Shaxi Ancient Town

Chinese name: 沙溪古镇（Sha Xi Gu Zhen）
Location: Jianchuan County,Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture,Yunnan Province.
Ticket: Free
Estimated tour time: 1 day
Recommended time to visit: All year round.
Nearby attractions: Lijiang Ancient Town, Dali Ancient Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Erhai Lake, etc.

Halfway between Lijiang and Dali, Shaxi it’s a small village almost forgotten by tourists. Used to be an important and prosperous hub along the ancient Tea Horse Road which refers to the international trade route with the caravan as the main means of transportation. Unlike Lijiang and Dali, Shaxi retains the charm of the old Chinese towns and it’s a very peaceful place, it's a good place to escape from the hustle and bustle of the modern city and experience the quaint lives of local Bai People.

Shaxi is a city of farmers but since 2000 the local government has started a program of renovation of the most important buildings. Although some modern concrete buildings have sprung up most of the new homes are built using the style of the Bai minority: wooden structure and mud bricks. There are plenty of trees along the main streets of the city that help to convey a relaxed atmosphere.

Shaxi is the best-preserved city on the southern silk route. Many of the historical sites have been well preserved including Sifang Street, Xingjiao Temple, YuJin Bridge and Ancient Opera Stage.

Sideng Square in Shaxi old town is a mostly quiet and colorful area where children play and dogs run around while a handful of tourists take pictures and have coffee or snacks.
Xingjiao Temple was built in Ming Dynasty and has a history of nearly 600 years. It is the largest and most representative Buddhist Tantra temple in China. The well-preserved murals of Ming Dynasty in the temple are deeply influenced by the painting style of the Central Plains in China and have rich local ethnic characteristics.

Ancient Opera Stage is the most distinctive building which is opposite the Xingjiao Temple on Sifang Street of Shaxi Ancient Town. In some special festivals, visitors can enjoy the traditional whiplash performance of the Bai people.

A trading fair is held in Shaxi every Friday, Friday it’s the market day and many people from the nearby villages flock to the market to sell spices, cheese, local vegetables and many other things. Many women wear their traditional beautifully colored attires.

In addition, there are many other cultural sites worth visiting in Shaxi, From Shaxi it is also possible to make a day trip to Shibao Mountain where you can see several temples, caves and even some monkeys. To get there, head to the parking lot inside the old town and ask one of the minivan drivers to take you to Shibao Mountain.But the things most worth trying is its lowly life style. If you have time, you may spare one afternoon to take a stroll in this small but unique town.