Things to do in Shiping

A truly worthwhile experience! Tickets are easier to buy at Shiping Station compared to Jianshui Station, and there are fewer people. The French-style station has a beautiful environment; having a drink while waiting for the train is a wonderful experience.

A trip to Shiping isn't complete without exploring the ancient city. Entering through Tonggong Gate, the wide stone-paved roads allow cars to pass freely. The ancient city library is quiet; one is careful not to disturb the scholar's enjoyment by moving around too much. Even on weekends, students are studying, proving the city's reputation as the hometown of top scholars is well-deserved. The Shiping Tofu Museum is a bit of a stretch; it's a reconstruction of a former workshop with a tofu-grilling business, turning a visit into a tofu feast.

Yilong Lake is not far from Shiping County, with convenient transportation, beautiful scenery and free admission. Yilong Lake has a large surface area. When the lotus flowers are in full bloom, the scenery is endless. The breeze blows, the lake ripples, and the mood is comfortable.

Tuanshan Residence, located near Tuanshan Railway Station, is home to the Zhang family. Their ancestral precepts are quite educational. Surrounded by a village gate, it was formerly used to protect their clan. Now, many local residents live there; elderly people play cards and sell goods, while newcomers come to visit. For example, I encountered a vendor from Jianshui selling ceramic tile figurines—quite interesting. Life there is simple and rustic, worth a visit.

It's great, the sunset is so beautiful. After dinner, you can go out with friends and relatives to enjoy the summer breeze, appreciate the flowers during the day, and watch the sunset in the evening.

Taking a ride on the meter-gauge railway in Jianshui Ancient City is a wonderful and worthwhile experience. I booked my ticket online a day in advance and boarded at Lin'an Station at 9:00 AM. The train clattered along the tracks slowly, with a gentle breeze on my face – a truly delightful moment!

It was a quiet little village. The ancestral hall was not open. I only saw the old house of the Chen family. The car was parked in the marked parking space outside the village. I did not encounter any villagers who charged random fees.

The Grand View Garden of Southern Yunnan truly lives up to its reputation! The ancient buildings in the Zhu Family Garden are beautiful, with exquisite wood carvings, elegant gardens, and a wonderfully atmospheric lakeside courtyard. Strolling through the courtyard is very immersive, and every snapshot is a beautiful sight. Experience the unique charm of traditional dwellings in southern Yunnan. Highly recommended!

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)

There aren't many cultural relics or historical materials available. Besides traditional content, there's a lack of relevant historical and cultural heritage to attract attention. The Confucian Temple honors Confucius, and the core spirit of Confucianism should be displayed there! That would be more appealing.