2024 Lufeng Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in November)
Lufeng is a county under the jurisdiction of the Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province. The county is located in the central region of Yunnan Province. The prefecture has been a vital communications hub between Kunming and the west of Yunnan since ancient times. Lufeng County has become famous in China and abroad due to the presence of wonders such as dinosaur and sivapithecus fossils in the county. Some of the county’s tourist attractions include the Lufeng Dinosaur National Geopark, Heijing Old Village, Lianxiang Gate, and Xingsu Bridge.
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Popular Attractions
World Dinosaur Valley
Heijing Town
Travel through time and explore the wonders of prehistoric beasts.
Welcome to Dinosaur Valley, a prehistoric world full of mystery and awe 🦕
Here, you will step into a dinosaur kingdom full of unknowns and surprises, and get up close and personal with the prehistoric beasts that once ruled the earth! Every step feels like traveling back in time to the wild and mysterious dinosaur era.
🔥 Highlights not to be missed 🔥
• 🦖 Realistic dinosaur models: These giant dinosaur models are not only lifelike, but also make awe-inspiring roars, as if they are really coming back to life before your eyes! You can observe every detail of them up close and feel their power and majesty.
• 🦴 Dinosaur fossil exhibition: Precious dinosaur fossils tell the secrets of the dinosaur era and show you the wonders of nature. Here you can see the skeletal fossils of various dinosaurs and learn about their evolution and habits.
• 🌿 Natural ecological landscape: The lush vegetation in Dinosaur Valley simulates the ecological environment of the dinosaur era, making you feel like you are in a real prehistoric world. You can walk and explore here and feel the magic and beauty of nature.
• 🚀 Interactive experience area: Dinosaur Valley also has an interactive experience area where you can put on professional equipment, simulate fighting and chasing dinosaurs, and feel the awe-inspiring power of prehistoric beasts!
💡 Tips to help you enjoy Dinosaur Valley 💡
• Remember to bring a camera or phone to capture these awe-inspiring moments! Whether it's dinosaur models, fossil exhibitions, or natural ecological landscapes, they are all worth capturing and cherishing.
• Wear comfortable shoes and clothes, as Dinosaur Valley is a large adventure site where you need to walk or take a sightseeing bus to get around.
• Learn about the opening hours and ticket prices of Dinosaur Valley in advance to better plan your trip.
• There may be some extra chargeable items or souvenir shops in Dinosaur Valley, and you can choose according to your interests and budget.
Fishing | Chuxiong Lufeng Yutiaolou Ecological Farm~.
| Chuxiong Lufeng Yutiaolou Ecological Farm~. A wave of scenery~ applied to join the senior scenery 📷 team
About an hour away from Kunming, the scenery is quite good, Lufeng Zhuqingkou Reservoir. The sunset in the evening is really beautiful, the temperature difference between morning and evening is very large, the afternoon is particularly hot, the sun is very hot, and it is particularly cold when the sun goes down.
PS: The BBQ equipment outside the fishing shed, including the ingredients, are all brought by ourselves. The merchant provides fast food, but the taste is very average.
🉑️ Fishing, 🈶️ Fishing shed, 🉑️ Accommodation, 🉑️ BBQ.
A giant dinosaur pokes its head out, and the Chuxiong Service Area is so much fun!
🦖A huge dinosaur on the roof is baring its teeth and claws, looking at humans fiercely. Don't think you're watching a TV show, this is a real view from a place called Dinosaur Mountain Service Area on the way from Kunming to Chuxiong.
⛳There are dinosaur sculptures everywhere, next to the gate, in the green belt, in the sky above the restaurant, in front of the house, and behind the house. It's like being in a dinosaur world. These different dinosaurs have aroused the curiosity of children, and many children have drilled into the dinosaur's mouth to play and take photos.
📍Dinosaur Mountain Service Area is located at the 80-kilometer section of the Anchu section of G56 Hangrui Expressway, located in Lufeng County, Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture. It is an important supplement to the "Beautiful Highway" in Western Yunnan and has been rated as a "National Excellent Service Area" many times.
👀You can see the "Dinosaur Valley" sign behind the service area. It turns out that Dinosaur Mountain Service Area is the nearest expressway service area to Lufeng World Dinosaur Valley. You can reach the scenic spot by getting off at the Dinosaur Valley exit at the 68-kilometer section of the Kunming-Chuxiong Expressway.
🌲It is said that the World Dinosaur Valley reproduces a lost Jurassic era. It is a dinosaur cultural tourism theme park integrating site protection, sightseeing and leisure, and popular science research. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction.
⛩️Since 1938, more than 120 relatively complete dinosaur fossils have been unearthed in Lufeng, spanning the early, middle, and late Jurassic periods. Chinese and foreign experts believe that Lufeng is one of the richest, most complete, oldest, and most primitive areas in the world where dinosaur fossils have been unearthed so far, and it is the hometown of Chinese dinosaurs.
✔️It has to be said that Dinosaur Mountain Service Area is very creative, stacking dinosaur culture, regional characteristics, and environmental art in the service area, allowing people to get happiness while resting, and increasing their understanding of the local dinosaur culture. Both entertainment value and advertising effect are win-win.
Check in at Fengyu Bridge, you must come and see it.
✨Check in at Fengyu Bridge in Lufeng, Yunnan, it's really beautiful!
This bridge has a long history 📜, it is said to have been hundreds of years. Standing on the bridge, it seems to feel the passage of time.
🌉The architectural style of the bridge is unique, antique, and intoxicating. The carvings 🎨 on the bridge piers are meticulous, and every detail shows the wisdom and skills of the ancients. The bridge is wide, with people coming and going, it's so lively!
📸Of course, this is also a good place to take pictures. No matter which angle you shoot 📷 from, you can take beautiful photos. The river under the bridge is gurgling 💧, and the green trees on both sides are shaded 🌳, forming a beautiful picture.
💰Overall, Fengyu Bridge is worth a visit. If you like ancient buildings 👀 and like to feel the charm of history, don't miss it here!
Yunnan Xingxiu Bridge.
Family! Today, I'm sharing with you the Xingxiu Bridge 🌟 in Luofeng, Yunnan, which is simply stunning!
The Xingxiu Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Xingxiu River, located in Ana Village, Konglongshan Town, Luofeng City, Yunnan Province 🏯. It is 350 meters long, 80 meters above the ground, and 2.5 meters wide. Walking on it is a thrilling experience!
🌟 Highlights:
The Xingxiu Bridge is a suspension bridge, and you can feel the obvious swaying as you walk on it, which is very exciting 😎. At the same time, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Xingxiu River from the bridge, making it perfect for taking photos and checking in 📸.
The design of the Xingxiu Bridge is very unique. Its main bridge tower is a 60-meter-high A-shaped steel tower, which is very spectacular. At the same time, the steel cables on the bridge deck are also A-shaped, which is very distinctive 👍.
Ana Village, where the Xingxiu Bridge is located, is a beautiful small village 🏡. The surrounding mountains are undulating, and the scenery is beautiful 🏞. Here, you can experience the tranquility and beauty of the Yunnan countryside, making it perfect for relaxing your mind and body.
📍 Address: Ana Village, Konglongshan Town, Luofeng City, Yunnan Province
🚗 Transportation: Self-driving is recommended. You can directly navigate to the Xingxiu Bridge parking lot 🅿️.
🕰️ Opening hours: All day 💰 Tickets: Free
Family, who understands! This place is really beautiful, come and check it out! 💃🏻💃🏻
A super chill private courtyard hot spring near Kunming! I'll be back next time!
A super chill private courtyard hot spring near Kunming! I'll be back next time!
The private courtyard hot spring hotel is located in Luotz Hot Spring Village. It takes just over an hour to get there from Kunming! There is a direct bus from Mianshan Car Park every 30 minutes, and the fare is CNY 25. There is also a minibus from the West Bus Station at 11:00 every day. Each room in the village has a small courtyard with a private hot spring, and there is no limit to the number of times you can fill it. The hotel also has a large courtyard where you can camp, barbecue, and fish. There is free breakfast, and the fridge is stocked with free beer. There is also a smart toilet. The average cost is only about CNY 150, which is really great value. The only downside is that there are not many restaurants nearby in the village, and there are not many places to play. It is recommended to bring some snacks. However, it's really great to soak in the hot spring, watch TV shows, and eat snacks! Hotel name: Boyin Linjian
Lufeng Museum
The first stop of the Yunnan trip was the Lufeng Museum. Before coming, I did some research and learned that the largest Lufengosaurus fossil is housed here. However, after entering the museum at 2 PM, I found that there was nothing except a replica of a femur fossil. Upon inquiring with the staff, I found out that the fossils had been sent out for an exhibition elsewhere. To see the fossils, one must go to another place.
In a corner of Yunnan, there lies a hidden ancient town far from the commercial hustle and bustle—Heijing Town
In a corner of Yunnan, there lies a hidden ancient town far from the commercial hustle and bustle—Heijing Town. It quietly lies in the river of time, silently telling stories of a thousand years. 🏞️
🚗 Embarking on a journey to explore the ancient, I first chose to drive myself, feeling the freedom and vastness of the road. But if you long for a slower pace of life, you might want to try the green slow train for poverty alleviation. It clatters along, full of the breath of life, with a ticket price of 22.5 yuan. Departing from Kunming in the morning, you can arrive by dusk. Though slow, it offers a unique experience.
⛩ In Heijing Town, the ancient buildings still retain the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties, as if traveling through time, allowing one to feel the prosperity of that era. Speaking of food, salt-baked chicken, gray tofu, pomegranate flowers, and more are the local specialties. The craftsmanship at Wu's Restaurant is absolutely unforgettable.
🛏 For accommodation, we chose Yueheng Hotel, which not only offers a comfortable environment but also boasts a prime location, convenient for touring nearby attractions.
🏰 Strolling through the ancient town, Wu's Courtyard, the Confucian Temple, the ancient salt workshop, and Feilai Temple are all must-visit places. Every corner holds traces of time, and every story is soaked in historical atmosphere. Particularly worth mentioning is the Sunday market, which is bustling with activity, allowing one to truly feel the local customs and culture.
📝 Tips:
- If you are traveling with a baby, it is recommended to drive yourself to avoid the hassle of waking up early to catch the train, which can be quite tiring.
- Once in the ancient town, consider walking to slowly appreciate the scenery along the way, rather than choosing a bumpy horse-drawn carriage.
🌙 At night, the ancient town is brightly lit, offering a unique charm. If time permits, consider staying overnight to experience the nightlife of the ancient town.
This is Heijing Town, a place far from the hustle and bustle, where one can find peace of mind.
William Mitchell Henry-10 Come here and experience the stories of the thousand-year-old salt capital
👍Recommended reasons:
It allows people to feel the tranquil and ancient atmosphere, understand the history and culture of salt production, enjoy unique cuisine, and it is not highly commercialized.
📍Location: Heijing Ancient Town
🚙Transportation:
- Departing from Kunming, it takes about two hours by car, with a one-way toll of just over one hundred.
- The first one and a half hours are on the highway, and the last half hour is on mountain roads, with some sections under construction.
- There is a parking lot at the entrance of the ancient town, and you can also park along the main road, but the entrances and exits are easily congested.
🎠Must-visit attractions:
- Wu Family Courtyard: A unique sloped courtyard with grand architecture and exquisite wood and stone carvings.
- Confucian Temple: It has a wishing pool, a shrine for local sages, and a shrine for famous officials, and you can also see poems written by children.
- Heijing Salt Well History Museum: Learn about the knowledge of salt.
- Ancient Salt Workshop: Experience DIY salt making.
- Dalongsi: A venue for major events.
- Feilai Temple: Offers a panoramic view of the ancient town.
❤️Other tips:
- Unique delicacies such as gray tofu and pine needle grilled tofu.
- There is a lively market every Sunday.
Heijing Ancient Town | Yunnan Niche Travel Guide
Heijing Ancient Town is one of the four ancient towns in Yunnan. When you walk into the ancient town, you will find a serene and quaint atmosphere everywhere. There are no bustling crowds or dazzling goods on the streets, only a leisurely lifestyle.
Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Lufeng County
Travel options: 🚌or🚗
🚗 Self-drive for 2 hours, green train for 2 hours then transfer
🚌 Take the Yunnan Transport Sightseeing Bus from Kunming to Heijing (including round-trip air-conditioned bus fare, lunch fee, dinner buffet fee, insurance fee)
🗺️Play
1⃣️ Heijing Ancient Town: Known as the "Millennium Salt Capital." It has been famous for producing tribute salt since the Han and Tang dynasties. The ancient town still retains a large number of ancient buildings with earthen foundations.
2⃣️ Feilai Temple: Located halfway up the mountain, the terrain is steep. It is recommended to prepare food and water before climbing, and those with weak bodies should be cautious.
3⃣️ Wu Family Courtyard: Well-preserved Ming and Qing architecture, consisting of four courtyards, with 99 rooms and 108 doors.
4⃣️ Ancient Salt Workshop: An ancient workshop for salt-making in the ancient town.
5⃣️ Dalong Shrine: Inside the shrine hangs a plaque inscribed by Emperor Yongzheng with the words "Lingyuan Puze."
🍽️Eat
Local snacks: Pine needle roasted gray tofu, fennel baba with thin bean powder, roasted beef jerky, pomegranate flowers, kapok flowers, pear vinegar (all highly recommended! Super delicious!!)
A place to take kids near Kunming, Lufeng Dinosaur Valley
I found a great place to take kids in Lufeng near Kunming
It is Lufeng World 🦕 Dinosaur Valley
Walking here feels like stepping into the Jurassic
This Dinosaur 🦖 Valley has four main areas
Each area is very fun
🦖 Ruins Park ⛲️
There are many excavated dinosaur fossils here
These fossil skeletons look very spectacular
Rent a pair of headphones 🎧 and listen to the stories of these dinosaurs 🦕
The history of hundreds of millions of years seems to be right in front of you
🎠 Time and Space Amusement Park
This is a place that little babies love
There are many fun entertainment facilities inside
Riding the flume ride on such a summer day is very refreshing
There are also interactive dinosaur parades in the park
Little babies love to interact with these dinosaurs
Dinosaur Valley 🦕 Hot Springs
There are 38 outdoor hot spring pools here
The water source is a sulfur spring extracted from a depth of 2850 meters
The forest 🌲 surrounds here
Soaking in the hot springs and embracing nature feels great
Hot Spring ♨️ Hotel
If you want to enjoy Dinosaur Valley
Staying here is definitely the best choice
Staying in the hot spring hotel for two days of comfort
In addition, there is now the Xululu Dinosaur Creative Market
You can see all kinds of dinosaur cultural and creative products
Lufeng World Dinosaur Musuem
#travelanywhere
My friends and I signed up for a tour package from a travel agency to go to Yunnan China. One of the places we visited was Lufeng World Dinosaur Musuem. It certainly was an unique experience, getting to see the remains of the dinosaurs also got to learn about the history of the dinosaurs. The musuem is located in Jingshan Town, Lufeng County, Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China
Departing from Kunming, it takes 1h to enjoy swimming and soaking in the hot springs at the newly popular hot spring treasure spot in Lufeng
This weekend, I discovered a newly opened hot spring hotel in Lufeng♨️. After swimming for two days straight, it was incredibly invigorating.
In the scorching summer heat, first enjoy a refreshing swim in the outdoor pool🏊, then soak in a warm hot spring pool💦. It feels like all the fatigue is washed away, making for an incredibly comfortable weekend.
✔️Outdoor pool➕children's water play pool, perfect for adults to swim and kids to have fun
✔️43 hot spring pools, with a stable water temperature of 38°C~42°C
✔️Public pools➕private pools, catering to different experiences
💦Super affordable prices
Single entry: 💰38/person (original price 58/entry)
Multi-entry card: 💰900/30 entries
🍽️Well-equipped facilities
Equipped with male and female changing rooms, storage lockers, shower areas, snack shops, and drink bars.
📍Location: Lufeng Strontium Spring Hotel
🚗By car: Takes about 1h
🚄By high-speed train: From Kunming South Station it costs 47.5 yuan/person, from Kunming Station it costs 37 yuan/person. From Lufeng High-speed Train Station, take a taxi for about 10 yuan, or scan and ride a shared electric scooter🛵 for roughly 10min.
Ps: This hotel currently only has the swimming pool and hot spring pools open, as the rooms are still being renovated and are not available for accommodation yet. You may need to book a stay elsewhere.
Chuxiong's off-the-beaten-path ancient town, the Lufeng Jingshan Ancient Town brimming with the atmosphere of daily life
Lufeng Jingshan Ancient Town
A truly niche ancient town
Enjoy some snacks
Take in the scenery
Experience Yi culture
🌟Highlights:
Walking along the stone-paved streets, you'll see traditional architecture common to ancient towns, as well as ethnic decorations🎍
In the ancient town, there is a Yi ethnic hand embroidery shop where you can take children to experience the charm of Yi embroidery.
There is an artist from Beijing who makes blown sugar art. For 10 yuan, children can experience this magical art where you blow, and the master shapes it.
There are several spots related to the traditional culture of the Tea Horse Road: blacksmith shops, horseshoeing, raw vinegar, and plain scissors.
On the roadside, a lady is smoking beef, which is a local specialty. There are also various Yunnan delicacies to try, mostly barbecue.
Here, without the overwhelming crowds of tourists, you can better capture the beauty of the buildings and the natural scenery that coexists with the plants.
📍Detailed address:
Chuxiong Lufeng Jingshan Ancient Town
Transportation: There are many shared electric scooters🛵 in Lufeng, and it's also convenient to ride there yourself. Just navigate to Jingshan Ancient Town, where parking is easy and not crowded.
👍Most recommended:
🍧Dajing Street Sweet White Liquor: Made the same as elsewhere, but with a richer taste, not purely sweet, but layered, with just the right sweetness that doesn't cloy.
🍛Pea Powder: Made the same as elsewhere, but the Lufeng fragrant vinegar elevates the overall flavor.
🍲River Snails: A local specialty snack.
📝Tips to note:
With a hundred yuan, you can find a decent hotel🏨 in Jingshan Ancient Town
Some buses require WeChat QR code payment, which may not be possible due to network delays, so it's advisable to prepare cash in small change
There are especially many small flying insects by the roadside, so it's best to prepare a mask in advance😷
If you have ample time after visiting Dinosaur Valley, you can go and experience the charm of the ancient town.
Kunming Surroundings | The Millennium Salt Capital - Heijing Ancient Town
Heijing Ancient Town day trip, there is only one train per day.
🦦 Travel Tips:
🚄 Kunming Station to Heijing 22.5💰, there is only one train per day, departing at 6:25 am and 4:22 pm. The morning time is quite early, if possible, you can find a place to rest near Kunming Station for the night. It's advisable to bring more drinking water, as there are almost no shops in the area.
🐎 Transportation:
After the train arrives, there is a certain distance to Heijing Ancient Town. Upon exiting the station, there will be cars 🚗 and horse-drawn carriages 🐎 offering rides, with the price being five💰 per person.
About Food:
We randomly chose a small shop opposite the vegetable market to eat beef rice noodles, which were very affordable at only 8💰 per bowl and the meat was plentiful.
We ate at Wu's at noon, which was a bit pricey. We ordered salt-baked chicken and pomegranate flower, and personally, I think the taste was just homemade, not as amazing as some netizens have described.
Ancient Town Street: Suitable for a leisurely stroll, taking photos, and when tired, you can find a shop by the river to sit, rest, and space out.
Temples: There seem to be several temples, and they all appear to charge an entrance fee. Interested friends can go have a look, and at Dalong Temple, you should be able to see Heijing.
Baishi Spring Well: Requires a ride to get there (five💰 per person), tell the locals it's Yanyuan Valley, which is actually a place for hiking, the whole journey takes about half an hour. There are caves carved out on the mountain, so be sure to do good sun protection before climbing, although there are shaded pavilions along the way, it's really hot when the sun is out.
Here are some suggestions for friends who are thinking of traveling to Yunnan recently
I believe many of you have thought about taking a trip to Yunnan lately, but may not know what to pay attention to. As a local Yunnan resident, I have a fair understanding of the place, and today I would like to share some of my experiences with you, hoping to make your journey more convenient.
The most important thing for traveling in Yunnan is sun protection. Be sure to prepare sunscreen, hats, sun protection scarves, sun protection clothing or sleeves, and sunglasses in advance. Do not underestimate the intensity of the UV rays in Yunnan; there are numerous cases of people getting sunburned because they took it lightly. Try to avoid outdoor activities from 12 PM to 4 PM, as I rarely go out during this time myself, and it's not enjoyable to play outside then.
Besides sun protection, female friends must pay attention to skin hydration, as from November to April of the following year is the dry season in Yunnan, with low humidity and dry air.
During this period, the temperature difference between day and night in Yunnan is quite significant. Be sure to prepare your clothes before coming. You should wear a coat in the morning and evening, and short sleeves at noon. If you are going to Lijiang and Shangri-La, be sure to bring more winter gear, otherwise, you will definitely regret it. Also, buy some oral glucose solution in advance, which can be drunk in case of altitude sickness or physical discomfort, and try not to use oxygen if possible.
Recently, it is the most stringent time for forest fire prevention, and some attractions in scenic areas are not open. Open fires are prohibited outdoors, and there are checkpoints at different locations where items like lighters are not allowed. If you are thinking about cooking outdoors, forget about it, and please cooperate with the forest fire prevention staff.
Lastly, before coming to Yunnan, please study your travel route well. Once in Yunnan, try to communicate more with the locals. You can find out from them where the fun places are and where the delicious food is, which can save you a lot of detours. For those traveling with a tour group, be sure to choose a large travel agency. If you encounter any problems during your trip, you can call 12301 to file a complaint.
That's all for today's sharing. I am 'Riding the Wind on a Journey', looking forward to your attention.
The tranquil and deserted Lianxiang Pass fades from its former bustle
Like a scene from a fantasy world of immortals and martial heroes, it is truly worth visiting for photography. This year, the rapeseed flowers bloomed particularly early, and recently it is the peak of their bloom, which perfectly complements the ancient post roads. The small path in front of the fortress gate, which is a necessary pass from Zhongqing to the ancient capital of Yunnan, was historically known as 'Yixi Road,' an important part of the ancient southwestern Silk Road. Among the 'Nine Passes and Eighteen Lodges,' only the third pass, Lianxiang Pass, still exists today! It was originally built during the Ming Dynasty.
The small village at this pass and the local residents live in harmony. Life is as plain as water yet profoundly real. From the entrance to the end of the pass, it stretches 750 meters, with five pass towers, one stone arch bridge, and dozens of salt merchant courtyards built along it. The ancient streets, residential courtyards, and Sanhua Temple are all there, with the hard bluestone road still clearly showing the hoof prints from years gone by.
Lufeng World Dinosaur Valley
Lufeng World Dinosaur Valley is located 23 kilometers south of Lufeng County, Chuxiong Prefecture, at Dinosaur Mountain in Anan Village, Chuanjie Township. Situated beside the Kunming-Chuxiong Expressway, it is 68 kilometers from Chuxiong City and is a dinosaur culture-themed park that integrates site protection, sightseeing, leisure, and scientific research.
The park is divided into two major areas: "Dinosaur Fossil Scientific Research and Sightseeing Area" and "Jurassic World Tourism Area". Since 1938, more than 120 relatively complete dinosaur fossil individuals have been excavated within Lufeng, spanning the Early, Middle, and Late Jurassic periods. Experts from China and abroad consider Lufeng to be one of the richest, most complete, oldest, and most primitive dinosaur fossil sites in the world, and it is known as the hometown of Chinese dinosaurs.
At the entrance plaza of the scenic area (Image 2), the sculpture above the words 'World Dinosaur Valley' is called 'Supreme Overlord', with a dinosaur claw holding up the entire Earth of the Jurassic period, symbolizing the dinosaurs as the absolute rulers of that era; the four pillars behind are called 'Dragon Pillars Supporting the Sky', which are said to be carved with 240 different dinosaurs (though that can't be verified by counting).
Scenic Area Map (Image 3) and Introduction to the Scenic Area (Image 4)
Entering the scenic area, you can see 1:1 dinosaur models everywhere (Image 5)
The core area of the entire scenic area, the China Lufeng Dinosaur Fossil Site (Image 6), is the world's largest indoor dinosaur fossil conservation site, a world-class dinosaur burial and excavation site, with the world's largest dinosaur fossil specimen mounting and display hall.
Dozens of mounted dinosaur fossils, majestic in appearance (Image 7)
The Anachuanjie Dragon, 27 meters long and 6.5 meters high, is the largest dinosaur mount in the exhibition hall (Image 8)
The famous Lufengosaurus (Image 9), Xu's Lufengosaurus is the first dinosaur excavated, studied, and mounted by the Chinese themselves, known as 'China's First Dragon', and has significant importance in the history of paleontological research in China (the first Xu's Lufengosaurus skeleton is currently housed in the Paleozoological Museum of China in Beijing)
Jiangyi Yuanmou Dragon, 17 meters long and 5.5 meters high (Image 10)
The world's largest indoor dinosaur fossil site - Lufeng Dinosaur Fossil Site excavation site (Image 11). Nearly 10,000 square meters of the dinosaur fossil conservation hall, with an excavation range of 130 meters long and more than 40 meters wide, contains over 400 dinosaur fossils, with more than 30 identifiable individuals exposed in the geological profile, and is one of the core conservation areas of the National Geological Park.
The site was discovered in 1995, and after two phases and five excavations, two deep pits were dug, covering an excavation area of 512 square meters, and the discovered dinosaur fossils span the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods, named the Chuanjie Dinosaur Fauna (Image 12).
Dinosaur Science Museum, the vast dinosaur family (Image 13)
240 million years ago, it was the largest dinosaur family on Earth, dominating the world for 175 million years, until their sudden disappearance 65 million years ago. It is these dinosaur fossils hidden in nature that have let humanity know that there was such a long and mysterious era of dinosaurs on Earth.
PS:
1. Dinosaur Valley has a dedicated expressway exit, making transportation extremely convenient.
2. Dinosaur Valley tickets come in different categories, which can be bundled with the amusement park or purchased separately for the site.
3. Shortly after getting on the expressway, there is a Dinosaur Mountain service area, which is a scenic service area, don't miss it as you pass by.
Lianxiang Pass
The Ancient Tea Horse Road of Lianxiang Pass in Lufeng County, Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, is located on Yaostation Street, Jinshan Town. 'Lianxiang Pass' was established in the Ming Dynasty (the 16th year of Chongzhen, AD 1643). It consists of four major parts: five pass towers, ancient streets, residential courtyards, and Sanhua Temple. The total length from the entrance to the end of the pass is 750 meters, with five pass towers, one stone arch bridge, and dozens of salt merchant courtyards, truly a rare sight. The ancient post road of 'Lianxiang Pass' is 2 meters wide, paved with hard local bluestone. Despite years of erosion by wind and rain, the hoof prints left by horses can still be clearly seen. The 'Lianxiang Pass' tower is over 12 meters high and nearly 9 meters wide, a three-story building. The lower level is a semi-circular city gate hole made of bluestone, and the second and third levels are wooden structures with circular corridors, battlements, and more. After entering the gate, another 50 meters leads to a pass tower called 'Guojie Tower', which is also a three-story building with flying eaves and a majestic presence; 200 meters further inside the pass is the 'West Gate Tower'; 50 meters from the West Gate Tower is the 'Chongguan Tower', which is the exit passage; outside the Chongguan Tower is also built the 'Dengmen Tower'. When you enter the ancient houses of the past, they are almost more than 100 meters deep, with three quadrangles and a layout of interconnected towers. Inside the courtyard, there are carvings of dragons and phoenixes, and the craftsmanship of the hollow-carved doors and windows is exquisite.
The peach blossoms are blooming one after another
🌟Highlights:
1. Take the high-speed train from Kunming to Lufeng, then transfer to the direct bus from Lufeng to Tuguan. It's a 70-plus kilometer drive, taking about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
2. The peach blossoms are blooming, and you can take beautiful photos effortlessly.
3. Few people and beautiful scenery
4. Cultural landscapes of Lufeng: the hometown of dinosaurs—Dinosaur Valley, the Western Yunnan Highway, Jiuguan Shida Pu including the Lianxiang Pass, the salt capital, and the salt-producing area—Heijing Ancient Town (there are direct buses to each attraction)
5. The food is inexpensive (Lufeng rice is very tasty)
Yunnan has another super niche and low-key ancient town worth visiting—Heijing Ancient Town
I discovered another super niche and low-key ancient town in Yunnan, the once prosperous but now forgotten 'Millennium Salt Capital'—Heijing Ancient Town. The ancient town and its surrounding natural scenery are all in earthy yellow, giving a sense of desolation and barrenness. Some remaining buildings and slogans make one feel as if they have traveled back to the 1960s and 1970s.
The ancient town is quite small, and it takes only about two hours to stroll around. There's not much commercial activity, so it's recommended to return on the same day or to visit other places.
📌Heijing Town, Lufeng City, Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture.
🚃Take the green-skin train from Kunming to get there directly, about 2.5h.
🚗If driving by yourself, it takes about 2.5h from Kunming and about 1.5h from Chuxiong.
Chuxiong, Yunnan, is a hidden gem for travelers in Yunnan
It is known as the 'Hometown of Dinosaurs,' 'Lufengpithecus,' 'Yuanmou Man,' and features the Yuanmou Earth Forest, Lion Mountain Peony, Zixi Mountain Tea, and the Yi Solar Calendar. Come and experience the charm of the Yi people in China!
In Chuxiong, you can see dinosaurs, wander through the Earth Forest, dress in Yi ethnic clothing to stroll through the ancient Yi capital, and deeply experience the slow-paced lifestyle.
🚗Transportation: You can fly directly to Kunming and then take a train or bus to Yuanmou County.
📍Train: There are several train routes from Kunming to Yuanmou. Trains starting with 'K' take about 4 hours, and a hard seat ticket costs around 40 yuan.
📍Bus: There are public buses from the Northwest Bus Station in Kunming directly to Yuanmou County, which takes about 3 hours to reach Yuanmou.
☀️Attractions:
✅Yuanmou Earth Forest: The Earth Forest is a group of columnar landforms shaped by soil deposits. Here you can see a variety of sand sculptures and mud carvings and a mysterious and bewildering geological landscape, making you feel as if you are in a magical palace of art.
✅Heijing Ancient Town: One of the four great ancient towns of Yunnan, it has been a place for tribute salt since ancient times. There are streets and alleys with Tang and Song Dynasty styles, residential buildings with Ming and Qing Dynasty styles, as well as steles, stone carvings, ancient pagodas, stone archways, ancient stages, and ancient temples, ancient salt wells, salt boiling households, etc., especially the well-preserved Ming and Qing architectural typical Wu family courtyard, all worth exploring slowly.
📍Famous attractions in Heijing Ancient Town include the Wu Family Courtyard, Longci, and Feilai Temple.
✅Zixi Mountain Scenic Area: The forest and exotic flowers and trees cover more than 96% of the area, with over 1500 species of plants and various natural landscapes, making it the largest forest park in Yunnan.
📍The camellias produced locally are a unique feature of Zixi Mountain. In the camellia garden near Ziding Temple, there is a camellia mother tree from the Yuan Dynasty, which is over 600 years old.
✅World Dinosaur Valley: This site has world-class dinosaur burial and excavation sites, which are the Jurassic late period dinosaur graveyards that shocked the world 180 million years ago.
📍There is also the world's number one mounted dinosaur fossil specimen and fossil boutique display. More than sixty Lufeng dinosaur fossil skeletons are mounted and displayed on the Santaplatz, with a majestic and truly shocking presence, setting a Guinness World Record!
Lufeng Dinosaur Valley
The hiking trail at Lufeng Dinosaur Valley is truly amazing! Along the way, you can see the interesting settlement organization within the village of Dinosaur Valley, the beautiful Yunnan-style vernacular architecture, and an ancient path at the entrance of the village that is filled with historical vicissitudes. Then, as you reach the mountain, you walk along the old trail of the Yunnan-Burma Railway, overlooking from the mountain, the scenery of the valley below is unobstructed, and you can also see several beautiful bridges and tunnels—these are the nationally protected 'Yunnan-Burma Railway Dinosaur Valley Bridge and Tunnel Group'. The bridge and tunnel group, once part of the railway line, has now been abandoned and become a monument, but it has been revitalized in outdoor tourism, spontaneously completing adaptive reuse without the help of professional architects or planners.
Qian Nian Salt Well Heijing Ancient Town
Heijing Ancient Town
📍Detailed address:
Heijing Ancient Town is located in Lufeng County, the "Hometown of Dinosaurs" in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province
🕙Opening hours:
24 hours
💰Ticket price:
No ticket
🚗Transportation:
✅Railway: You can take the train from Kunming to Panzhihua at Kunming Railway Station in Kunming City, and get off at Heijing Station, (take the 6162 train to Panzhihua at 7:20 every morning, arrive at 10:16 in the morning; return at 19:05 in the afternoon by the 6161 train, arrive at Kunming at 21:55, the ticket is 22.5 yuan or take the K114 train at 8:57, the ticket is 28.5 yuan can reach). The station is 4 kilometers away from the town. After getting off the train, you can take a horse-drawn carriage or walk to Heijing Ancient Town. The horse-drawn carriage costs about two or three yuan per person. Because Heijing Railway Station is a small station, there are only ordinary passengers, and there are more stops along the way than the express, you need to be patient when taking the train, and when you arrive at Heijing, the parking time is short, and you need to get on and off quickly.
✅Highway: Heijing Ancient Town is 111 kilometers away from Lufeng County. Self-driving cars can go from Lufeng→Jiuzhuang→Guangtong→Tuoan→Heijing. The road from Guangtong to Heijing is narrow and has many bends, and the road conditions are very poor. You need to pay special attention to safety. It takes about 4 hours to arrive. There are buses to Chuxiong, Lufeng, and Guangtong. Self-driving tour: 1, Kunming-Lufeng-Yipinglang-Dajiuzhuang-Guangtong-Tuoan-Heijing, a total of 194 kilometers.
🌟Highlights:
1️⃣Heijing has a long history. From the unearthed stone, pottery, bronze, animal bones and other cultural relics, it can be proved that the ancestors of ethnic minorities lived on this ancient land as early as 3200 years ago in the late Neolithic Age. During the Qing Dynasty, Heijing's salt industry reached its peak, and salt tax accounted for 64% of Yunnan's salt tax. Before liberation, Heijing set up a field affairs office, but the "invasion" of sea salt caused the former rich salt capital to decline due to the loss of its pillar.
2️⃣There are many cultural relics and historic sites in Heijing, including the prehistoric Shiba Li Tian Neolithic cultural site, the Yuan Dynasty cliff on Wanchun Mountain, the ancient Salt City Bridge built in the Yuan Dynasty, the Ming and Qing city embankments, and the 788-meter-long Shunhe Bridge.
🌋Main attractions:
The ancient town gate, Wu Family Courtyard, Dalong Temple, ancient salt workshop, Zhutian Temple, Shangwu Family Courtyard, Dezheng Room, Jie Xiao Zongfang, sun-dried salt, Hei Niu Salt Well, Confucian Temple, Qixing Terrace and other attractions are in the town, Feilai Temple, Wangjiang Pavilion, Xiangshan Temple, Wanshou Mountain Monk Tomb Group, Sanyuan Palace, Tiansheng Monument, Zhenjue Zen Temple, Zhenwu Guan, Tingtao Pavilion and other attractions are on the mountain.
🥣Food:
Heijing used to have the "Eight Eight" banquet, now there is a unique Buddhist vegetarian banquet and the "Eight Bowls Four Dishes" home banquet; salt-braised chicken, gray tofu, barbecue, roast skin, thin bean powder cake, beef dry bar, pomegranate flower and other delicious dishes, indescribable.
🏠Accommodation:
There are more inns and family-style hotels in Heijing Ancient Town. The best accommodation here is the Wu Family Courtyard, which has standard rooms and ordinary rooms, with good facilities and full of ancient charm.
📌Small Tips:
1️⃣Heijing Ancient Town Festival Activities: Lunar New Year's Day, Taiping Meeting, Torch Festival, Dongjing Meeting and other 8 traditional festivals.
2️⃣The slope of Heijing Feilai Temple is high and steep, the elderly and the weak should be cautious, it is a great challenge for adventure lovers.
3️⃣Heijing Ancient Town is surrounded by mountains and rivers, and the sound of the Longjing River is rushing. If there are insomniacs, it is best to choose the side of the mountain for accommodation.
Heijing Ancient Town
Lufeng World Dinosaur Valley Hot Spring Hotel, a five-star experience you deserve!
🏨Lufeng World Dinosaur Valley Hot Spring Hotel, a five-star experience you deserve!
👋Hello everyone, I'm back! This time I'm going to share my accommodation experience at Lufeng World Dinosaur Valley Hot Spring Hotel.👀
1️⃣Environment: 🌿The hotel is located in the Dinosaur Valley scenic area, with beautiful environment and fresh air, which is refreshing.
2️⃣Facilities: 🛁The hot spring facilities are complete, the water quality is excellent, soaking in the hot spring, as if the whole person has been healed.
3️⃣Service: 💁♀️The hotel's service staff are enthusiastic, attentive and thoughtful, making people feel at home.
4️⃣Catering: 🍽️The hotel's catering tastes rich, the ingredients are fresh, and people enjoy it.
5️⃣Room: 🛏️The room is luxuriously decorated, fully equipped, and comfortable.
Travel through a thousand years to the ancient town with Chinese style | Heijing Ancient Town
🍀The town is located in Lufeng City, the 'Hometown of Dinosaurs' in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, and has been a place for tribute salt production since ancient times. It is nestled against the mountains and the river, and is a town that has been sealed in the Longchuan River Valley for almost a century. It is one of the four ancient towns in Yunnan.
Location: Heijing Ancient Town, east side of Dalong Temple, Heijing Town, Lufeng City
🚗Transportation
1. Kunming Station - Heijing Station
Time: There is only one trip in the morning and evening each day
Morning 6:30 - 8:48
Afternoon: 16:24 - 19:53
✨There will be horse-drawn carriages and minibuses at the exit of Heijing Railway Station, 5r/person, about 3km from Heijing Ancient Town
2. Self-driving
Not recommended, the mountain road behind is not easy to walk
📷Travel Guide
1. Walk around the entire ancient town on foot, on the opposite side of the river, very few people, quiet and comfortable, there are bookstores, cafes or drinking houses by the river
2. Wu Family Mansion
The mansion of the large salt merchant Wu family is built against the mountain, with 99 rooms and 108 doors, a rare group of ancient residential buildings in Yunnan
3. Heijing Museum
Free, tells the history of Heijing Ancient Town and the glorious years of the salt merchants
4. Baishi Spring Well
The entire valley is full of white salt crystals, which need to be climbed on foot
5. Feilai Temple
A long-standing temple, you need to climb the mountain, you can overlook the panoramic view of Heijing Ancient Town
Kunming Surroundings｜Direct access by green-skin train, a low-key ancient town of a thousand years is explored like this
Fast-forwarding dramas at 1.5x speed
Running all the way during the morning rush hour
The daily chicken soup is very bland
...
If you are in the above situation
It's time to slow down
Go to an ancient town that was born for slowness and prospered because of salt
Eat salty, watch bland
Rediscover the rhythm of life~
🟢
2 days & 300 yuan budget
The green-skin train starts a leisurely journey
Heijing is one of the four major ancient towns in Yunnan, with only one green-skin train direct every day, it is unpopular and niche.
The Longchuan River meanders along the way, the rapeseed flowers are just blooming, and every frame of scenery can be seen clearly. The 2-hour journey is also enough to open a good book that has been put aside.
🟢
Ordinary lanes and worldly fireworks
It seems to see grandma's expectation
The neighborhoods of Heijing are known as living fossils of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In addition to houses and ancient buildings, every door, window, and shop front is also a feature. As time goes by, the shop front has become a flower stand. Every household has couplets and flowers everywhere, and the smell of worldly fireworks flows through the lanes.
On the way to Qing'an Embankment, I met an old man sunbathing, hunched over, old and kind. Perhaps when longing turns into expectation, time is dried by the wind and only the sun is accompanied, the only wish is for children and grandchildren to come home and have a hot meal together.
🟢
Watch the rise and fall of history and the ups and downs of the ancient town
A moment in life is the best script right now
The once wealthy wealth mystery area has also left many famous historical sites. It's just that the hustle and bustle of the martial arts courtyard, now only a few lively firecracker flowers are left to spit out the remaining flames. The ancient salt workshop was once prosperous, but it has also declined into a small handmade experience workshop...
When you plug in the 'Heijing' this pair of historical headphones, the cosmic radio is also quietly transmitting energy. Look, every script has an ending.
-
Go to Feilai Temple and climb three thousand steps to sweat a little
Go to the Confucian Temple to pick up a breeze in the shade of the green trees
Go to Qing'an Embankment to pick up a slightly yellowed leaf
Slow down
After all
The best plot is right now
-
💌Tips：
▪️Transportation: Train 7466/5, return journey can be transferred from Guangtong North, G2839 can seamlessly connect at the platform
▪️Must-visit attractions: Wu Family Courtyard, Confucian Temple, Profit Workshop, Five Horse Bridge, Festival Filial Piety General Workshop, Dragon Temple, Black Bull Salt Well, Feilai Temple, Ancient Salt Workshop
▪️The attractions are relatively concentrated, the ancient salt workshop is a bit far away, if you don't want to experience the manual work, you can ignore it
▪️Must-try food: Salt-braised chicken or salt-braised three-piece, gray tofu, bean yellow rice noodles, pear soup
▪️Recommended restaurants: Huiyoutang, Longchuan Halal Restaurant, Douhuang Rice Noodles
▪️Recommended hotel: Yueheng Hotel, next to Wu Family Courtyard, 200+/night
▪️You can't get a Didi in the town, you can leave a driver's phone number, 5/person from the train station to the ancient town, 15-20/trip for the return journey
▪️Don't take the horse-drawn carriage as soon as you get off the train, it's slow and bumpy. If you want to experience it, you can take it from the vegetable market to the ancient salt workshop
▪️It is recommended to arrange 2 days and 1 night, don't rush, the slower the rhythm, the more flavorful
▪️There will be a market on Sundays, which will be more lively
▪️It's very cold in the morning in winter, so wear more
The temple of Baiyi Nunnery in Lufeng County, Yunnan
An introduction to Baiyi Nunnery must mention the Peiyuan Palace in Lufeng. The Peiyuan Palace in Lufeng was initially built during the Tianqi period of the Ming Dynasty, originally a family temple built by Wang Xigun, the Minister of Rites and Grand Scholar of the East Pavilion. Wang Xigun, originally from Huayin, Shaanxi, followed the Southern General Fengchuan Hou Fu Youde and Xiping Hou Muying into Yunnan in the 14th year of Hongwu due to his merits, and was awarded the title of 'Right Guard Army Crown Belt General Flag', leading the army to settle in Lufeng. Wang Xigun followed his father's advice to study hard and made great progress in his studies. In the 43rd year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty, he became a scholar in the Yimao examination. In the second year of Tianqi, he went to the capital for the court examination, became a scholar in the Renxu examination, was selected into the Hanlin Academy as a Shujishi, and was appointed as a reviewer and compiler. At the time of his father's death, the emperor allowed him to return home for burial, and he mourned at home according to the regulations, advocating the construction of the 'Flying Rainbow Bridge' (Fengyu Bridge), which was convenient for the people to travel. It was at this time that the Peiyuan Palace was built, with the Lanxi Ancient Ancestral Hall built inside the palace. The ancestral hall is a place to worship the ancestors of the Wang family. There is also a school in the palace. The nine rooms of the temple are meant to represent the return of the nine to the truth. The temples are respectively the Lingguan Temple, the Ancestor Temple, the Thunder God Temple, the Three Officials Temple, the Gods Temple, the Dou Father Dou Mother Temple, the Guanyin Temple, the Three Pure Ones Temple, and the Jade Emperor Temple.
In the third year of Yongli, his son Zi Ji petitioned the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Rites approved the 'excellent mourning', conferred the posthumous title of 'loyalty and integrity', and later added the posthumous title of 'literary and resolute', 'granted sacrifice and burial', and erected a stone stele on the Gongji Mountain Ridge 15 li south of the county town. The tombstone has been damaged. The ancient post road of Lufeng, the 'Shi Yun Nunnery' stone gate natural barrier, erected the 'Former Residence of Ming Dynasty Grand Scholar Wang Wenyi' stone stele, which still exists today. Later, due to the chaos of Shadingzhou, many of the Wang clan were killed, and the Peiyuan Palace was also destroyed. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, Wang Jingting, a descendant of the Wang family, rebuilt it, but it was destroyed by war. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, Wang Wuji, the sixteenth generation descendant of the Wang family, led the descendants of the family to rebuild it. Until the founding of the People's Republic of China, it was destroyed due to the 'Four Olds', and the property was divided into private residential land.
After the policy of religious freedom was restored, the Baiyi Nunnery was rebuilt. Wang Yingke, the seventeenth generation descendant of the Wang family, found more than thirty old Taoist priests and began to prepare to restore the scriptures and revive the Peiyuan Palace Cave Scripture Association, and also participated in the construction of the Baiyi Nunnery. By 1991, the Daxiong Hall and Guanyin Hall of Baiyi Nunnery were completed, and the Taoist congregation of Peiyuan Palace began to carry out religious activities in the Guanyin Hall of Baiyi Nunnery.
In 2006, due to the fact that the Baiyi Nunnery in Lufeng was an open place for Buddhism, various changes occurred, and the Taoist congregation of the Peiyuan Palace Dharma lineage was also forced to leave the Baiyi Nunnery. After leaving the Baiyi Nunnery, the Taoist congregation vowed to restore the ancestral temple at the old site of the Peiyuan Palace in the Dabeichang of Lufeng, but the ancestral temple has been occupied by five households, and the relocation cost is high, so it has not been restored at the original site. Later, with the help of believers, a simple hall was built in Dongsheng Xiaokang Village, Dajing Street, Jinshan Town, Lufeng County, to carry out religious activities. In 2013, it was built into a brick and wood house, with the Three Pure Ones Hall, Three Officials Hall, Gods Hall, City God Hall, Earth Master Pavilion, Kitchen, etc. built.
Lost in the castle of time: Lianxiang Pass (Part I)
In the cold winter morning, we set off from Kunming by car, looking for the unforgettable image of Lianxiang Pass on the ancient Yixi Road imprinted in our minds.
Starting from Anning City, taking the old road of National Highway 320, the car spirals like a snail on the first international passage of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau - the Burma Road, also known as the Stilwell Road. The mountains and valleys are dangerous, the valleys are deep and the walls are steep, suddenly up and down, from the top of the mountain to the deep valley, walking in the valley or the mountainside, the car enters and exits in the clouds, occasionally a horn sounds from the opposite side, rumbling, a truck like a train, occupying the road and coming head-on, scaring the three souls to only one soul, so we have to stop by the road to let it pass.
Carefully and nervously driving past Luduan and Tuguan, we saw the whole view of Lianxiang Pass in the red canyon at the highest point of Yanglaoshao.
Lianxiang Pass, also known as Waist Station, is the third pass in the 'Nine Passes and Eighteen Shops' of the ancient Yixi Road. From Yanglaoshao, it is high at both ends and low in the middle, a street runs through the whole city, the whole city is less than a square kilometer, no wonder the ancients vividly called it 'Waist Station'.
The city tower of Lianxiang Pass in winter, slowly lifts the fog shrouded on it under the sunshine, the small river under Yanqing Bridge, the waves are quietly flowing without surprise.
Although it is a 'pass', there is no noisy howling, it is like a fossil standing quietly at the head of the ancient city, basking in the sun, completely silent. I really doubt if I went to the wrong place - is this a grand pass?
I always thought that a 'pass' is majestic and tall, whether it is the official or the common people, when they come to the pass, they must dismount, they have to bow their heads. When I really came to the ancient pass, the expected hustle and bustle, the horse teams were purely nonexistent, which inevitably made people feel surprised or disappointed.
From the fork of Yangjiazhuang on National Highway 320 to Lianxiang Pass is only 2 kilometers, but these two kilometers seem like two different worlds, as if time has stopped here.
Everything in Lianxiang Pass is quietly sleeping: quiet streets, quiet residents, quiet temples, quiet city towers.
Lianxiang Pass
The Castle Lost in Time: Lianxiang Pass (Part 2)
The current Lianxiang Pass city, initially built in the 16th year of Chongzhen (1643), has a stone wall surrounding it, with only one street and four city gates.
The street is over 800 meters long from east to west, with a stone arch bridge in the middle, standing with five gate towers. They are Lianxiang Pass Tower, Overstreet Tower, West Gate Tower, Heavy Gate Tower, and Ascending Gate Tower.
The 800-meter-long street is divided into upper, middle, and lower streets, which also divide people into different classes.
The Overstreet Tower to the City Gate Tower is the upper street, where the government offices are located. There are local patrol inspection offices, supervision and sales offices, and other yamen.
The Heavy Gate Tower to the Overstreet Tower is the middle street, a gathering area for salt merchants and wealthy households. This area gathers the largest salt number of Zhang Bing Zhang in Lianxiang Pass, the former provincial assemblyman Liu Junan Liu's salt number; and dozens of large, medium, and small horse shops led by the Xu family. If it is a street day, thousands of horses and merchants stay in Lianxiang Pass, and the business of salt shops, horse shops, blacksmith shops, rice shops, and silver shops is booming.
The Heavy Gate Tower to the Ascending Gate Tower is called the lower street, where most of the craftsmen such as silversmiths, blacksmiths, stonemasons, pot makers, leather workers, tailors, painters, and barbers gather. The beggars in the Flower Son Temple outside the Ascending Gate Tower are singing 'Lianhua Luo' and begging in the pass, forming a bizarre prosperity in the pass.
According to records, historically, Lianxiang Pass once had seven gate towers, four bridges, and more than 1,400 households and 6,500 people at its peak in the late Qing Dynasty.
Every day, the horse teams entering and exiting the pass, driving thousands of horses, transport more than 100,000 catties of salt, tea, and other local products to Kunming every year, and carry back foreign goods such as foreign bowls, foreign oil, foreign yarn, foreign cloth, foreign umbrellas, perfume, foreign alkali, foreign fire, foreign iron, foreign basins, etc., and bring foreign culture back to Lianxiang Pass, transporting it to various places in western Yunnan.
After experiencing years and storms, the prosperity of Lianxiang Pass once fell into the long river of history.
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