Shaxi Ancient Town is a place where time is not old. It is located between Dali and Lijiang, surrounded by green mountains and has a long history. The ancient stone slabs and the narrow alleys bear the traces of time and the simplicity of natural carving.

As the last stop of Dali's journey north of Yunnan, the declining Tea Horse Ancient Road and the surrounding mountains allow Shaxi to retain the complete style of the important town of the Tea Horse Ancient Road. In conjunction with high-level planning, design and upgrading, it shows both Original ecological and beautiful traditional Chinese painting scenery.

If you only choose one ancient town when you come to Yunnan, you must go to Shaxi. In addition to the ancient town itself, Shaxi is also surrounded by many niche scenic spots. These scenic spots have fewer tourists and retain complete cultural and historical charm. They are very suitable for selective check-in visits during the day.

Ancient village group

Distance: About 3 kilometers each

Transportation: Walking

There are many very primitive ancient villages scattered around Shaxi, all within a few kilometers of Shaxi Ancient Town. It is very suitable for you to visit it selectively based on your time and energy.

1. Silian Village

Silian Village is named because it consists of four villages of different sizes, so it is named Silian Village. These include villages such as Damudu and Jinshuhe.

Silian Village is most famous for its stage hall at the entrance of the village. The core buildings of the hall are tall stage and shrine, which are restored and revitalized by Americans. Today, it is both an inn, a cafe, and a tourist attraction.

The owner is said to be a local English teacher and kept the ancient buildings of the stage hall in the 18th century.

2. Hualong Village

Coming out of Shaxi Ancient Town, follow the direction of Yujin Bridge on the east side and cross a farmland to Hualong Village.

Shaxi is surrounded by mountains, and several surrounding villages are also built in the basin. Hualong is the highest village in the entire Shaxi River.

The red earth walls and blue tiles reveal simplicity and literature everywhere. There is a very low-key B & B on the top of the mountain-the Cape of Good Hope, which occupies a good location. At the highest point of the village, you can overlook the panoramic view of Shaxi and you can sit and rest., drink tea and have some snacks.

3. Changle village

Changle Village, like Shaxi Ancient Town, is antique, but still maintains the most original architectural characteristics. It is one of the representatives of the Cultural Village. Its sense of age is reflected in the neat and symmetrical door decorations, wall paintings and mottled and incomplete big-character posters, which is worth seeing.

There is a Sansheng Temple in the village, which was covered with curtains by local people during the Cultural Revolution, allowing the exquisitely crafted wood carving doors and windows of that time to be completely preserved.

bailongtan

Distance: About 8 kilometers

Transportation: About 10 minutes by car

Chartered car within 10 yuan

About 8 kilometers away from Shaxi Sideng Street is the very famous White Dragon Pool. This is the spring outlet of the White Dragon Pool. Although it is not big, it is surrounded by ancient trees and is very quiet. When the flowers are in full bloom, local people like to come here together. Picnic.

It is a natural mountain spring near Hongxing Village. It is said that this clear pool water is the source of food for local people. The White Dragon Pool has a large amount of water that continues all year round and is crystal clear. There are many thick ancient trees such as magnolias, acacia, chestnut trees, pine and cypress by the pool. The branches are vigorous, and some branches and leaves stretch to the water surface, giving the scenery beautiful and unique.

In the hot summer, the green algae at the bottom of the water make the pool green. Sitting quietly and sightseeing by the pool, you feel cool physically and mentally.

shibaoshan

Distance: 15 kilometers after entering the intersection, walk 2 kilometers to the gate of the scenic area

Transportation: About 10 yuan/person for chartered car and 3 yuan/person for motorcycle (not recommended if it is unsafe)

Tickets: 65 yuan If you have a long journey, take water and protect yourself from the sun

If you have a whole day in Shaxi, it is highly recommended to visit Shibao Mountain. Because the red sand and gravel on the mountain have turtle backs like cracks, like lions, elephants and clocks, it is named Shibao.

Shibao Mountain is a Danxia landform, with strange peaks formed by spherical wind fossils. The stones are like bells, arrows, lions, and elephants. The heights form cliffs, scattered and unique. Chinese ranger Xu Xiake also came here. He said in "Journey to the Stone Baoshan":"The stone surface has patterns like dragon scales."

There is Baoxiang Temple here with a history of more than 800 years. The temple and temple are built against rocks and rocks. It is known as the "Yunnan Hanging Temple". There are many macaques from the Ganges River in India near Baoxiang Temple. Be careful not to be scratched when feeding.

Continuing south is the Shizhong Mountain Grottoes dug in the Tang and Song Dynasties (Nanzhao and Dali States). They have a history of more than 1100 years. Their superb carving craftsmanship has been relatively intact and are known as the "Dunhuang of the Southwest". There is not only the statue of the King of Nanzhao here, but also the Ayu white stone carving that is shocking and worshiped with Buddha.

Walking to the back of Shizhong Mountain, you will suddenly see scattered farmland and villages. It is still about 2-3 kilometers away from Shaxi Ancient Town after walking down from Bazi. You can take a bus or walk slowly back.

Sha Dengjing

Distance: 3KM, approximately 50 minutes

Transportation: Walking

Starting from Shaxi Temple Street, you can use light hiking under the leadership of local people to reach the top of the Shadengjing Secret Realm.

This is a magical valley, with gurgling streams in mountain streams,"stone-blooming" Danxia landform, vast blue skies and flowing clouds, emerald green pine trees and various weeds and wildflowers... In the best view, overlooking Shaxi, it is appropriate to take pictures of the concave shape.

The most surprising thing is that in this deserted mountain in the southwestern border area, there are actually five grottoes built in the Tang and Song Dynasties. Although it is not as big as Shibao Mountain in scale, the excavation time is similar to that of Shibao Mountain Grottoes, and its artistic shape and style are similar.

On the way up the mountain, you can also see red sand horseshoe prints left during the ancient tea-horse road, as well as a Ming Dynasty tomb that has been stolen many times. You can also see Baoxiang Temple built on the cliff from afar.

If you don't have time to rush to Shibao Mountain, it's a good choice to have a look here.

If Shaxi is compared to a pearl in the mountains of northwest Yunnan, these niche scenic spots around it are like stars.

Those walls and landscapes are like dumb ancient music, an ancient stage, an old locust tree, and an old village. The tranquility of the town will make your heart quiet.

There are a lot of scenic spots, monuments, natural landscapes, ethnic customs and folk customs around Jianchuan Shaxi... waiting for your arrival, and may even allow you to gain the most unexpected scenery on your journey!