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COHEN SHARPUnited States

Kunming•Jianshui One-Day Tour|A low-key ancient city in southern Yunnan where ancient charm and fireworks are intertwined

If you have the opportunity to go to Kunming, it is recommended to set aside a day to visit this ancient city about 200 kilometers away from Kunming. Its profound cultural heritage and strong worldly atmosphere are intertwined to form a unique temperament that is worth exploring. Spend a day reading about Jianshui’s “past and present”, and feel the unique charm of this “famous literary city” amidst its ancient buildings and lively atmosphere. Itinerary Morning: Confucian Temple (cultural pilgrimage) → Zhu Family Garden (Yunnan-style garden aesthetics) → Dabanjing (market life atmosphere) Afternoon: Tuanshan Folk Houses (Exploring the Millennium Ancient Village) → Shuanglong Bridge (A Holy Place for Dusk Light and Shadow Photography) Food: Ancient City Grass Bud Rice Noodles, Beef Dried Barley, Jianshui Tofu morning: At the east gate of Jianshui Ancient City, there is a tower similar to Tiananmen Square: Chaoyang Tower, which can be seen when entering the ancient city. 🏛🏻Jianshui Confucian Temple——The First Confucian Temple in Central Yunnan Jianshui Confucian Temple is the second largest Confucian temple in China. It has a long history and its architectural style combines the characteristics of the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. It was first built in 1374, adopting a symmetrical layout of "civil on the left and military on the right", and the red walls and yellow tiles fully demonstrate the respect for Confucianism. The Lingxing Gate and Zhusiyuanyuanfang are magnificent, and the Dacheng Hall is solemn and dignified. Here you can feel the strong Confucian cultural atmosphere. Key highlights: Lingxing Gate, Xianshi Hall, Zhusi Origin Archway, Chongsheng Temple, etc. Tickets: ¥20/person, half price for students; Opening hours: 8:30-18:00 Recommended play time: 1.5 hours 💒Zhu Family Garden——Grand View Garden in Southern Yunnan It takes about 10 minutes to walk from the Confucian Temple to Zhu Family Garden. It is a residence and ancestral hall built by the Zhu Weiqing brothers, local gentry in the late Qing Dynasty, and is known as the "Grand View Garden of Southern Yunnan". The courtyards are layered and the houses are lined up one after another. The wood carvings, stone carvings and paintings are exquisite, showing the superb skills of Jianshui's traditional residential architecture. The tour lasts about 1 hour. Tickets: ¥35/person 🕋Dabanjing——Living memories of the city This ancient well from the Ming Dynasty has clear and sweet water, which is still used by surrounding residents. It is said that the tofu made with the well water here is the authentic Jianshui tofu. Free, stay 10 minutes For lunch in the ancient city, we chose a restaurant called "Hongjingfang". The grass sprout rice noodles, steamed chicken, and fried beef jerky were very authentic. The meal takes about 1 hour. afternoon: 🛖Tuanshan Folk Houses——Slow Life in a Millennium Ancient Village Tuanshan Village was first built in 1350 and now has more than 60 ancient houses from the Ming and Qing dynasties. It has been listed as a "Famous Historical and Cultural Village in China". This is a well-preserved ancient village. Each of these courtyards has its own characteristics, and some are still inhabited. Among them, Zhang Family Courtyard is particularly exquisite. It is the largest single-story three-entry courtyard in southern Yunnan. Here you can feel the rich historical heritage and cultural atmosphere. It is recommended to find a local guide and listen to the family stories, which are very exciting. Play for 2 hours. 🌉Shuanglong Bridge——The "Lost Pearl of the Corridor Bridge" in Southern Yunnan The three-pavilion, seventeen-arch stone arch bridge built during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty has a beautiful shape. It spans the water where the Lujiang River and the Tachong River meet. The bridge is 148 meters long and has a stone slab road. You can stroll on the bridge and enjoy the pastoral scenery. This is a very beautiful place to take pictures of the sunset. One hour before sunset, the setting sun shines on the bridge hole, and you can see golden light shining through the hole. (This is one of only two Seventeen-Arch Bridges in China, the other being the Seventeen-Arch Bridge in the Summer Palace) The tour lasts about 1 hour and is free. 🚗 Transportation Kunming→Jianshui: High-speed rail: Kunming South Station → Jianshui Station (¥37/47 minutes) Self-driving: about 2 and a half hours from Kunming. There is a parking lot in Jianshui Ancient City.
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Posted: Mar 19, 2025
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