Shaxi

Sideng Street is located in Shaxi Town, southern Jianchuan County, Dali Prefecture. It is an important part of the Ancient Tea Horse Road and is called "the surviving market on the Ancient Tea Horse Road" by the World Architectural Heritage Conservation Foundation (WMF). At the end of October 2001, it was listed on the "2002 World Monumental Architectural Heritage Protection List" along with the Great Wall of China, Shaanxi Daqin Pagoda and Monastery, Shanghai O'Hare, and Shechel Synagogue. Sideng Street is located in the center of the sub-center. It is the economic and cultural center of Shaxi. It has been the distribution center for trade in Shaxi from ancient times to the present. Looking from a distance, Sideng Street is shaded by ancient trees, the Wase houses are simple and quiet, and the private houses on Sideng Street The architecture maintains the typical architectural features of Bai folk houses. Three squares and one screen wall and four-in-five patios can be seen everywhere. Ouyang’s three-square-one-zhaobi Damadian and Zhao’s four-in-five patios still seem to show off to people today. The splendor of wealthy families in a prosperous place of economic and trade. Wandering in the lanes of the ancient market and stepping lightly on the stone pavement on Sifang Street, which is polished by horse hooves, will make you feel like you are stepping into history step by step. The smoke from the all-green tiled houses is floating, and the only remaining ancient Dongzhai Gate The appearance remains the same, and the ancient stage with cornices and corners still vaguely interprets the facial makeup of history, telling you the vicissitudes of history.

In the main hall of Xingjiao Temple, there are more than 20 large-scale murals by Zhang Bao, an ancient Bai painter in Diantou Village, Shaxi. They are very precious. Among them, "Prince's Garden" and other paintings vividly depict the ancient Nanzhao and Dali palaces. Life has made up for the lack of historical records about the palace life of the ancient Nanzhao and Dali Kingdoms that were very popular in southwest China, and has become one of the important historical evidences for the study of Nanzhao and Dali Kingdoms; Xingjiao Temple preserves Buddhist murals from the Ming Dynasty, with a wide range of themes, numerous characters, vivid shapes, lifelike images, smooth lines, and gorgeous colors. They integrate Buddhist stories and secular life, are full of mythical atmosphere, and have quite a national style. Inheriting the legacy of famous paintings such as "Nanzhao Zhongxing Painting Scroll" and "Zhang Shengwen Painting Scroll", it is a rare imitation of ancient Bai painting art treasures and a valuable material for studying ancient Bai religion and art. The painter once copied it and sent it to Beijing for exhibition, which caused a sensation in the cultural circles of Beijing and attracted attention from all walks of life.

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.

There are a lot of hiking trails in the mountains both to the east and to the west of Shaxi Valley. The trails are what the local villagers use to go between villages, or to collect firewood, wild herbs, and mushrooms. There are no markers, the trails are easy to follow, but a good sense of direction is needed to not get lost.The 46 Horse Pen Hostel hosts weekly guided hikes around the mountains every Saturday. If you're lucky, they'll bring along their two giant dogs to make the hike more fun.

The Shaxi Valley and its numerous villages is a great place to explore on a bicycle. A day spent riding on the small single-track trail between green farm fields can yield many surprises and hidden gems.

It's possible to kayak down the shallow and slow moving water of the Heihui River to see Shaxi Valley from a different angle. Starting from the northern edge of Shaxi Valley and Shibaoshan and ends in Sideng village, the water is mostly flatwater, with a couple small dams that can be navigated.Professional guiding is required.

A major festival for the Bai and the Yi minorities around Shaxi, it is held every year on the 25th day (24th for the Yi people) of the 8th month on the lunar calendar. The local villagers will light torches and big barn fires everywhere, and dance and sing around the fires.

The biggest religious holiday in Shaxi, it is held every year on the 8th day of the second month on the lunar calendar.