Bisezhai, a century-old station on the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway

The Bisezhai Scenic Area is located in Mengzi City, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. It is a scenic area built around an old railway station and is also one of the most famous tourist attractions in Mengzi City. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, which started construction in 1903 and was fully operational by 1910, connects Kunming in Yunnan with Haiphong in Vietnam. It is China's first international railway, and Bisezhai is one of the earliest train stations in modern Chinese history, still in use today. This station is of great significance for studying the history of the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway and the development of railways in China. Friends who are interested should definitely come and take a look.

Yunnan Off-the-Beaten-Path Travel Guide, Start with Mengzi City Walk

Mengzi, truly a treasure trove of a place, is also one of my favorites. This is a tourist destination that blends natural scenery with a rich historical and cultural heritage, and it comes highly recommended. Here, it's especially suitable to slow down and empty your mind to feel everything about this city. 🚩 Mengzi Travel Tips ✅ Recommended city walk route around Nanhu Lake: Former French Consulate - Great Qing Post Office - Southwest Associated University - Pioneer Bookstore - French Garden - Golum Commercial Firm - Zhou Family Mansion - Yu Huang Pavilion 🚩 Must-Visit Recommendations in Mengzi ✅ Pioneer Bookstore: Not far from the Associated University, you can also sit in the university's cafe, which is particularly suitable for taking photos and checking in ✅ French Garden: A yellow two-story Western building, occupied by a unit, but the attic still has old photos ✅ Former French Consulate: No entrance fee, recommended for a visit ✅ Post Office: Has an exhibition hall, where you can better understand the history of Bisezhai; ✅ Southwest Associated University: Definitely recommended, where you can understand the past history and culture (note the business hours during workdays) ✅ Zhou Family Mansion: An interesting place, also great for taking photos ✅ Yu Huang Pavilion: Right next to the old Zhou residence, some temple buildings have been reinforced, worth a visit 🚩 Surrounding Recommendations and Must-Visits ✅ Dian-Vietnam Railway Historical and Cultural Park ✅ Bisezhai Station ✅ Yuan Shi Cave ✅ Nanhu Yingzhou Pavilion ✅ Dayakou Viewing Platform ✅ Mengman Ancient Trail ✅ Nisu Town and Ethnic Villages ✅ Mengzi Pomegranate Park 🍜 Mengzi Food Recommendations ✅ Crossing-the-Bridge Rice Noodles ✅ Dipping Roll Powder ✅ Zhadian Milk ✅ Papaya Water 🏨 Accommodation Recommendations ✅ Suggest staying near Nanhu Park for convenience ✅ Most attractions in Mengzi city area are nearby and within walking distance 🚄 Transportation Information ✅ Take a train to Mengzi Station (take a taxi from the station to the vicinity of Nanhu) ✅ Self-driving

Mengzi Travel Guide Manual,,

Yunnan Mengzi | Three-day Two-night Travel Guide|||Mengzi is not just about Crossing-the-Bridge Noodles. This place has created a lot of history. It was a dazzling city during the Republic of China era, where two hundred-year-old Yunnan-Vietnam railways met, witnessing the rise and fall of Mengzi, and the red memories have written its glory. Come to Mengzi! The blend of food and culture will leave you with endless memories. 📍D1 Non-urban area: Various places—Arrive at Mengzi—Bise Village—Dayakou Viewing Platform—Urban area—Check into hotel ✨Bise Village One of the Yunnan-Vietnam railway stations back in the day, the century-old charm is something other attractions cannot replicate. The promotion of the movie 'Youth' has made this small town more well-known. A must-visit spot in Mengzi, spend 10 yuan to rent a set of Republic of China attire and capture our own 'Youth'. ✨Dayakou Viewing Platform The scenery is great, overlooking the entire Mengzi, waiting for a spectacular sunset. Go when it's clear, it's very cold up there, so wear more clothes ——————————————————— 📍D2 Urban area: Southwest Associated University (Mengzi Branch Memorial) — Southwest Associated University Museum — Pioneer Bookstore — Zhou Family Mansion — Jade Emperor Pavilion — Red River Museum — Nisu Town — Dashuzhai Night Market Street ✨Southwest Associated University A university during the war period, preserving the spark of education for a nation in turmoil, nurturing the future of the country. Although it only lasted for 8 years due to bombings, it was short-lived but produced many talents, and is the Mount Everest in the history of Chinese education. Visit the educational scenes of the students, and the residence of Mr. Wen Yiduo ✨Southwest Associated University Museum It has three floors, cultural relics, real-life displays, documentary clips, old photos, drama clips, etc., to understand the history of Southwest Associated University and step into this passionate youth. ✨Pioneer Bookstore A very uniquely designed bookstore, three sides are books, one side is a lake, pick a book you like, order a cup of Yunnan coffee, sit facing the South Lake, fulfilling and comfortable. Don't forget to check in with this Western-style bell tower building✌🏻 ✨Zhou Family Mansion The old residence of Zhou Baizhai, a wealthy and influential family in Mengzi, now open as the Wangyun Museum. It has a mix of Chinese and Western architecture, great for photography, and visit more than 1000 plaques. ✨Red River Museum Detailed records of the history of the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, minority culture, and art. ✨Nisu Town Beautiful sunset scenery, you can ride a bicycle around the lake during the day, and in the evening, enjoy the sunset and evening glow with a breeze across from Datunhai. 📍D3: Return trip ——————————————————— 🚄Mengzi Transportation 1. Take the high-speed train from Kunming to Honghe Station, then take a 13-minute train to Mengzi Station, and take bus No. 18 to near Nanhu Park 2. Take the train from Jianshui, Mile, or Gejiu to Mengzi Station, which is close to the urban area 🏰Mengzi Accommodation Stay near Nanhu Park, the urban area is convenient for transportation and very lively. 🥘Mengzi Cuisine 🎨Mengzi Chrysanthemum Crossing-the-Bridge Noodles (origin of Crossing-the-Bridge Noodles) 🎨Litsea Dipping Sauce Rolled Rice Noodles 🎨Grilled Tofu 🎨Vietnamese Small Rolled Rice Noodles 🎨Eight Dishes (including Cold Chicken Salad, Pressed Chicken, Pressed Pork, Exploded Fried Pork, Pressed Egg Rolls, Steamed Pork, Three-Strand Stir-Fried Noodles, Trotter Bamboo Shoots) 🎨Steamed Meat Rice

Bise Village

We set off from Jingxi to Yanshan in Yunnan, rested for one night, and then continued driving to Bise Village the next day. Bise Village is located in Caoba Town, Mengzi City, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. It was established in 1909 and features a unique French architectural style, resembling a French town. It is the core hub of the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway and one of the oldest train stations in China. Bise Village is surrounded by mountains, with the village nestled against the mountains and water. The green mountains and clear waters reflect the bright sunshine, while the quaint architectural style, the stone roads filled with historical memories, the station, and the railway tracks form a beautiful picture.

Bise Village, the years cannot erase your traces, what remains is precisely your "prime of life"

Bise Village, a train station, a village, the ancient railway tracks, mottled yellow walls and red tiles, and the still French-style wall clock, all bear witness to a century of historical vicissitudes, sealing dust-covered romantic bittersweet stories, and inheriting a diverse frontier culture! The chef at the Bise Village guesthouse is said to have been from the Tianyuan Grand Hotel before, and the chrysanthemum cross-bridge rice noodles are still great. There is a La Qingguo tin craftsmanship studio, which just has a hot wine pot, and also a rooster pattern, matching the attributes, so I bought one and have been using it.

To honor the century-old French-style train station, I made a trip to Mengzi

When I stood in front of the railway station at Bisezhai in Mengzi, It seemed as though I could see the teachers and students of the National Southwest Associated University, The vibrant faces of the National Southwest Associated University, Singing in unison about this life, 'Only ask about courage, never question east or west.' - This international railway, carved through mountains and valleys purely by human strength, connects China and Vietnam. Due to its track gauge of 1 meter, it is also known as the 'meter-gauge railway.' The British 'The Times' once ranked it alongside the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, the Panama Canal, and the Suez Canal as one of the three great engineering wonders of the world. Back then, many teachers and students of the National Southwest Associated University traveled via the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, arriving at Bisezhai Station, and then took a small green-stone train to Mengzi, starting that heroic chapter of the history of saving the nation through knowledge. Caravans and merchants also used this Yunnan-Vietnam Railway to open the doors to global trade. - The unique meter-gauge, the retro platforms... Today's Bisezhai still retains its original appearance from when it opened in 1910 Dress up in a Republic of China student outfit It's quite a scene for photos

Experience the charm of Mengzi and enjoy the symphony of life, on the 58th day of the drive around China

May 11, 2023, the 58th day of the drive around China, from Jingxi, Guangxi to Mengzi, Yunnan. If you drive along the G219 national road, the mountain roads are rugged and narrow, and it is very time-consuming. Choose to drive directly on the highway, avoiding this section of the national road, and reach Mengzi City directly. Surprisingly, the speed limit on this mountainous section of the highway in Guangxi is 120 kilometers. I have the utmost disdain for the low speed limits and the trap of fines on the highways. It's hard to imagine that in Mengzi, there hides a lake like Nanhu. Nanhu was formed by the accumulation of rainwater, and was developed into a reservoir during the Ming Dynasty, formerly known as Caohu. Three mounds of earth were piled up in the lake, named Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou Islands respectively. With thousands of hectares of clear waves and willows lining the banks, the water of Nanhu is extremely beautiful. The scenery is surprisingly reminiscent of old Beijing, and the lotus pond brings back memories of Shengping. Walking by the lake, one forgets the hustle and bustle of the world and returns to the tranquility of nature. Bizhai was a desolate and uninhabited place at the end of the Qing Dynasty, named after the station. Bizhai Station began construction in 1905, with a European style. In 1909, the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway (meter gauge) opened to traffic, and it became a hub for trade and transportation. The hotels, restaurants, and coffee shops in the village were numerous, forming a small-scale World's Fair. For the following forty years, it was a time of great prosperity. Now the station has long been abandoned, and its legendary history has also faded. A narrow-gauge train station full of sentiment, suitable for leisurely photo-taking and remembrance, has recently become popular on the internet due to director Feng Xiaogang's movie 'Youth'. After the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway was opened, Bizhai Railway Station rose to become the largest station on the railway, the place where the 'Ge Bishi Railway' (narrow gauge) intersected and transferred, Ge Bishi (Gejiu-Bizhai—Shiping) is the most sovereignly complete railway in modern Chinese history. The cuisine of Mengzi is also a highlight, with local delicacies such as Mengzi's rice noodles and Mengzi rice cakes being very popular with tourists. When night falls, the night market in Mengzi becomes extraordinarily lively, with a dazzling array of delicious foods that make one's mouth water. Mengzi is a city full of charm. Whether it's natural scenery or cultural landscapes, it makes people linger and forget to return.

Bisezhai Station | The once quiet French-style station has become bustling and a popular spot for internet celebrities

Located on the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, Bisezhai Railway Station was not very well-known before, but it became a hit on the internet due to movies like 'Youth' being filmed there. It was once an important hub of the Southern Yunnan Railway, built in 1909, the station retains French architectural styles with red tiles and yellow walls, and there are many historical relics and sites, attracting numerous tourists every day. In 2013, it was announced as the seventh batch of 'National Protected Sites'. Bisezhai, originally named 'Poxin', was named by a French official stationed in Mengzi who discovered the scenic beauty of the mountains and sea here. Walking into Bisezhai, the mottled yellow walls and red tiles, the still French clocks, and the railway tracks stretching to the horizon form a unique landscape in the eyes of visitors. The existing Datong Company, Golum Hotel, and Annan Coffee House, as well as the old site of the Tax Bureau within the scenic area, are all must-visit spots in Bisezhai. 🌈Highlights: ✅ Bisezhai Railway Station, designed by the French, with red tiles, yellow walls, and wooden shutters in French architectural style, is the station building of Bisezhai Railway Station. ✅ The eaves are supported by steel frames, and these rusty steels are produced by the same steel factory that supplied the steel for the Eiffel Tower in France. ✅ The exterior wall of the Bisezhai branch of the Customs is plastered with many posters and shooting highlights of the movie 'Youth'. When the movie was released in 2018, Bisezhai became a hot topic again. ✅ Bisezhai Station is the world's first coordinate point of the Tropic of Cancer, located near the three-faced clock. ✅ In 1909, when the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway reached Bisezhai, it was the only first-class station. After the opening of the Bise Railway, the volume of passenger and freight transport surged, merchants gathered, and it became an important material transit center and trade distribution center in Yunnan, known as the 'Little Paris of the East'. 🎫Ticket: Free 🚗Transportation: Public transportation is not convenient, it is recommended to drive or charter a car to get there

Checking in at Bisezhai

Bisezhai, one of Yunnan's eighteen oddities, is known for the saying 'trains are not as fast as cars, but connect internationally rather than domestically.' It is a key cultural relic protection site in Yunnan Province. After years of obscurity, it has come back into the limelight thanks to Director Feng's movie 'Youth.' The century-old train station, with its meter-gauge and narrow-gauge railways, as well as buildings with exotic features such as the station house, water tower, and hotel, are well-preserved, maintaining their original appearance from when they opened in 1910. It was the largest station on the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway in the early 20th century, bustling with people loading and unloading goods, washing cars, and adding water. It was envied by people from Kunming and Vietnam and was called the 'Little Paris of the East.' The scenic area does not charge an entrance fee, and private cars are not allowed to drive directly into the scenic area. Visitors must park in the parking lot, which is about 2.3 kilometers from the core attractions. Walking there involves climbing a hill, so taking the scenic area's electric shuttle is easier, with a one-way trip costing 10 yuan and a round trip 20 yuan. During the Spring Festival period, compared to Yunnan's popular tourist spots, this place is not very crowded. With the climate being neither cold nor hot, strolling around can relax one's mood, offering a comfortable and pleasant experience. Bisezhai Scenic Area

As green as ever, the bloom is not far

The century-old station on the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway!. Mengzi, this comfortable small town, has a quiet and beautiful village. Because of its beautiful scenery facing the mountain and the sea, it is named 'Bise Village'~ Bise Village Railway Station is one of the oldest railway stations in China, with a French-style architectural style. Combined with Yunnan's weather conditions, it looks good most of the time even with casual mobile phone shots. The small railway platform is full of memories of a generation. The apricot yellow of the brick wall is the color of time. The branding red of the wooden door is the trace of the years. I believe that most people got to know this place in the year of 'Fanghua'. As a niche travel destination, many literary enthusiasts come here for its reputation~ Here, time seems to stand still, the years are quiet, and the bloom is as ever. Transportation: Self-driving to and from Jianshui or Mengzi; or take a bus to Caoba in Mengzi City, get off halfway, about 25 minutes, and you can hail a bus on the side of the road on the way back.

Yunnan Mengzi's Cross-Bridge Rice Noodles

Mengzi, the capital of Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture. The car was still on the road when it started to rain outside. The vehicle could only go halfway up the mountain, and non-locals could not continue to move forward, so they had to get off and walk. The Sino-Vietnamese railway in Bisezhai is a highlight of Mengzi, which was one of the filming locations of the movie 'Youth'. There is also a martyr's cemetery about the Sino-Vietnamese War, located in the southern part of the city. The Cross-Bridge Rice Noodles here are very famous. Take Yi Tiange (an authorized store of Mengzi Cross-Bridge Rice Noodles brand) as an example, they make a bowl of rice noodles like a dish, with the rice noodles and side dishes neatly placed on a bridge-shaped wooden structure. Pour the soup into the bowl in turn, which is quite different from the mainland.

Going to Yunnan will hit the card! The tour "Fanghua" shooting location --- Yunnan Mengzi Bize Village Station. Someone came for "Fanghua". In the era of gunfire and shells, everyone was using their lives and blood to bloom their own Fanghua; some came for the prosperity of the past, The railroad track that disappeared at the end of the distance, leaving a mark on the three-sided clock and the white stop sign of the lockout; some people are like us, dressed in Fanghuali's costumes, recalling "Fanghua" in the afternoon of Bicolor Village. Departed from Mengzi and arrived in Bishai Village in less than 20 minutes. clothes are rented on the street, 10 yuan a set, no limit, hats, clothes, pants, belts, shoes, pockets, water bottles can be rented, girls hair boss can also help you tie a small . Tour time is about an hour. tip

Going to Yunnan Tourism will hear people say: "Yunnan 18 strange" and two of them: the train does not have a car fast, the railway does not pass the domestic pass abroad. One of the railways is the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, and the train is the meter-rail train. The Bishai Village Station, which is here because of Fanghua, is the intersection of the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway and the Bishi Railway. Strictly speaking, the starting point of a Bishi Railway should belong to Bishai Village Station. As one of the only two special stations in the Yunnan section of the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, Bisizhai Station was more prosperous due to the connectivity of the Bishi Railway. Once known as the Eastern Little Paris ~ Bicolor Village in the Republic of China 10 years (1921) a Bi-road railway, as the intersection of the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway and a Bishi Railway, the import and export goods of Weinan are transited by Bise Village.