Shaxi Ancient Stage

I live in Lijiang, and Shaxi is a place I go back to once or twice a year. There are two best times to go to Shaxi. One is the Torch Festival, when many foreigners come here for the festival. When it gets dark, locals gather around a tree made of firewood in the middle of Sifang Street and play. They hold a torch in one hand and grab pine powder from a bag around their waist with the other. They sprinkle the powder on the legs of people around them, and the powder is instantly ignited by the fire. The flames shoot up high all of a sudden. But you must also pay attention to your own safety when playing. I have seen several foreigners who had too much fun and had their hair and eyebrows burned. Another time is August, when wild mushrooms are on the market in Yunnan. They are especially cheap in Shaxi. You can buy some in the market ⬆️ and have them processed in food stalls. You can have a hearty wild mushroom meal for about 100 yuan. It should be noted that there is a market every Friday in Shaxi. If you like, you might as well join in the fun. It feels like childhood!

The first time I saw the ancient stage, I was extremely excited. The scene I had imagined so many times and seen in pictures on lonely planet was finally presented before my eyes. Upon closer inspection, the traces of restoration on the ancient stage were still very obvious, but it was obvious that the Swiss experts had done their best to restore it to its original state. Thank you very much!

Passing by the ancient stage on Sifang Street, which is the landmark building of Shaxi, it is very textured with the ancient trees in the center of the square. To the left of the stage is the "Eye of Shaxi" and to the right is "Grandma Arui's Shop".

The historical relics of the Bai nationality are very distinctive and are one of the core buildings of Shaxi Ancient Town.

A landmark building located in Shaxi Ancient Town, Shuanglang Town, Dali, Yunnan.

The ancient stage gives you the feeling that time has stood still. The stage is still the same, but the people have changed so many times.

Beautiful, the building is very unique, the only drawback is that there are too many people, and the photos are too big to upload

Very good, especially in the early morning when there are few people, wearing Hanfu can take very good photos

Shaxi is a great place. It's not that commercial yet and is very quiet. I spent an entire afternoon sitting in the coffee shop opposite the ancient theater. I ate Nuodeng ham. Haha, it's a pity that the photos I took this time are over 8MB and can't be uploaded.

In the morning, I walked out of the hostel and came to Shaxi Temple Street. I had a cup of coffee and looked at the stage from afar. It was a good feeling.

The cover of the first edition of lp Yunnan. Today I came. On a quiet morning, looking at this stage under the banyan tree, I felt like I was traveling back in time.

An important part of Shaxi Ancient Town! ! ! An important part of Shaxi Ancient Town! ! ! ! History!

The ancient stage is a landmark of Shaxi Ancient Town, situated on Sifang Street, the equivalent of Shaxi's central business district. It is Shaxi's most central and important location, once a gathering place for tea and salt merchants. Built opposite the ancient temple, the stage now stands alone. I wonder how many actors once sang out their joys and sorrows here.

This is worth going again. I think Dali is still relatively natural and primitive. I don’t want Lijiang to be too commercialized.

It's my second time there, and I personally think it's worth going. It's still relatively primitive, and the commercial atmosphere is not as strong as in Lijiang and Dali. It's very comfortable to walk around the town slowly. You can also buy some matsutake mushrooms at the town market, and find a hot pot restaurant to make chicken soup in the evening.

The ancient stage can only be viewed in the square. There is a museum behind the stage, but it is not open to the public. The staff said it is only open on holidays.

Located in the center of Shaxi Village, the village is so small that it can be visited in two hours.

Here, there is no commercial bustle, only the most simple and honest folk customs and pristine scenery. You can stroll on the red sandstone slabs, or climb the ancient stage to see the square street shops and horse inns.

If you have time, you should go to Shibaoshan to see the grottoes there.

The core of Sifang Street is the Kuige stage built in the Qing Dynasty.

Kui Pavilion looks like it has three floors, but it actually has four floors, and a stage is extended on the side facing the street.

On the top floor of Kui Pavilion is a statue of Kuixing. He holds a red brush in his right hand and a gold ingot in his left. He stands on one leg, a golden rooster, and his left foot on the head of a giant sea lion (meaning he holds the top spot). On either side of the statue are couplets: "When writing with a pen, one must first examine one's virtue; when measuring with a bowl, one must first measure one's merits."

During the Middle Ages, the ancient stage was severely damaged, and the statue of Kuixing, plaques, couplets, and turtle fish were all burned.

What we see now is the Kuige stage after it was restored in 2001 as part of the Shaxi Revitalization Project (a Sino-Swiss collaboration).

Shaxi was listed on the World List of Endangered Buildings in Danger in 2002. The stage retains its quaint charm and original architectural features. The ancient temple across from the stage, the shops nearby, the old red sandstone streets, the century-old trees, the ancient alleyways, and the ancient village gates all make you feel like you've been transported back in time.

The ancient stage is the heart of Shaxi. The stage itself is quite ancient, facing Xingjiao Temple. It's said that performances were once performed primarily for the gods, not humans. There are numerous cafes and bars around the stage, so find a spot facing it, enjoy a drink, and slowly savor a leisurely afternoon in Shaxi. Below the stage are small shops selling Shaxi souvenirs. While the selection is fairly standard, nothing particularly special, it's worth buying if you want to support the locals.

The ancient stage located on Sifang Street in Shaxi Ancient Town is an ancient building.

My first impression of Shaxi came from seeing this ancient stage on the cover of Lonely Planet's Yunnan guide. Years later, the guidebook has been updated, and the cover has changed, but the stage remains etched in my mind. I can recognize it from afar, and it feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my chest. Ah, Shaxi, Shaxi, I'm finally here.

During these days in Shaxi, I can’t remember how many times I passed by this ancient stage. I couldn’t help but press the shutter, so much so that when I went back to organize the photos, I found that the ancient stage was taken from various angles and at different times of the day. I remembered that when I was taking pictures, a local girl told me that every year during the Chinese New Year, she would go up to the ancient stage to watch the show. The torches on the opposite side were so bright that they could illuminate the eyes of everyone on the entire Sifang Street. Imagining that grand occasion, I really wanted to be there in person.

It's more like a courtyard than a street. A large tree stands in the center, surrounded by a circle of stone benches, giving it the feel of a siheyuan. The sky is blue, the surroundings are quiet, and there's a sense of ease and tranquility everywhere. It's a perfect place to sit and daydream, to contemplate life.

The two ancient buildings are opposite to each other and the architecture is nice. It may be because I went there during the off-season and it was very quiet. It was a good place to sit on the stone bench under the big tree and think about life and be in a daze.

It is the bustling center of Shaxi Ancient Town. It is very good for people who are interested in ancient architecture.

The ancient stage still retains its antique charm, which I like very much.

The dim lights of Sifang Street, the couples laughing on the roadside, come on

Was this a place where merchants on the ancient Tea Horse Road gathered to entertain themselves after their business trips? Is there a pine tree at the entrance, left over from the June Torch Festival, with brightly colored flags or prayer flags hanging high above it?

The most central point of Shaxi, the Tea Horse Road Post Station, is very famous

In this land, even time flows very slowly.

Less developed than Dali and Lijiang Ancient Town, and less commercial atmosphere

When I went there yesterday, the Sophora japonica flowers were falling, and it was particularly beautiful.

It's great to drink, chat and watch the clouds in the small bar opposite the ancient stage

Not many people know about Shaxi Ancient Town. It was very quiet when I went there, and it felt like the Ancient Tea Horse Road. It's a bit far from Dali Ancient Town, and I wasted a whole day on the bus. I had to take several buses, and the last bus in the afternoon was very early.

A stage in Shaxi Ancient Town. Many ancient towns have it. Now it is just preserved as a memorial.

The ancient town is very authentic, not commercial, and has many local ancient buildings. The key is that it is very quiet and comfortable. Maybe June is not the peak tourist season.

I'm sure there's no such place in Beijing, but in Dali...

There are many Sifang Streets in Yunnan, including Shuhe, Lijiang, and Dali.

Is it Dali or Beijing? The map says Beijing, and the annotation says Dali

In a place equivalent to a town square in Shaxi, there is a very large old locust tree

Dali, Shaxi Ancient Town, Sifang Street.

It has a long history - ancient buildings, ancient trees, ancient theaters, relics of the ancient Tea Horse Road...

An ancient stage at Shuanglang Wharf seems to be a wooden structure and looks very old.

A worthwhile place to visit, but not fun

The center of the ancient town is well-preserved and there will be performances during festivals.

The ancient stage is the soul of Shaxi Ancient Town. Anyone new to Shaxi will be amazed by its unique architecture and exquisite craftsmanship! It is the most distinctive building on Sifang Street. Built during the Qing Dynasty, it is a three-story Kuixing Pavilion with a stage, fronting the stage and backing the pavilion. Its unique structure features overlapping eaves and 14 ridges that soar into the sky, towering above the blue sky and white clouds. It's truly astonishing that such a magnificent and exquisite stage could exist in this rural area with limited transportation.

I love it so much. It's a great place for taking photos and has a sense of history. It's a great place to just relax and unwind.

When we went there, the open space in front of the ancient stage had become a large construction site, with dust and gravel everywhere. It was completely worthless to watch. I wonder if it will be better after the construction is completed.

This is the center of Shaxi, and it would be nice to spend an afternoon relaxing in one of the surrounding inns.

When I came to Shaxi, I felt that the ancient stage was the representative of Shaxi because my favorite postcards of Shaxi are the ancient trees, horses, and the ancient stage.

Like it very much!

It is the landmark building of Shaxi Ancient Town. It is a theater with very Chinese characteristics on the small square of Sifang Street in Shaxi.

It is a landmark building in Shaxi Ancient Town, located in the center of the ancient town, on Sifang Street, opposite Xingjiao Temple. A closer look at the carvings and decorations on the ancient stage reveals that it is quite exquisite, but there is no detailed introduction. This is something that should be done for local cultural relics protection and tourism development.

Shaxi Ancient Town has few people and its original appearance has been well preserved, especially the stage on Sifang Street and the big tree in front of the stage, which are the representative of Shaxi.

I went there in January, when tourists were considered a rarity. The sun was shining brightly that day, and I saw two kittens lazily sleeping by the window. At night, there were many stars, but apart from the starlight, there was nothing else. Can this be considered poetry and the distance?

Beautiful, very nice environment. Beautiful, very nice environment.

The sun was shining brightly that day, and the lazy kitten slept a lot on the stage. It was so comfortable to drink coffee and bask in the sun next to it, and take some photos of the kitten whispering to its friends.

There is nothing much here except an ancient theater and a temple-like place. Those who want to escape from the world can stay there for a few days.

The Sifang Street Theater is located at the intersection of the Ancient Tea-Horse Road. It used to be a material exchange center and is also a landmark building in Shaxi Ancient Town. It is very representative.

The Sifang Street Stage has the flavor of an ancient building. The stage is not very big, and there are basically no special activities on weekdays. It is estimated that there will be some performances during festivals. Although you can't usually see performances, the ancient charm here cannot be missed.

This is in Shaxi. I highly recommend Shaxi. It's very quiet and the prices are very cheap.

Built in the Qing Dynasty in Shaxi Ancient Town, this three-story Kuixing Pavilion features a stage, with a front stage and a back pavilion. Its unique structure features 14 ridges that shoot upwards, towering above the blue sky and white clouds. The interior is beautifully painted.

Later I learned that the ancient stage had been renovated, but I unexpectedly liked Shaxi. It is a place worth visiting again and again.

When I went there, there was just a group of aunties dancing, nothing special.

I went there during the day, and there were sometimes activities at night, such as singing and dancing performances.

I personally like this place very much, it's a great place for photography! It has very local architecture, and sometimes there are performances.

It's on the street of a small fishing village. It's just an ordinary place with a stage, but the terrace next to the sea is perfect for watching the sunset.

Actually, I don’t understand these old cultures, but I particularly like the pure and clean feeling of the old times.

This is the center of Sifang Street and the soul of Shaxi.

The ancient stage is another scenic spot in Shaxi. It has been restored. At night, there will be a few people setting up stalls and singing under the ancient stage.

The Sifang Street I see in the morning and evening is different. One is quiet and the other is quite lively. I feel good and like this place.

The old man is singing, so cute, life is great

I like Shaxi the most. It is quiet and there are few tourists. It feels like time has stopped here. The old streets and houses restored by the Swiss here are very charming.

The iconic place of Shaxi Ancient Town, simple yet full of history!

There are many square opera stages like this in Yunnan, but I didn’t see any performances when I went there.

The ancient stage is opposite Xingjiao Temple, in the center of Sideng Street.

It's worth a visit, just thinking back to the glorious past!!

Shaxi is a place very worth visiting, it is quiet, sparsely populated and the water is very clear.