Jianchuan (剑川; Jiànchuān) is a city in Yunnan Province in China famous for its old town and handicrafts. Jianchuan Ancient City is an ancient city with a strong flavor of Bai ethnic culture and city fireworks. The streets are clean and the people are simple. It is well worth a visit for those who are interested in humanities and history, and you will definitely get unexpected surprises and rewards.

Understand

Jianchuan
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       20     15 2       28     17 4       42     20 7       25     23 10       62     25 13       165     25 16       186     24 17       209     24 16       168     23 14       96     21 12       41     18 7       11     16 3 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm Source:w:Dali City#Climate
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       0.8     60 36       1.1     62 39       1.6     67 44       1     73 49       2.4     77 56       6.5     77 62       7.3     76 62       8.2     76 60       6.6     74 58       3.8     70 53       1.6     65 44       0.4     60 37 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

Jianchuan County is located in the northwest of Yunnan Province and the north of Dali Prefecture. With a population of 160,000 (2020), there are Bai, Han, Yi, Lisu, Hui, Naxi and other ethnic groups. It is the main county inhabited by the Bai ethnic group in the state.

Jianchuan is located between Dali and Lijiang. It is a tourist area that has been ignored because of the ancient city of Dali. But it is precisely because it was ignored that the simplicity and tranquility of Jianchuan have been preserved. Jianchuan Ancient City is not as famous as Dali and Lijiang, and is not even as famous as Shaxi Town under its jurisdiction, but it is a living ancient city, and 90% of the original residents still live in the ancient city. This is where the Bai and Han cultures blend, and is a window to understand the Ancient Tea Horse Road. The ancient city still retains hundreds of Bai courtyards from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and ancient residential buildings account for more than 90% of the entire ancient city. It can be called the original ecological museum of Yunnan architecture.In addition to exquisite wood carvings, the handicrafts you can take away here include black pottery handmade tile cats, which come in different shapes and are particularly cute. There are also a lot of delicious things here, and each old store sells local food with its own characteristics.

Get in

By plane

The nearest airports are Lijiang Sanyi International Airport in Lijiang and Dali Fengyi Airport in Dali.

By train

The nearest train station is Heqing Railway Station in Heqing, which is about 63km by road from Jianchuan. Lijiang Railway Station in Lijiang is the second closest train station, being about 67km from Jianchuan.

By bus

In Dali, you can get a bus to Jianchuan from the Dali North Bus Terminal. The approximate fare is ¥42.

In Lijiang, you can get a bus to Jianchuan from the city’s main bus terminal. The bus fare from Lijiang is about ¥25 or ¥28.

• 1 Jianchuan Bus Terminal (剑川县汽车客运站), Jianhe Road, Jinhua Town (金华镇剑鹤路) (diagonally opposite the People's Hospital of Jianchuan County), ☏ +86 872 4521297. The main bus terminal in Jianchuan. (updated Feb 2024)

By car

You can find them anywhere, but please keep in mind to lower the price slightly. The best way to choose a taxi is to use a meter to record the distance so that you won't be easily cheated.

See

Shaxi Ancient Town

• 1 Shaxi Ancient Town (沙溪古镇), County Road 084, ☏ +86-0512-53221815. All day long. Shaxi Tour route After walking through the Yujin Bridge, an ancient stone bridge on the bank of the Heihui River, and walking about 100 meters along the ancient road, you will arrive at the Dongzhai Gate, which is called the "Jiezi Gate" by the villagers. Two horses passed through at the same time, retaining the original appearance of the village gate on the Tea Horse Ancient Road. Further inside is Sideng Street, which is the only surviving market on the Tea Horse Road and the center of Shaxi Ancient Town. The entire street is paved with red sandstone slabs. To the east is the ancient stage facing east, and to the west is the Xingjiao Temple facing east. The two echo each other and divide Sifang Street into two halves, north and south. There are shops around the street. There are many horse shops and three ancient lanes extending to all directions of the ancient town. free. (updated Sep 2023)

Shibaoshan boxings

• 2 Shibao Mountain (石宝山) (25 km southwest), ☏ +86-0872-4787029. Daily 09:00-17:00 (17:00 stop selling tickets,17:00 stop entering the park). Because of its unique landform and many strange peaks and rocks, it is named "Shibao". On the mountain there are relics such as Baoxiang Temple, Jinding Temple, and Haiyunju built in the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, as well as precious grottoes and cliff statues. The statues are exquisite and have southwest characteristics, and are well worth a visit. Various scenic spots in the scenic area are connected by highways, and there are paid shuttle buses in the scenic area. Go forward about 200 meters after entering from the gate of the scenic spot. The stone steps on the left lead to Qingjing Buddhist Temple Haiyunju. The murals in the main hall of Haiyunju are worth stopping for. ¥45. (updated Sep 2023)

• 3 Yujin Bridge. All day long. Yujin Bridge has a span of 12 meters, a height of 6 meters, a length of 35.4 meters, a width of 5 meters, and stone pillars and slab guardrails. There is a stone turtle head on the top of the vault, looking at the upper reaches of the Heihui River. On the other side, there is a stone turtle tail connecting the lower reaches of the Heizhanjiang River. There are four "salam fish" stone sculptures at the end of the guardrail. The ancient bridge is the only way for the Bai people who have lived in Shaxi for generations to work and do business in the fields. The stone slabs of the bridge have been trampled by passing cars, horses and pedestrians, leaving them with a green glow and bumps. The ancient bridge carries the rich history of Shaxi Ancient Town, welcoming generations of ancestors to Shaxi year after year. Free. (updated Sep 2023)

Shizhong Grottoes

• 4 Shizhong Grottoes, ☏ +86-0872-4787029. Daily 09:00-17:00. The Shizhongshan Grottoes, also known as the Shibaoshan Grottoes and Jianchuan Grottoes, are the largest grottoes in Yunnan Province and the earliest grottoes in Yunnan. They have a history of more than 1,000 years and are well preserved to this day, making them a treasure of national culture. Shizhong Mountain is a branch peak in the south of Shibao Mountain. It is named after the stone bell on the mountain. The cliffs here are rugged, with strange rocks and rocks standing there. Twisted pine trees, known as "living impatient pine" by the locals, are scattered throughout the mountain valleys. On the south hillside, green bamboo surrounds the stone, which looks like an inverted bell, so it is named Shizhong Mountain. The Jianchuan Grottoes, known as the treasures of the South, are carved here. Surrounding a group of antique houses is the Shizhong Temple. There is a giant in the temple Jianchuan Grottoes is a famous scenic spot in Shibaoshan Scenic Area. It is a sculpture art from the Nanzhao and Dali Kingdom periods. It gathers the essence of Yunnan minority sculpture art and is influenced by the cultures of the Central Plains, Tibet, South Asia and West Asia. Its style is similar to The Dunhuang and Longmen Grottoes in the mainland have similar approaches but similar results. The specific charging situation will be announced on site. (updated Sep 2023)

• 5 Jian Lake. All day long. After leaving the east gate of the county, you can reach it by walking along the Jinlong River Embankment for about 10 km. The circumference of Jianhu Lake is about 40 km, the water surface is nearly 8 km² in normal times (it is much wider in the rainy season), and the average water depth is more than 4 meters. The water temperature of Jianhu Lake is moderate, with the annual average water temperature being about 11℃. In the early morning of winter every year, there is only a little thin ice on the edge of the lake. With its exceptionally clean and sweet water quality, Jianhu Lake can be called a bright pearl embedded in the plateau of northwest Yunnan. Jianhu Lake has abundant water sources. In addition to the inflows of the Gemei River, Jinlong River, Yongfeng River, Huilong River, etc., there are also four self-generating springs in the lake that boil out, allowing the Haiwei River at the outlet of Jianhu Lake to be able to flow all year round. The torrent of water leaked out, turning the entire Sword Lake into a place of living water. (updated Sep 2023)

Bailongtan

• Bailongtan. All day long. Bailongtan is located in Shawei Village south of Shaxi Ancient Town. It is known as the secret place of Shaxi Town and is also the water source of Shaxi people. The ancient trees here are close to the water, making it more and more quiet. In Longtan in late autumn, the clear water reflects the colorful forest. The beauty is full of primitive and natural atmosphere. (updated Sep 2023)

• Manxianlin thousand Lion Mountain (transportation：Jianchan 1 Station --Ximen Laoxie Station (Walk 1.6 kilometers to arrive) ;Jianchan 3 Station --Zhaohu Station wWalk 1.9 km to arrive).), ☏ +86-0872-4526329. 08:00-17:00 open.(Preferential treatment policy :1. Free admission for those under 1.2 meters (excluding 1.2 meters), half admission for those between 1.2 and 1.4 meters, full admission for those above 1.4 meters; admission for those over 70 years old (excluding 70 years old) with a certificate.). Manxianlin Qianshi Mountain is located near Jianchuan County, also known as Manxianlin. in this wind In the beautiful mountains and forests, there are more than 2,600 lifelike stone lions sculptured in various poses. There are also pavilions and pavilions on the cliffs on the mountain.transportation：Jianchan 1 Station --Ximen Laoxie Station (Walk 1.6 kilometers to arrive) ;Jianchan 3 Station --Zhaohu Station (Walk 1.9kilometers to arrive). (updated Sep 2023)
• 6 Diannan Town (甸南镇). Diannan is the south gate of Jianchuan County, bordering Heqing to the east, Eryuan to the south, Yangcen Township of the county to the west, and Jinhua Town, the county seat, to the north. It is a well-known "hometown of wood carvings" at home and abroad. It has the reputation of "the source of Yunnan civilization" and has left a glorious footprint in the entire history of Yunnan civilization.transportation:Jianchuan 3rd Road-Diannan Middle School Station. Walk 991 meters to arrive. (updated Sep 2023)

Do

Jianchuan is small, just like Dali a long time ago, simple and peaceful. You can experience using a wooden pen dipped in batter to paint on white sheep felt and then put it into a large pot filled with madder and other plant pigments to boil and dip. After drying, peel off the scab, and after a bit of repair, you will have a handicraft. (Prices vary and cannot be specified in detail.) Jianchuan orchids have a long history of cultivation, so you can go and watch Jianchuan orchids. Go and taste the wild matsutake mushrooms from "King of Mushrooms" and the porcini mushrooms from "Mountain Pearl" (there are usually restaurants in ancient towns or on the roadside, and the prices are relatively high). Go and listen to Jianchuan's "Baiqu, Benziqu, Jianchuan Ancient Music, and Dongshan Dage". You can also participate in the Shibenshan Festival, the Torch Festival, the Sea Circle Festival (the sea here is not a sea, but a lake called "Erhai"), and so on. Although the location is small, it is suitable for friends who like pastoral country life to visit Jianchuan. It will be a memorable experience.

Rafting on Longwei River. about 2-3 hours. It is located in the north of Longshan River. 118¥. (updated Sep 2023)

Buy

• Jianchuan Woodcarving (剑川木雕). Jianchuan County is known as the "hometown of carpenters". Carpenters are good at carving various figures, flowers and birds, landscapes, dragons and phoenixes, auspicious patterns and other patterns to decorate doors, windows, furniture, etc. about ¥1600. (updated Sep 2023)
• Jianchuan kidney beans (剑川芸豆). Jianchuan kidney beans are a specialty of Jianchuan County, Dali Prefecture, Yunnan Province. Jianchuan kidney beans have been certified as "AA-level green food" by the China Green Food Development Center due to their high protein content, good quality and no pollution, and are favored by consumers. (updated Sep 2023)

• Jianchuan Boletus (剑川牛肝菌). Jianchuan Boletus is a specialty of Jianchuan County. Porcini mushrooms are delicious and you won’t get tired of eating them. They are commonly known as delicious porcini mushrooms. It is rich in amino acids, high-quality protein, monosaccharides, disaccharides and anti-cancer polysaccharides. It is a precious "treasure". (updated Sep 2023)

Or if you encounter some cute trinkets or something you like very much while traveling, you can buy them according to your own preferences and take them home.

Eat

Roadside shops can solve the dining problem, and there are also local specialties such as ginseng seeds, matsutake mushrooms, and milk cakes to choose from.

• Mountain old legs. (山老腿). Mountain old legs.Shan Lao Leg, produced in mountain villages, is a must-have delicacy for caravans on the "Dian-Tibet Ancient Tea Horse Road" in the caravan era. Shanlao ham is what the mountain people in the Jianchuan area call their own ham. It is said to be old because the ham can be stored for at least one year and as long as three to five years. Deep in the mountains, mountain people feed piglets with their own cornmeal and other grains and vegetables. In winter, after killing the pigs, they marinate the ham using traditional techniques, and then slowly smoke it with pinewood. The ham produced in this way has fine meat and thin fat, ruddy color and fragrant aroma. (updated Sep 2023)
• Three courses (三道菜). The raw materials for the three dishes of the Bai people in Jianchuan are native chicken, colorful taro, and Dongshan radish, all of which come from the mountains and plains of Jianchuan. Native chickens are raised by local farmers. They are "pheasants" that cannot be caught unless they are kept at night or in cages. They eat grass and green grains produced in the countryside. (updated Sep 2023)
• Goat milk cake (剑川乳饼). Everyone who has been to our Jianchuan as a guest will be able to taste the Jianchuan folk specialty sheep milk cake. Goat milk cake, also called milk tofu, is made from milk and is rich in fat and protein. Farmers in Jianchuan area often treat guests as a delicacy. (updated Sep 2023)
• Matsutake (松茸). Matsutake mushrooms are collected and eaten from early August to mid-October every year. Freshly picked and grilled over a pine branch fire, it smells like the pine forest in the mountains. On a crisp autumn day, I sit with my friends on the grassland by the forest. Red leaves are all over the sky, wild flowers are blooming, and the matsutake mushrooms are sizzling on the charcoal fire. Friends and beautiful scenery , delicious food are all in front of you, it is really one of the beautiful things in life. (updated Sep 2023)

Drink

Three courses of tea (三道茶🍵). "Three courses of tea" is a unique etiquette and custom of the Bai people to entertain guests. It is said that this "three courses of tea" is a etiquette for Bai people to receive their son-in-law.

Tea tasting, as an art, has been recorded in the "Book of Man" as early as the Tang Dynasty. During the Nanzhao period more than a thousand years ago, the Bai people had the habit of drinking tea. With the development of life, it has become a unique tea culture and a unique etiquette of Bai people's hospitality. By the Ming Dynasty, serving tea to guests became a etiquette for the Bai people. In the past, tea was usually served by the elders of the family or clan. Nowadays, younger people also offer tea to their elders. When making three-course tea, the preparation method and raw materials used are different for each tea. The first tea is called "tea of pure bitterness", which implies the philosophy of life: "To build a career, you must first endure hardship." The second tea is called "sweet tea". After the guest has finished the first tea, the host once again uses a small sand pot to store, roast, and boil tea. At the same time, he must also put a little brown sugar, milk fan, cinnamon, etc. into the tea cup until the tea soup is cooked. Pour until eight minutes full. The third tea is called "tea without aftertaste". Although the method of making tea is the same, the only difference is that the raw materials in the tea cup have been replaced by an appropriate amount of honey, a little fried rice popcorn, a few peppercorns, and a pinch of walnut kernels. The tea capacity is usually six to seven minutes full. When drinking the third tea, you usually shake the tea cup to mix the tea soup and condiments evenly; make a "whooshing" sound in your mouth and drink it while it's hot. This cup of tea tastes sweet, sour, bitter and spicy, with all the flavors and endless aftertaste. It warns people to have more "aftertaste" of everything and remember the philosophy of "bitter first, then sweet". (updated Sep 2023)

Sleep

Accommodation and meals Shaxi Ancient Town is not big, and you can finish it by just wandering around for an hour or two. However, if you have enough time, it is recommended to stay here for one night, walk along the old streets, and slowly enjoy the tranquility and comfort that Dali Ancient Town does not have. There are youth hotels and various inns in the ancient town where you can stay at relatively affordable prices.

Budget

Hotel

• Jianchuan Jail Hotel (剑川佳利大酒店), No. 12, Wenwen Road, Jinhua Town, Jianchuan (Very close to Jianchuan Ancient Town), ☏ +86-872-4777188. Check-in: The whole day is fine but you have to leave the room before 12:00 the next day., check-out: 12:00 -13:00. Reviews from people who have stayed there: Advantages: Regular star hotel, parking is available at the entrance and in the courtyard. However, the actual check-in was in another building in the backyard. There is no problem with hot water, the ventilation fan is strong, and the toilet flushing is quiet. The breakfast was passable, the restaurant staff were very nice, and it was cheap. Disadvantages: The lady at the front desk is very annoying and has an indifferent attitude. There was something wrong with the ceiling light in the bathroom. It flickered on and off. The plugs in the room were all loose and difficult to use. One of them was burnt black. There was only a bedside table with no socket or drawer. Breakfast ends at 09:00. ¥206-642. (updated Sep 2023)
• Kenkawa Tayapan Mountain Resort B&B (剑川田也畔山度假民宿), You can check the address after booking, ☏ +86-19989922953. Reviews from people who have stayed there: Advantages: The B&B is in a village, 1.3 kilometers away by foot from Yujin Bridge, 3 minutes by car, and 5 minutes by car from Shaxi Ancient Town. Overall it's quite convenient. The lady who runs the inn is very nice and responsive to all requests. The room on the second floor opens the window and offers views of the blue sky, distant mountains and villages. 33$-67$. (updated Sep 2023)

Connect

Mobile Phone Networks: You can use local or international roaming features to establish communication via your mobile phone. Internet: Many hotels, cafes, and public places offer free or paid Wi-Fi connections for browsing and staying connected.Landline Phones: In some places, you can use public phone booths or the landline phones provided by hotels to make calls.Social Media and Messaging Apps: Use social media platforms, instant messaging apps (such as WhatsApp, WeChat, etc.), or email to stay in touch with friends and family.

Go next

Most of the hostels and travel agents can organise bus tickets anywhere in Yunnan. They can also arrange flights farther afield.

A little further back from Jianchuan is Yulong. Yulong Naxi Autonomous County is located at the junction of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, at the southern foot of Hengduan Mountain. It is a Sichuan-Yunnan forest and biodiversity ecological functional area, a key forest area in Yunnan Province, and a key forest area in Yunnan Province and even the country. It is a county rich in tourism resources. Its main tourist attractions include Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the First Bend of the Yangtze River, Laojun Mountain, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Baoshan Stone City, and Lashihai Plateau Wetland. Featured products include Lijiang Baba, chickpea jelly, yak jerky, rice enema, Deyi preserved fruit, etc. It is very convenient to go directly to Lijiang and the climate is also very good.

There is also a sleeper service to Shangrila, coming from Xiaguan, and passing Dali at 20:30 (¥120). However, it fills up quickly and can only be booked at a few agencies in Foreigners road.