Even for local travelers, Jianshui is not a popular destination like Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La, many foreign travelers even have not heard about it. Usually, we recommend our clients visit Jianshui after visiting Yuanyang before going back to Kunming, stroll around in the small yet beautiful city, try some local food, have a drink in a local bar, etc.; without the tourist army, Jianshui is a perfect travel destination for a relaxing journey.
For luxury traveler, there are no international brand hotels in town, local boutique hotels, Ting Zi Yun Resort and Heyuan Hotel are the best choices.
jianshui tourist attractions
Chaoyang Tower
Chaoyang Tower was built in the 22nd year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1389). It is one of the main symbols of Jianshui Ancient City’s long history and a symbol of the important ancient town on the border. The Nanzhao regime was here during the Yuanhe Period of the Tang Dynasty. In 1387, during the Hongwu Period of the Ming Dynasty, the Ming army set up Lin’an Guard after the suppression of Yunnan. On the base of the former earth city, the land was expanded and reconstructed into a brick city. The city had four gates, Yinghui Gate to the East, Fu’an Gate to the south, Qingyuan Gate to the west, and Yongzhen Gate to the north.
Zhu Family Garden
The Zhu Family Garden was built during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912). It was built by the local squires, Zhu Weiqing brothers. The whole building covers an area of more than 20,000 square meters, of which the house covers an area of more than 5,000 square meters. The main building has a “three vertical and four horizontal” layout, the residential buildings are constructed with high-quality materials and exquisite carvings.
Jianshui Confucius Temple
Temple of Confucius in Jianshui is one of the largest Confucian temples in China, after that of Qufu, Shandong, Confucius’ home town. It was built in 1285, during the Zhiyuan Period of the Yuan Dynasty and has a history of more than 700 years. After 50 times of expansions and repairs, it has reached 76,000 square meters.
Daban Ancient Well
Located next to the ancient city’s west gate, it was built in the early years of the Hongwu Period of the Ming Dynasty. It is the most famous well in Jianshui and even Yunnan. The well fence is inlaid with six stone slabs, and the diameter of the well is more than three meters. The water from the well is warm in winter and cool in summer, sweet and moist. Nowadays, it is still the drinking water of the locals.
Shuanglong Bridge
Shuanglong Bridge, commonly known as Seventeen Span Bridge, a Qing Dynasty bridge outside of the town. It is located five kilometers west of the town, where the Minjiang River and the Luochong River meet. For photographers, it is the best place to take pictures of the sunset.
Tuanshan Village
It is an ancient village located 13 kilometers west of Jianshui Ancient City, a typical Han immigrant village in southern Yunnan. The ancestor Zhang Fu entered Yunnan from Poyang County, Jiangxi Province during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty.
The best way to get to Tuanshan Village is by taking the Small Train from Jianshui, an amazing experience.
Jianshui Small Train
Jianshui Small Train is part of the Mengbao railway line which is viewed as a heritage object, with tourist potential. Since 2015, the excursion train has been running between Lin’an station and Tuanshan station with 3 major stops: Xianghuiqiao Station, Shuanglong Bridge and Tuanshan. The whole journey has 12.82 km long with almost 2 hours per single trip.
Ant Workshop
Ant Workshop is located in Xizhuang Town, Jianshui County, which is less than 5 kilometers away from Jianshui Ancient City. It was built from an abandoned brick factory. Like a big maze built with hollow bricks, there is a feeling of time and space travel when walking inside. The main building of Ant Workshop is pink and white. All the buildings are developed according to the ceramic culture, including pottery-themed hostels, dining, and pottery experiencing spaces.
Swallow Cave
The Swallow Cave, Located in a mountain gorge 22 kilometers east of Jianshui Ancient City. From March to August each year, millions of swallows nest in the cave, after which local people named this cave.
Every day, there is a performance of the local spiderman climb to the top of the cave without any protective measures and climbing tools.