Shaxi Ancient Town, hidden deep in the mountains, is the only surviving thousand-year-old town on the Ancient Tea-Horse Road

Number of days: 1 day
Time: January
Average cost: 2000 yuan
With whom: and friends
Tour kinds: Photography, Self-driving, Humanities, Free Travel
Updated: 2024.01.18

Located in the southeast of Jianchuan, Dali City, Yunnan Province. It's located southeast of the Jinsha, Lancang, and Nujiang Parallel Rivers Nature Reserve, right between the Dali Scenic Area and Lijiang Old Town.

Shaxi Town has been designated a Yunnan Provincial Historical and Cultural Town, a National Historical and Cultural Town, and a Yunnan Tourist Town. Currently, Shaxi Old Town doesn't require an entrance fee, and the town isn't very large, with a current population of around 25,000.

Shaxi Ancient Town is the Lijiang Ancient Town of thirty years ago. Although it was once considered so, Shaxi Ancient Town is still an ancient town that has not been over-developed by commercial activities. If you stroll in this tranquil ancient town, you will feel that kind of poetry and distant feeling.

Shaxi Ancient Town was once an important post station on the Ancient Tea Horse Road. Later, with the decline of the Tea Horse Road, this ancient town with a thousand-year history was gradually forgotten by the world. However, this also happened to enable the ancient town to retain its original flavor. A Yujin Bridge with a long history

Outside the ancient city, on the Heihui River east of Sideng Street, lies an ancient bridge named Yujin. Yujin Bridge was once a crucial crossing point for the ancient Tea Horse Road entering and exiting Shaxi Ancient Town. Standing on the bridge and gazing out along the Heihui River, one can gaze upon the poetic and distant horizon.

Built during the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, Yujin Bridge in Shaxi Ancient Town boasts a rich history. It served as a crucial passage for local Bai people to access their farmland and conduct commerce, and was also a key bridge connecting the ancient Tea Horse Road to Dali in the south. Yujin Bridge is a single-arch stone bridge, 35.4 meters long, 5 meters wide, with a clear span of 12 meters and an arch height of 6 meters. It has stone railings on both sides, and the bluestone slabs of the bridge are marked with horse hoofprints from the footsteps of the caravans. Two turtle heads are carved on the north and south arches, gazing out at the river upstream and downstream.

Origin of Yujin Bridge: During the Ming Dynasty, a wooden bridge originally stood here. In 1639, the great traveler Xu Xiake visited the area and walked across it, recording his journey in his travelogue: "The water of Shaxi River flows eastward, and there are long wooden beams stretching east and west across it." During that time, the river frequently washed away the wooden bridge, severing travel between the two banks and causing widespread distress among the people. During the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, the bridge was rebuilt into a stone slab bridge. At the time, Mr. Li Fei, a teacher from Zhaozhou, was teaching in Jianchuan. He inscribed a couplet on the bridge: "Stones can become beams; from now on, there will be no crossing without singing; the river is truly jade; only after arriving here can one know the source of the water." This is how the bridge got its name.

Yujin Bridge has undergone numerous restorations throughout its history, the most serious of which was its 1931 reconstruction, funded by the joint efforts of the people of Shaxi, Jianchuan County, Dali Prefecture. This ancient bridge is not only a vital transportation hub in the Shaxi area but also a testament to the local customs and economic development.

An ancient town with indigenous people

Many ancient towns have been commercialized, and many indigenous residents have moved to the city, but Shaxi Ancient Town still retains many Bai and other ethnic minority indigenous people, who still live a life of "farming from sunrise to sunset." This is a great surprise to me as a foreign tourist! Shaxi Ancient Town boasts a pleasant climate, with spring-like weather year-round. Here, you'll find both the majestic grandeur of mountains and the gentle charm of flowing waters under small bridges. Free from the hustle and bustle of a big city, it offers a tranquil and peaceful haven. The pace of life here is slow and comfortable, allowing people to let go of their worries and stress and enjoy the pure beauty. This place is like a shining pearl, inlaid in the land of Yunnan. Although little known, its beauty and charm cannot be concealed. The bluestone pavements, whitewashed walls and black tiles, the sound of horse hooves—everything here seems to tell a story of the ages. As you stroll through the alleys of the ancient town, you can almost hear the echoes of history lingering in your ears, and feel the passage of time.

Because of the hit TV series "Where the Wind Goes", the ancient town has become popular in recent years. Many tourists come here and like to check in and take photos at the places in the stills. I have walked through every corner of Shaxi. The lazy sun, comfortable weather, and bright morning sunshine make me miss them so much.

Shaxi Sideng Street, the only surviving market on the Ancient Tea-Horse Road

Walk through several alleys and arrive at a small square in the center of the ancient town. This is the ancient stage. From the mottled shadow of the stage, you can still imagine the noisy gongs and drums on the stage. Next to the stage is the stable, where the horse drivers used to rest at night. The unremarkable small square in front of the stage is the only surviving ancient market on the Ancient Tea-Horse Road - Sideng Street.

Shaxi Sideng Street is located in the central Shaxi Basin, nestled on the gentle slopes of Aotou, the northern end of Aofeng Mountain on the west bank of the Heihui River. It is a prime location for feng shui in Shaxi. Since the Ming Dynasty, with the booming trade along the ancient Tea-Horse Road, Sideng Street has evolved into a square trading area centered around Xingjiao Temple and Kuige Pavilion with their stage. The surrounding area is dominated by shops with frontage and back-end stores. The Sideng Street area is the only surviving ancient market on the Ancient Tea Horse Road. With its intact theaters, hotels, temples, and village gates, this market, connecting Tibet and South Asia, is quite complete. It was listed as one of the 101 Notable World Heritage Sites in 2002. "This has made Sideng Street as famous as the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, the ancient city of Pompeii in Italy, and the Great Wall of China. With its tenacious vitality, Sideng Street has reawakened people's nature and conscience to cherish civilization, and has brought the ancient town of Shaxi, which has been forgotten by history and has a long history of civilization, back to the world's attention and attention.

The ancient stage is the most distinctive building on Sifang Street in Sideng. It forms a central axis with the Xingjiao Temple's main hall and gate to the west, dividing the ancient street into north and south halves, thus providing a physical marker for the various business areas. The main structure of the ancient stage is the Kuixing Pavilion, with the stage serving as a secondary function. It was a place where the local Bai people worshipped Kuixing (Kuixing Star). The three-story building features a stage in front and a high pavilion in the back.

Xingjiao Temple in Shaxi

Xingjiao Temple consists of three courtyards. The first courtyard comprises a gatehouse, south wing, a patio, a Guanyin Tower, and north wing. The second courtyard consists of the central hall, north and south wings. The third courtyard comprises the main hall, north and south wings, and a side courtyard. The main hall, central hall, Guanyin Tower, temple gate, and stage are built on a central axis, 120 meters from east to west and 52 meters from north to south. Xingjiao Temple faces east, while the stage faces east.

Shaxi Ancient Town is a beautiful city where history and modernity intertwine, nature and culture blend together. Although it is not as well-known as Lijiang or Dali, its beauty and charm are no less. If you are tired of the hustle and bustle of the city and are looking for a place to relax and unwind, Shaxi Ancient Town is undoubtedly an ideal choice.

Walking in the ancient town, you can trace the footsteps of history and experience the unique charm of caravan culture; you can appreciate the beautiful natural scenery and feel the magic and magnificence of nature; you can taste authentic food and experience the lives of local people; you can spend quality time with family and friends and create unforgettable memories.