiaogui Lake: A small lake next to the ancient city, with teahouses and bars along the lake, full of life, with free admission.
Lin'an Railway Station: An old railway station on the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, it retains the style of the Republic of China and offers rides on the narrow-gauge train to tour the surrounding attractions, with free admission.
Shuanglong Bridge: A seventeen-hole ancient bridge, beautifully shaped, especially beautiful at sunset, with free admission.
Xianghui Bridge Station: An even more niche old railway station with French architectural style and a unique atmosphere, with free admission.
Tuanshan Village: A treasure trove of Ming and Qing residential buildings, dozens of houses are well-preserved, a visual feast, with an entrance fee of 35 yuan.
Swallow Cave: A spectacular cave landscape, where you can watch the performance of harvesting swallow nests, with an entrance fee of 55 yuan.
Accommodation Recommendation: Jianshui Chuxi Homestay, located near Lin'an Station, is convenient for walking to the ancient city, with a clean and tidy environment and complete surrounding facilities.
Food Recommendations:
Jianshui Renjia: The aroma of the steam pot chicken is enticing and memorable.
Yaojia Barbecue: Special Jianshui barbecue, delicious and tempting.
Xianghui Bridge Station Restaurant: A restaurant inside the old railway station, with great scenery and atmosphere, offering a unique dining experience.
Jianshui Ancient Town
Jianshui City was originally a rammed earth city built during the Nanzhao period, and was expanded into a brick city in the 20th year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1387). When Li Dingguo captured Lin'an City, the towers of the south, north, and west were destroyed by war. They were repaired again in the fourth year of Kangxi, but later suffered further damage. Only the Dongmen Chaoyang Tower, despite having gone through numerous wars and earthquakes, still stands tall after nearly six hundred years. Jianshui County began to build temple schools during the Yuan Dynasty. During the Hongwu years of the Ming Dynasty, Lin'an Prefecture School was built, and during the Wanli period, Jianshui Zhou Confucian school was also established.
Yunnan Off-the-Beaten-Path Travel Route - The Hidden Gem City of Jianshui
Among the many popular travel destinations in Yunnan, Jianshui City in Honghe Prefecture is definitely considered off-the-beaten-path.
It takes about 2-3 hours to drive from Kunming to reach Jianshui. It is recommended to stay near the Jianshui Ancient Town
Cuisine: I've eaten at several small restaurants, including Li Hua Jian snacks, soy milk chicken, Xinfang Shijun, Fujian cuisine, Yao's barbecue, Huang's Vietnamese rolls, etc. Grass sprouts are a local specialty, and grass sprout rice noodles can be found everywhere; it's recommended to give them a try. As for Jianshui barbecue, there wasn't anything particularly amazing about the taste, perhaps I just didn't go to the right place?
Attractions: Ant Workshop, Wulong Lake Urban Park (these two places are very close to each other)
Jianshui Ancient Town, the small train, Shuanglong Bridge also known as the Seventeen-Arch Bridge, Zitao Street.
Tips: The streets of Jianshui Ancient Town are very narrow, so please be cautious if you're driving.
Although the Ant Workshop is not large, it's very photogenic, and you can also view art exhibitions and appreciate a rich collection of purple pottery; it's worth a visit!
The Republican-era style miniature train in Jianshui Ancient Town
Experiencing the Republican-era style narrow-gauge train is a must when visiting Jianshui Ancient Town. Countless travelers have already shared their experiences, so there is no need for me to elaborate further.
Riding the leisurely train reminded me of the 'three-and-a-half' green trains from my childhood in Shanxi, my hometown. The stations and attractions along the way are all noteworthy. Make sure to allocate more time for the visit to the Tuanshan residences; it will take you back to the uneven roads of your childhood hometown, evoking fleeting memories of youth!
Travel is a lifestyle, and attractions might be just the seasoning. If it can bring back the nostalgic thoughts of childhood, it is undoubtedly a form of happiness!
I love this underrated small Yunnan city more than Dali
Hello, I am a niche beauty excavator🍊Orange City
I have been to Yunnan many times, and every time I overlook the small city of Jianshui
Jianshui is a low-key city full of cultural and historical charm
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Local people fetch water from ancient wells and sit under ancient trees to chat every day
Everyone grills tofu and barbecue together, sharing the fun of everyday life
This place is away from the hustle and bustle, yet it has a strong historical and cultural atmosphere
It's suitable for a slow-paced stroll to feel the charm of life and the atmosphere of daily living.
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🚗【How to get there】
2h by high-speed train from Kunming, or 2.5h by self-driving from Kunming
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【3-day 2-night travel itinerary】
𝘿𝙖𝙮𝟭: Jianshui Ancient Town - Confucian Temple - Zhu Family Garden - Ancient Well
𝘿𝙖𝙮𝟮: Lin'an Station - Shuanglong Bridge - Xianghui Bridge Station - Tuanshan Station - Tuanshan Residence
𝘿𝙖𝙮𝟯: Ant Workshop - Wulong Lake - Return trip
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【Places not to be missed】
❶Jianshui Ancient Town
Different from most ancient towns, Jianshui Ancient Town is where locals live, without excessive commercialization. There are only small shops that locals also visit, and everyone sits around a table grilling tofu, chatting about the slow times
❷Jianshui Little Train
This century-old railway has been reopened, the meter-gauge train is very slow, and the scenery outside the window slowly enters the eyes~ You can also ride an electric scooter🛵, traveling along the Baituan Highway to visit each station
❸Shuanglong Bridge
Also known as the Seventeen-Arch Bridge, on a good day you can capture the same golden light piercing through as in the Summer Palace, and it's really pleasant to take a walk on Shuanglong Bridge in the evening
❺Xianghui Bridge Station
One of the stops on the small train route, with French-style architecture, you can enjoy a cup of coffee, and there are many local girls holding baskets of freshly picked strawberries, which are really sweet~
❹Tuanshan Ancient Village
Located next to Tuanshan Station, with yellow walls and gray tiles, the village is not very big. Villagers sit under ancient trees chatting about daily life, and children chase and play on the bluestone slabs
❺Ant Workshop
The colorful castle is very photogenic, but it's quite small. If you want to take photos, you can enter for free with a coffee or drink~
❻Wulong Lake
After visiting the Ant Workshop, you can stroll around the nearby Wulong Lake. It's really pleasant to take a walk here and lie on the grass
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🏡【Where to stay】
You can stay around the ancient town, which is convenient for visiting and has a strong local atmosphere, or you can choose to stay around Zitao Street, where there is a night market nearby
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🍧【What to eat】
Jianshui's specialty foods include Jianshui tofu, steam pot chicken, grass sprout rice noodles, Jianshui barbecue, and in the evening you can go to Zitao Street night market to find all the mentioned delicacies~
What is the charm of traveling through Yunnan by train?
Longing for a small-town lifestyle, this time I chose the Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, embarking on a new journey by train🚂, away from the crowds, to the charming small towns of southeastern Yunnan. I started a unique and colorful journey of 4 days and 3 nights.
Day1 Kunming: Arriving directly in Kunming, I experienced the leisurely life of the locals at 📍Cuihu Park in the spring city. Then I went to 📍the Military Academy to watch the hourly guard-changing ceremony and to learn about half of Kunming's modern history, reminiscing about the once glorious years. There's also the 📍Lu Han Mansion, which witnessed the Yunnan Uprising, a Gothic-style bright yellow French building, great for taking photos outside and revisiting history inside.
Day2 Jianshui: This is a treasure of a small town, far from the hustle and bustle, with a long history and culture, still retaining more than 50 ancient buildings.
📍Ancient Town: The ancient town, full of life, is worth visiting for its Chaoyang Tower, Confucian Temple, and Zhu Family Garden.
📍Narrow Gauge Train: A tourist train, with vintage carriages, artistic retro stations, and beautiful scenery of countryside and ancient buildings along the way; it's recommended to book a seat early, find a window spot for photos, and the fruits at the station are also very cheap. It passes through Shuanglong Bridge Station - Xianghui Bridge Station - Tuanshan Station.
📍Purple Pottery Street: A bustling night market, very popular at night, where the small town's atmosphere is evident, and there are many pottery galleries along the street, with a variety of colorful ceramics to dazzle the eyes.
Food: Jianshui roasted tofu, barbecue, steam pot feast.
Day3 Mengzi: My impression of Mengzi is that it's a city with low prices, off the beaten path, rich history, a border town, and a small city with ethnic characteristics. It is the junction of the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway and the Gejiu Stone Railway, where multiple cultures blend, and the architectural features are also unique, making it super suitable for sightseeing and photography.
📍Bisezhai: An important stop on the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, with French architectural style, one of China's oldest train stations, and also home to Yunnan's first coffee shop and post office. Here you can find the same camera positions as in the movie 'Youth', and it really achieves a model of operation and sightseeing integration.
📍Pioneer Bookstore is located next to Nanhu and the former site of the Southwest Associated University, gathering representative works of the teachers and students of the university and local handicrafts of Mengzi;
The Dashuzhai Night Market and Nanhu Night Tour in Mengzi are also must-visit places for visitors.
🌟Mengzi is the birthplace of Crossing-the-Bridge Noodles.
Day4 Mile: This city, sharing its name with Buddha, inevitably has its own unique legends. Now Mile can be directly reached by high-speed rail, making travel convenient.
📍Dongfengyun Art Town: Red brick kilns of various sizes, blending wine culture and Yi ethnic fire culture, full of exotic charm. The design here is really for photography, any angle is a great shot, and if you come after May, there's also a large field of lavender.
📍Taiping Lake Park: A park created through ecological restoration on a karstified land. Nestled between mountains and waters, with dense forests and clear waters, it is a colorful land all year round.
Traveling through Yunnan by train, connecting several characteristic small towns with the simplest mode of transportation, to experience different small-town lives.
Escape from the hustle and bustle to the 'City of Literary Fame'—Jianshui Ancient Town
Jianshui's beauty lies in its simplicity.
The millennia of history and cultural accumulation have created a quaint and profound temperament, where time seems to stand still.
Ancient city towers, archways, government offices, academies, Confucian temples, imperial examination halls, temples, Zen monasteries, private gardens, old alley residences, ancient wells, ancient bridges... everything you can and cannot think of is here.
Jianshui's beauty also lies in its tranquility.
Here, you won't find excessive noise, but rather the lives of the locals are more visible—whether they are vending for a living, strolling leisurely, chatting under the trees in front of their houses, or enjoying old wine and tofu while sitting together... Even after walking through the bustling commercial streets outside Chaoyang Gate, you will be immediately assimilated by the serene Little Gui Lake.
Jianshui's beauty is also in its cuisine.
Jianshui tofu, steam pot chicken, Jianshui barbecue, grass sprouts...
A small shop—a tile-roofed house, reflects the Lin'an style even more. Mostly locals dine here, with cheap prices and a simple layout. The owner is kind, and the waitresses are all aunts and grandmas, but the service is very enthusiastic. A thirty-year-old shop, not for luxury or gimmicks, but earnestly and honestly waiting for that taste, that atmosphere, deserving of respect!
Fried rice with pork head meat, grilled tri-line pork, grilled pork skin, small meat skewers, bursting tofu, cold mixed grass sprouts. Fried rice with mushrooms, Jianshui tofu with potatoes, iced papaya water, corn wine (not photographed), all for just 76 yuan, satisfying!
A little complaint: Zhu Family Garden is well-known, but after seeing many gardens and private residences, although it's not bad, it didn't seem particularly outstanding. The garden scenery is okay. The most annoying thing is that they built a performance stage in the garden, which is a complete eyesore!
From the layout, the 'back door' should actually be the main entrance of the private residence, and the currently open 'front door' should actually be a side door. Who has guests come in and go directly to the inner house?! (Shouldn't the cultural tourism department consider this?!)
How should one play when visiting Jianshui in Yunnan? Where to go? Here's a detailed guide
Entering Jianshui Ancient Town is like stepping into a thick historical scroll.
Yunnan Jianshui is truly a city full of historical heritage and natural scenery. As a historical and cultural city, Jianshui attracts countless tourists with its unique architectural style, rich cultural heritage, and beautiful natural landscapes.
I particularly like Jianshui Ancient Town, where the streets, alley entrances, and corners are all filled with the flavor of life.
Strolling through the ancient town, touching the skin of history, one can feel the breath of life of the ancients.
🎈Recommended attractions in Jianshui
✅ Jianshui Ancient Town
✅ Zhajing Street
✅ Ancient City Gates
✅ Shuanglong Bridge
✅ Ant Workshop
✅ Jianshui Little Train (one line)
✅ Tuanshan Residence
✅ Zhu Family Garden
✅ Beishan Taozhuang
🍵Recommended dining and cuisine
✅ Roasted tofu, grass sprout rice noodles
PS: Must-try Jianshui delicacies, recommended are Banjing Tofu Workshop and Weidao Lin'an at the edge of the ancient town
✅ Barbecue: Many people who come to Jianshui Ancient Town will eat barbecue, Yao's Barbecue has very good online reviews
✅ Yunnan cuisine - Steam Pot Chicken
✅ Papaya water and purple rice (old store)
🚙Transportation information
✅ About 2 hours from Kunming by high-speed train (departure times vary)
✅ About ten-plus minutes by taxi from the high-speed train station
🚩Recommended travel routes
🎈2-day tour route
✅Day1: Jianshui Ancient Town → Xiaogui Lake → Ant Workshop → Zitao Street
✅Day2: Jianshui Little Train → Shuanglong Bridge Station → Xianghui Bridge Station → Tuanshan Village
🎈2-day leisurely eating and drinking route
✅Day1: Garden Snacks Intestine and Rice Noodles - Zhu Family Garden - Osaka Well - Banjing Tofu Workshop - Fujian Cuisine - Ascend Chaoyang Tower - Spoon Powder Old Store - Pear Blossom Tip Snack Shop
✅Day2: Lin'an Weidao - Lin'an Station to take the rice track train (9 am) - Shuanglong Bridge (Jianshui + Qikong Bridge) Xianghui Bridge Train Station - Tuanshan Village - Lin'an Restaurant - Amao Halal Barbecue
🏠Accommodation recommendations
✅ Choose to stay near Jianshui Ancient Town, more options in price during the off-season
✅ If you like quiet, you can choose to stay near Xianghui Bridge
🚩Travel tips:
✅ The UV rays are strong during the day, it is recommended to do good sun protection
✅ The temperature difference between morning and evening is large, pay attention to adding clothes
✅ Drink more water to prevent getting heaty
vivienne.evelyn.blackwood Yunnan Jianshui Two Days and One Night
Transportation: Self-driving
Accommodation: Inside Jianshui Ancient Town
Itinerary:
1️⃣ Narrow-gauge Train: The only privately-operated railway still in operation in our country, and also the only century-old narrow-gauge train, full of retro Republican style. The train is mainly wooden structured, making it very photogenic. There are four stops along the train's route, and it will stop for a while at each station for passengers to enjoy the sights. If you only want to take photos and do not wish to ride the train or deal with the crowds at each stop, you can follow the train's route by car. After the train stops and the passengers go to visit the attractions, you can get on the train to take photos with fewer people and without a ticket.
2️⃣ Shuanglong Bridge: Also known as the Seventeen-Arch Bridge, it is Jianshui's favorite structure, very quaint and historical. At sunset, the golden light on the bridge is stunning.
3️⃣ Tuanshan Residence: A group of ancient Ming and Qing buildings in Yunnan, a 600-year-old village, with an entrance fee of 35 yuan. Many villagers still live in the old houses, which are basically unrenovated, so they can be described as a bit rundown or authentically original.
4️⃣ Zhu Family Garden: The largest private garden in southern Yunnan, belonging to the Zhu family, the richest family in the area during the Qing Dynasty. Covering an area of more than 20,000 square meters, it is very large and you can spend a whole morning wandering around.
5️⃣ Zitao Street: Thought to be a place selling purple pottery, but it is actually a night market for food, quite lively at night.
6️⃣ Buy Purple Pottery: There are many shops selling purple pottery in Jianshui Ancient Town. Ask around and bargain to eventually pick out a teapot you like at a satisfactory price.
7️⃣ Jianshui Ancient Town: Like many ancient towns, it has Yiwu goods, a Confucian temple, an imperial examination hall, a government office, and many snacks. Stroll and eat to your heart's content.
Delicacies:
1️⃣ Jianshui Barbecue: Delicious, with a particularly good sauce.
2️⃣ Rice Noodles: All kinds of rice noodles are delicious, fried rice noodles, grass sprout rice noodles, must have a bowl every day.
3️⃣ Jianshui Tofu: Personally, I don't think it's as good as coated tofu.
Day 8 of the 2024 Spring Festival Tour: Lin'an Ancient City
At eight o'clock in the morning, it's just a few minutes' walk from Hanting Hotel (Jianshui Ancient City Branch) to Chaoyang Tower. The ancient city streets in the early morning are much quieter without the crowd of last night. Chaoyang Tower opens at eight o'clock to welcome guests, and you can go up to the tower for a view.
From Chaoyang Tower, head west along Lin'an Road, passing through Hanlin Street (Zhu Family Garden), Tianjun Temple (free visit), Xuezheng Examination Hall, Lin'an Prefecture, Jianshui Confucius Temple, etc., taking about 50 minutes with stops.
Then, starting from Jianshui Confucius Temple and heading east, we visited Xuezheng Examination Hall, Zhu Family Garden and other three paid attractions, with the last Zhu Family Garden on Hanlin Street.
These three attractions took about three hours, and we returned to Hanting Hotel at half past twelve.
Plan your trip well in these days, enter the attractions early, otherwise, like us entering Zhu Family Garden at around half past eleven, it was already crowded with people everywhere. Taking a photo also has other people in it. It's noisy everywhere, and when it gets hot, some irritability rises in the heart.
📍Introduction to Jianshui Ancient City
Jianshui Ancient City was built during the Yuanhe period of the Tang Dynasty, i.e., 806-820 AD. It was originally called Butou, also known as Badan, and in the Yi language, it is called 'Huil', which means 'sea' in Yi; 'Li' means 'big', which translates to 'big sea' in Chinese, hence the name Jianshui.
Jianshui Ancient City was originally a earth city built during the Nanzhao period, and was expanded into a brick city in the 20th year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1387). When Li Dingguo captured Lin'an City, the three city towers in the south, north and west were destroyed by war. They were repaired again in the fourth year of Kangxi, but were damaged again. Only the East Gate Chaoyang Tower, despite numerous wars and earthquakes, still stands nearly six hundred years later. Jianshui County began to build temple schools in the Yuan Dynasty, built Lin'an Prefecture School in the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, and built Jianshui State Confucian School in the Wanli period. During the Qing Dynasty, four academies, 'Chongzheng, Huanwen, Chongwen, and Qujiang', were established one after another. At that time, it was known as 'half of the list', i.e., about half of the candidates in the Yunnan imperial examination came from Lin'an Prefecture, which was rare in the country. Therefore, Jianshui has always been known as a 'literary state' and 'Zoulu of Southern Yunnan'.
In 1994, Jianshui was approved by the State Council as the third batch of famous historical and cultural cities in China. The ancient city, after 12 centuries of construction, still preserves more than 50 ancient buildings, and is known as the 'Museum of Ancient Architecture' and 'Museum of Folk Houses'. The city has well-preserved and large-scale 'Yunnan's First' Confucius Temple, as well as Chaoyang Tower, Shuanglong Bridge, Zhilin Temple, Zhu Family Garden and a large number of distinctive ancient buildings. There are nearly a hundred ancient temples in the county, and more than 40 in the city alone. These treasures, which have gone through the vicissitudes of life, have considerable historical and artistic value.
✅East Gate Chaoyang Tower
Jianshui East Gate City Tower is the Chaoyang Tower that Jianshui people are proud of. It is recorded in 'Jianshui State Annals': 'The East City Tower, a hundred feet high, is magnificent. Below the city is a market, with thousands of households, endless scenery. The sun rises in the east, and the light is reflected far away. Looking at the city tower from afar, it is like a crane on a slope, like Yueyang, a great view of the south.' Chaoyang Tower has been exposed to wind and rain for more than 600 years, has experienced several wars, and is still intact and standing, becoming a landmark building of Jianshui.
✅Jianshui Confucius Temple
It was built in the 22nd year of Yuan Zhiyuan (1285 AD). 'Yuan History•Zhang Lidaobiography' records: In that year, Zhang Lidaobiography served as the Xuanfu envoy of Yunnan Lin'an Guangxi Road (Xuanfu Division was set up in Jianshui), 'and created a temple school in Jianshui Road'. This is the earliest Confucius Temple he created in the province after the first Confucius Temple in Zhongqing Road (now Kunming City), which was created at the same time as Dali Road. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was the location of Lin'an Prefecture School and Jianshui State School. It also once hosted Yuanjiang Prefecture School, becoming the cultural and educational center of Southern Yunnan. Over the past seven hundred years, it has been expanded and rebuilt more than fifty times. Especially in the Ming Dynasty, the head of the Hanlin Academy, Li Yueyuan, brought back the architectural drawings of the Royal Palace of the Confucius Temple in Qufu from the capital, and then rebuilt and expanded it according to the drawings, eventually becoming a large-scale Confucius Temple covering an area of 114 mu (about 76,000 square meters), the largest Confucius Temple in southern China.
✅Xuezheng Examination Hall
The Yunnan Tidu Xuezheng Examination Hall is the place where the highest education administrative official in Yunnan Province, the Tidu Xuezheng, regularly held the college entrance examination for students from Lin'an, Yuanjiang, Kaihua (now Wenshan), and Puer in the southern Yunnan region.
The Xuezheng Examination Hall faces south with a width of more than 40 meters and a depth of 150 meters, covering an area of 6,000 square meters. The buildings are neatly symmetrical, with more than a hundred rooms. The entire building is centered on the corridor, forming six courtyards. The existing buildings are well preserved, with red pillars and grandeur, and are an excellent physical relic for studying the ancient imperial examination system in southwestern China. In 1993, it was announced by the People's Government of Yunnan Province as the fourth batch of key cultural relics protection units. In 2019, it was listed as the eighth batch of national key cultural relics protection units by the State Council.
The college entrance examination in the Yunnan Tidu Xuezheng Examination Hall is a preparatory examination before the imperial examination. Those who are admitted to the college entrance examination can enjoy generous poetry encounters, enter the national imperial examination selection process, and realize the dream of 'being a country boy in the morning and entering the emperor's hall in the evening'.
In the Yunnan Tidu Xuezheng Examination Hall, there are four exhibition halls: the Mongolian Study Hall, the Jianshui Temple Study Academy Yixue Hall, the Comprehensive Hall, and the Local Hall, which fully display the ancient imperial examination system in China and the local imperial examination culture. At the same time, the Yunnan Tidu Xuezheng Examination Hall Wenfang Qinggong Exhibition Hall and 'Zangxitang' are set up, which display thousands of ancient inkstones from the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, as well as a large number of ancient quantities, rubbings, etc., and precious cultural relics such as oracle bone inscriptions, Qin and Han simple books, and ancient simple bamboo slips. Especially the authentic works of Lin'an Prefect Wang Wenzhi, Yunnan Xuezheng Tidu Fu Zhenbang, Qing Dynasty official Wang Wen, and imperial examination champion Yuan Jiagu, will make you linger.
✅Zhu Family Garden
Located in the middle section of Hanlin Street in the center of Jianshui Ancient City, it is a house and ancestral hall built by the local gentry Zhu Weiqing brothers in the late Qing Dynasty. It covers an area of more than 20,000 square meters. The main building is arranged in a 'vertical four horizontal three' layout, which is a typical Jianshui 'three rooms and six ears three rooms hall with rear mountain ears, a large patio with four small patios' parallel and combined residential building group. The courtyards are layered and the houses are lined up. There are 42 large and small patios and 214 rooms, known as the 'Daguan Garden of Southern Yunnan'. Zhu Family Garden is an important part of the national key scenic spot and the national historical and cultural city Jianshui, and is now a national key cultural relics protection unit.
The small inn in Jianshui is a bit warm
Start a new year with a trip
It's also the start of a new beginning for myself
It's hard to be yourself from pregnancy to three years before giving birth
Even if you try hard to focus on yourself
But it's almost unthinkable to go and play for a few days
Getting two special price rooms allowed me to take my first trip with a baby
The inn has no fancy decorations
The simple and unadorned warm tone
The landlady is warm
The fish in the pool are also warm
Like coming home
The inn is located on the side of the road near the center
To the left is the Chaoyang Tower of Jianshui Ancient City
To the right is Zitao Street
You can go to the ancient city during the off-peak tourist season
There are many beautiful inns
Compared to the full rooms and high-priced rooms during the peak tourist season
This place is still simple and clean
The hard days will eventually pass
You still have to take seriously each unique period of yourself
Life is very dull
It will only have wind when you run
The most comfortable small city in Yunnan - Jianshui Ancient City
Jianshui, more than 150 kilometers away from Kunming, although it does not have the romance of Dali and Lijiang, the romance in Jianshui's life is different.
Transportation: It takes about two hours to drive from Kunming. High-speed rail, departing from Kunming South, also takes about two hours.
Accommodation: Most of the homestays near Jianshui Ancient City are good, and the prices are reasonable. We stayed at the Qianyu Guanjing Homestay, which has a very good environment. It is also close to the ancient city, so you can go out for a stroll at any time.
Jianshui Ancient City is worth a good stroll. In the morning, many locals sit and chat, buy vegetables and walk their children. Chaoyang Gate, Zhu's Garden, Zhang's Garden, Confucius Temple, etc. are all in the ancient city. Walking slowly, every step may have a thousand years of history.
The small train from Lin'an to Tuanshan must also be taken once. It's a wonderful experience. Lin'an Station is very distinctive, and the small train is very retro. It passes through Shuanglong Bridge Station and Xianghui Bridge Station, with the terminal at Tuanshan. The scenery along the way is particularly beautiful, and the station is very retro and photogenic.
Tuanshan is a simple village. The yellow earth-based houses and the walls full of plants are worth taking the time to see.
Food, Beizibo, Nanjianshui, Jianshui barbecue must be tasted, any shop is delicious, Zhaotong small skewers, grilled chicken feet, grilled pig skin, grilled tilapia, etc., the taste is very good.
Shilin tofu must also be tasted, basically barbecue shops have it, Jianshui's pot is also delicious, the price is also reasonable.
It's a pity that I didn't go to Shilin. Jianshui is definitely a place worth visiting many times. Staying in the life, people will unconsciously stop the internal consumption, every day is beautiful. Jianshui Ancient City·Jianshui
A city to slowly walk, slowly watch, slowly taste, and slowly reminisce
The ancient city is not very large, about 2 square kilometers. Living in the ancient city, the scenic spots are relatively close, all can be reached on foot. Zhu's garden is very beautiful, you need to ask a guide to explain slowly. After three generations of repairs, it's very exquisite.
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