Recommend a place to travel

Recommended to travel to Shaxi Ancient Town!

Shaxi is a small town with a long history, dating back to the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period more than 2,400 years ago. During the Tang and Song Dynasties, Nanzhao and Dali Kingdoms emerged in the southwest region and became a buffer zone between the Tang Dynasty and Tubo at that time. It was also a link between the powerful and one of the main places along the Ancient Tea Horse Road that communicated economic and cultural exchanges between the two. First, it is currently the only surviving ancient market on the Tea Horse Road.

Shaxi Ancient Town is not as cluttered as Dali Ancient City or as commercialized as Lijiang Ancient City. There is only tranquility here, the only tranquility and simplicity on the Tea Horse Road. There are no piles of tourist buses, no groups of tourist groups wearing little red riding hoods, no streets filled with small commodity sales and crowded tourists. There are only a few people in the empty streets and alleys lazily sunbathing, reading, taking photos, and chatting.

The center of Sideng Street is Sifang Street, which is the soul and core of Shaxi and the place for business transactions in Shaxi. It is located at the head of Jiefeng Mountain in the center of Shaxi Bazi, surrounded by mountains and rivers. It is a geomantic treasure land with excellent geographical location. It is a collection of temples, ancient stages, shops, horse shops, and broad red sandstone streets. It has a century-old history. It is a thousand-year-old market with complete functions including trees, ancient lanes and village gates.

Sideng Ancient Street *** has three gates - Dongzhai Gate, Nanzhai Gate, and Beizhai Gate. The west side is backed by Baofeng Mountain, so there is no Zhaimen. Dongzhai Gate leads to the Dali area through Yujin Bridge, Nanzhai Gate leads to other villages in the ancient town and the salt mines in Qiaohou, Eryuan, and Beizhai Gate leads to Tibet through Jianchuan County, Lijiang, and Diqing. After passing the village gate, a narrow, deep and long ancient lane comes leisurely, with dilapidated ancient shops on both sides standing quietly on both sides of the lane. At the end of the long and narrow lane is Sifang Street, the trading center of Sideng.

Shaxi Ancient Town Travel Tips

Transportation: You can take the shuttle bus to Jianchuan at Dali Xiaguan North Passenger Terminal, which takes about 3 hours. After arriving in Jianchuan County, take the Shaxi minibus to reach Shaxi Town.

Tickets: Shaxi Ancient Town is not big. If you have a tight schedule, you can complete the tour in half a day. There are no tickets.

Local specialty snacks include thin bean powder and goat milk cake. Every Friday is the market day in the town, so you can go and join in the fun.

Accommodation recommendations

There are many inns and youth hostels in Shaxi Ancient Town. Living in a farmhouse outside the ancient town is also a good choice, where you can enjoy the pastoral scenery and enjoy delicious food.

Surrounding attractions: Huacong Mountain (Sandao Pond, Dayangchang), Shibaoshan (Baoxiang Temple, Shizhong Temple, Haiyun Temple), White Dragon Pond, Black Dragon Pond, Mapingguan.