Jianchuan Ancient Town: The Overlooked Treasure of Dali

Help! This ancient town in Jianchuan, Yunnan, hasn’t been ruined by commercialization yet… After avoiding the crowded Dali and Lijiang in Yunnan, I found the true slow life in Jianchuan! This 650-year-old Tea Horse Ancient Town feels like a treasure forgotten by time. The Bai ethnic old houses emit the scent of wood, and even the famous traveler Xu Xiake once wrote a 7,000-character travelogue about it~ 🌟Jianchuan 2-Day Escape Itinerary Day 1: Self-drive from Dali → Jianchuan Ancient Town → Qianshi Mountain → Sunset at Jian Lake 🚗 It takes 2.5 hours to reach the ancient town from Dali by car; it’s recommended to leave before 9 AM 📍West Gate Street, Jianchuan Ancient Town A must-visit Bai architecture museum! The bluestone-paved streets are perfect for photos, and the wood carvings on every old house are so beautiful you can’t look away 💡Hidden gem: Stay at "Jiama Post Station," a Qing Dynasty old house, and count stars romantically in the courtyard at night 📍Qianshi Mountain (Entrance fee: 30 RMB) The 3,268 stone lions in the mountain are a world wonder! The lion designs from the Eastern Han to Ming and Qing dynasties each have unique features. Don’t forget to take a photo with the 25-meter-tall "Lion King" 📍Jian Lake Arrive around 5 PM to catch the sunset just right; the lake water turns golden and is especially soothing. Villagers fish by the lake, perfect for quietly daydreaming for an hour 🍴Dinner recommendation: "Wang Ji Liangfen" An old brand hidden in an alley, the sour and spicy cold noodles paired with freshly squeezed iced milk cost only 15 RMB! The owner is super friendly and will tell you, "Add more chili for the real flavor" Day 2: Baoxiang Temple → Shaxi Ancient Town → Return 📍Baoxiang Temple A magical temple built on a cliff, you have to climb a steep set of stairs to get there. It’s best to visit in the morning when the light and shadows are most beautiful and you can avoid tour groups 📍Shaxi Ancient Town (40 minutes by car from Jianchuan) Much quieter than Dali! In the morning, watching villagers wash vegetables by the stream is very authentic, and in the evening, sitting in a teahouse by the ancient theater stage is super relaxing ⚠️Useful Tips: 1️⃣ Self-driving is best! Beginners are not recommended to drive on the mountain roads to Xiangtu Village 2️⃣ Large temperature difference between day and night; bring a light jacket even in summer 3️⃣ Every Sunday, Jianyang Tower hosts a market where you can buy super cheap wood carvings 4️⃣ Recommended to watch the documentary "Wenmai Chunqiu: Jianchuan" before your trip When leaving, the cold noodle shop owner said, "Next time, leave a bowl of hot noodles," and the tea shop owner said, "Come back when the wind is nice" — this kind of warm hospitality is the most precious memory of Jianchuan~