Things to do in Honghe

The architecture is distinctive, and it's quite photogenic. However, it's essentially a modern, man-made tourist attraction; it's not particularly interesting, with nothing particularly fun or story-driven. People who enjoy taking photos and checking off landmarks can come here; it's definitely suitable for posing and taking pictures.

The parking lot was large and convenient. Since we were traveling with elderly people, we bought round-trip shuttle bus tickets directly to the Buddha statue, which was quite comfortable. However, the Buddha statue itself wasn't very impressive. Instead, there were many people buying lottery tickets near the Buddha statue, but the lottery shop was selling to minors, which was shocking. We chose to walk down the mountain on the way back. The Maitreya Temple was quite nice.

The Jianshui mini-train experience is great. It departs from Lin'an Station and stops at Shuanglong Station, Xianghuiqiao Station, and Tuanshan Station in sequence. Tuanshan Village preserves ancient buildings such as Ming and Qing dynasty residences, village gates, and ancestral halls. It's a good place to eat grass sprout rice noodles and take photos.

Great! There are fun activities during the National Day holiday. You can exchange empty water bottles for silver tickets, play games to earn more silver tickets, and then use those silver tickets to bid on items at an auction. The kids love it.

A truly breathtaking sight! I saw both the sunrise and sunset! Countless terraced fields cascaded down, dazzling even more in the sunlight! A World Heritage site sculpted by the earth, its visual impact is phenomenal, but it's highly dependent on the season, weather, and luck. It's a destination "worth a special trip, but you can't always witness this divine spectacle."

Jianshui Ancient City | A Thousand-Year-Old Lin'an, Hiding Yunnan's Gentlest Slow Time ✨ Having traveled through many ancient cities in Yunnan, I have a particular fondness for Jianshui. Unlike the bustling crowds of Dali and Lijiang, this ancient city of Lin'an, with its thousand-year history, is a truly living ancient city. There's no excessive commercialization or dense clusters of trendy shops; only the rich cultural heritage and the everyday life brimming with life, hiding the leisurely pace of southern Yunnan's life within the ancient alleyways and blue-brick walls passed down through the years. The moment you step into the ancient city, all the anxieties of your journey are soothed. The winding bluestone paths, polished by centuries of wind and rain, are both warm and rustic. Along the streets are well-arranged Ming and Qing dynasty houses and elegant stone archways, their upturned eaves embodying Chinese aesthetics, their mottled walls etched with the marks of time. Deep within the alleys, locals still live and work for generations, with wisps of smoke rising from chimneys in the morning and leisurely conversations in the afternoon—a blend of everyday life and ancient charm, gentle and healing. The spirit of the ancient city is hidden in its cultural heritage passed down through generations. The Chaoyang Tower, standing majestically in the east of the city for six hundred years, bears witness to the vicissitudes of Jianshui over a millennium. Greeting the sunrise and bidding farewell to the sunset, it is the most captivating landmark of the ancient city. The Jianshui Confucian Temple, the largest in China, is tranquil and serene. Ancient cypress trees reach for the sky, and the Pan Pond reflects the surrounding landscape. Its ancient and solemn architecture, with its bracketed eaves and flying corners, exudes a scholarly atmosphere that has continued for a thousand years. A stroll through it is filled with a refined and tranquil ambiance, inspiring awe. Every step reveals a scene of ancient charm, and every brick and tile tells a story. The Zhu Family Garden, hailed as the "Grand View Garden of Southern Yunnan," features winding corridors, secluded courtyards, and exquisitely carved beams and painted rafters. Each courtyard offers a unique view, showcasing the elegant splendor of a once-powerful family. The century-old narrow-gauge railway, winding its way through rice paddies and ancient villages, its whistle whistling softly in the evening breeze, offers an immersive experience of the romance and gentleness of bygone days—a uniquely Jianshui-esque healing romance. What's most captivating is the vibrant, everyday life of the ancient town. Everywhere you look, there are stalls selling grilled tofu, their smoke rising, the crispy exterior and tender interior a testament to Jianshui's ingrained flavor. The fragrant and sweet grass-sprout rice noodles and authentic local barbecue are affordable and delicious, each bite a taste of southern Yunnan. Spend your leisure time sitting by the roadside, watching locals chat and slowly grill tofu, letting time flow by peacefully—a truly serene and enjoyable experience. And here you'll find the unique Jianshui purple pottery, its thousand-year-old kilns burning ever since. Meticulously crafted by artisans, its crackled texture is warm and elegant, embodying the craftsmanship and heritage of southern Yunnan—the ancient town's most precious cultural symbol. By day, admire the ancient architecture and cultural heritage; by night, embrace the vibrant life of the ancient city. By day, Jianshui is like Lin'an, a city steeped in history and culture, with its scholarly atmosphere and gleaming ancient buildings. By night, Jianshui transforms into a gentle, relaxed town, with soft lights, tranquil streets, and the aroma of delicious food carried on the evening breeze, making every journey more pleasant. In Jianshui, there's no need to rush to see everything; simply stroll at your leisure. See the ancient buildings reflected in the moonlight, hear the rumble of the railway tracks, savor the everyday life, and cherish the gentle passage of time. This hidden gem of an ancient city in southern Yunnan tells the story of the most healing slow-paced life in Yunnan through its millennia-old cultural heritage and gentle, vibrant atmosphere. 🌿 (For sightseeing)

The gilded Maitreya Buddha statue is quite magnificent. Since we couldn't climb the 1999 steps, we took a shuttle bus up. There are free guided tours available; the retired volunteer auntie we met gave a very good explanation.

As a Han Chinese, it was my first time visiting a Yi village, and it was quite impressive. The braised pork and potato rice (15 yuan a serving) was small, but delicious. The buildings were yellow, and the village was clean and hygienic. The only downside was that it was a bit too commercialized. Overall, it was a good experience.

Bisezhai is definitely worth a visit. Movies like *Youth* and *Forever Young* were filmed here. The scenic area isn't large and isn't tiring to explore, but I still recommend taking the sightseeing bus round trip.

Many variations of specialized pools to soak in. Water temperature is perfect for relaxing.