Shaxi Sideng Street

Although Sideng Street was once a bustling market on the ancient Tea-Horse Road, times have changed, and now all that remains is a template street, renovated to "ancient city standards" to attract tourists. The long stone slabs flank various Western-style restaurants, and a coffee bar billboard stretches across the center of the road. In the corner of an old shop with earthen walls, several elderly people gather together to play mahjong. Nearby sits a stove with a large flat pan on top. Occasionally, someone comes to buy an omelet, and the elderly man near the pan stops playing cards and slowly begins to stir. A milky aroma slowly rises and dissipates throughout the market. Although modernization has caused Sideng Street to lose much of its original flavor, the people who live here ensure that this flavor is not completely lost.

During the two days in Shaxi Ancient Town, I came to Sideng Street many times and lingered here. Sideng Street is full of the vicissitudes and heaviness of history, and at the same time it is full of a strong breath of life. This is both similar to and different from the royal buildings in Beijing. Apart from Beijing, such ancient towns with a sense of historical vicissitudes are rare in the country.

Most ancient towns developed from markets. Sideng Street is the only surviving ancient market on the Ancient Tea-Horse Road. It has a stone pavement left over from the Ming Dynasty. There is a gurgling stream on one side and the slightly sloping stone pavement seems to have experienced many stories.

Go as early as possible. There were only 15 B&Bs in 2005, but now there are nearly 200. It is still a very quiet place. I took a lot of photos, but they are too big to upload.

This trip to Shaxi was a regret. I sat in the coffee shop on Sideng Street for a long time, staring at this theater!

An important part of Shaxi Ancient Town! ! ! !

Under the winter sun, in the quiet inn of the ancient town, with persimmon trees laden with fruit, I savor the casual, spontaneous, and poetic slow life. Without the need for reserve or pretense, I experience the simplicity and warmth of the people of the ancient town. . . .

The most quaint of all is Sideng Street, a key point on the Ancient Tea-Horse Road. It's the only surviving market on the route, and it's truly charming. The residential buildings on Sideng Street maintain the typical Bai architectural features, with "three-square-shaped courtyards with a screen wall" and "four-sided courtyards with five courtyards" commonplace. The Ouyang family's "three-square-shaped courtyard with a screen wall" horse inn and the Zhao family's "four-sided courtyard with five courtyards" courtyard still showcase the splendor of the wealthy families in a once-thriving economic and trade area.

Today, Sideng Street is lined with coffee shops, restaurants and small inns, each with its own characteristics.

The main streets and areas of Shaxi Ancient Town are great places to sunbathe and relax.

Quaint! Full of history! Not yet completely commercialized!

The actual market in Shaxi Ancient Town is now located on Sideng Street. "Temple" refers to Xingjiao Temple, "deng" means "place" in the Bai dialect, and "jie" (pronounced "gai") is the local customary name for a market. Therefore, "Sideng Street" refers to the market near Xingjiao Temple. Later, Sideng Street simply became a nickname for the village where Xingjiao Temple is located, while the actual market square was called Sifang Street.

Known as the last ancient Tea Horse Road, the town is made of loess. The shops close very early, but the market is quite interesting.

Sideng Street is the center of the ancient town market and the most famous street in Shaxi Ancient Town. The ancient buildings on both sides bear witness to the development of Shaxi.

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 ancient buildings on Shaxi Temple Street are well preserved.

The heart of Buddha and the joy of sincerity are my beliefs.

More and more people are doing business here. The town is very exquisite and is a good place for urban people.

Shaxi Temple Street is the street in the center of Shaxi. In fact, Shaxi is very small.

A truly peaceful temple, majestic and magnificent when viewed from a distance.

The ancient buildings are well-preserved. It's also relatively quiet. Shaxi itself isn't very large, making it a great place for quiet contemplation.

The feeling of the ancient town is basically the same. The day we went there, the sky was a bit gloomy, with occasional drizzles of rain, and it was a bit cold.

It's a bit like the underdeveloped Lijiang of more than a decade ago. Personally, I prefer places with fewer people and relatively quiet places. The various small shops are very warm and I feel that they were carefully designed.

Shaxi is very small, so this street is quite famous.

Four nights and three days, ancient town, Shibaoshan, wonderful memories

Between Dali and Lijiang, you can take a car and take a short detour to reach Shaxi Ancient Town.

The ancient town is very unique, with distinctive buildings and relics of the ancient Tea-Horse Road.

The most distinctive feature is Shaxi Temple Deng Street, with its ancient buildings, ancient trees, and ancient operas...

There is actually a quiet and sparsely populated street in an ancient town near Dali.

It's a very quiet ancient street with some very stylish shops. You can go in and take a look.

Once an important town on the Ancient Tea-Horse Road, I visited during a resource survey in 2012. It's quiet, underdeveloped, and with few tourists. The old buildings are well-preserved. The old Ma family is worth a visit. This photo shows the ancient stage on Sideng Street, where its former glory can still be vaguely seen. The most beautiful scenery is Sideng Street against the backdrop of the setting sun.

The most famous place in Shaxi Ancient Town is Sideng Street, an ancient market on the Ancient Tea Horse Road. In fact, it is no different from an ordinary market now, and it feels more like a gimmick.

China's most charming historical and cultural district, even ranked by the United Nations.

Sideng Street in Shaxi was once a vital thoroughfare connecting Southeast Asia, South Asia, Nanzhao, and Tubo. Today, only the remains of the Xingjiao Temple, the ancient theater, the Yujin Bridge, and the bluestone-paved Square Street remain, along with over 30 old residences, most notably the Ouyang Courtyard. The central Square Street, paved with red sandstone and covering 35,000 square meters, served as the primary trading hub. The street was surrounded by numerous shops and horse farms. Most buildings were two-story wooden structures, with shops in front and shops in the back, a defining feature of market architecture along the Ancient Tea-Horse Road. The rooms facing the street served as shops for business, while the rooms behind the shops served as stables for horse caravans and merchants.

There is a market on Shaxi Temple Street every Friday. Actually, the market only sells small items. There are not many special things. But there are really a lot of people. Everyone carries a bamboo basket.

I still like this state of integration into the local area. I translated for the Korean girl I met and was even mistaken for a tour guide by the owner of the grilled chicken shop. Hahahaha

Shaxi Ancient Town is one of the ancient towns in Dali that has been preserved better than its original appearance. Sideng Street is the central scenic spot of Shaxi Ancient Town and you must visit it.

Having visited countless ancient towns, Shaxi’s antiquity and vicissitudes still surprise me!

It is a very quiet ancient street with few people. Without the hustle and bustle, people can calm down and feel the history of the ancient town and its former prosperity.

The main old street in Shaxi Ancient Town is a gently sloping road several hundred meters long, leading to Sifang Street and the ancient theater. There are some restaurants, shops and inns on both sides of the street.

The quiet town and ancient streets are as beautiful as the pastoral scenery described in Tao Yuanming's poems. However, Shaxi is now gradually becoming well-known, and one day it will be transformed into an ancient city like Dali and Lijiang, so if you want to go, you should go as soon as possible.

Shaxi Sideng Street is located in the center of Shaxi Basin, Shaxi Town.

Shaxi Temple Street is located in Shaxi Ancient Town, Jianchuan County, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture.

Shaxi Temple Street is in the center of Shaxi Ancient Town and there will be a market

Shaxi Temple Street is located in the center of Shaxi Ancient Town, and the ancient stage is very distinctive.

Sideng Street in Shaxi was once a vital thoroughfare connecting Southeast Asia, South Asia, Nanzhao, and Tubo. Today, only the remains of the Xingjiao Temple, the ancient theater, Yujin Bridge, and the bluestone-paved Square Street remain, along with more than 30 old residences, most notably the Ouyang Courtyard.

Shaxi Ancient Town, once a vital gateway connecting Southeast Asia, South Asia, Nanzhao, and Tubo, was a crucial transportation hub on the ancient Tea-Horse Road. It boasts the only surviving ancient market on the route. Every Friday morning, the market takes place in Shaxi. The scenery here is picturesque; any photo looks like it was created. The cover photo of a Yunnan travel guide features the ancient stage on Sideng Street in Shaxi.

It's a very quiet town, and students sketching can be seen everywhere on the streets.

Shaxi, Shaxi, you are such a magical place. Those of us who have seen you will never forget you in our eyes and hearts. (P.S. The simple shop has all kinds of old items and the owner is very nice.)

I went there twice, in November 2011 and during the Spring Festival of 2014. I like this place very much, although it is small. Now the inn is getting better and better, and there are more and more people.

I didn't know about it before, but later I found out that the Shaxi Ancient Town we see now is restored. Despite this, I was still attracted to Shaxi. I went there once and I always want to go again.

It is a quiet old street with not many tourists. You can walk around slowly, or go to the old theater on Sideng Street and sit under the big locust tree. Time will not be important then.

Finally, I saw the real Shaxi. It wasn't what I'd imagined, but sitting on that empty square street, with the ancient stage to my right, Xingjiao Temple to my left, towering old trees in front of me, and red sandstone slabs under my feet, if it weren't for Manman's nagging, I think I could have seen the prosperous scene of the past, when horse caravans gathered here to trade.

I love you so much, I love you so much. I'll say it a thousand times. Drinking tea and basking in the sun. Don't even mention how comfortable it is.

The alley leading to Liushui Temple is particularly simple and honest.

Because there is not much damage, the house is still an earthen house, retaining its original appearance, without any modern buildings, the inn does not need to be renovated to be very charming.

One of the ancient towns on the Tea Horse Road. If you say it is "the only one that survived", the people of Weishan Ancient Town disagree. It is very quiet, and the temperature drops sharply at night. People who stay there should pay attention.

Shaxi must be highly recommended! It is so beautiful. I want to come to a place like this that is not well-known but has beautiful scenery and beautiful people.

The exterior walls of traditional Bai buildings are all covered with murals. When my uncle was young, he contracted projects in Dali and painted murals.

Look up and you can see the blue sky and white clouds

Here, different animals can live in harmony.

After passing through the village gate, a narrow and long ancient alley slowly emerged, with dilapidated old shops quietly standing on both sides of the alley. The strong commercial atmosphere hits you in the face, making people think of the scene of horse caravans entering the village gate and passing through the alley in ancient times.

It is equivalent to Sifang Street (the central area) of Shaxi Ancient Town. It is very simple and quaint. Especially in the sunset, it has a unique style.

Located in the center of Shaxi, the ancient stage is very distinctive

Shaxi is a very nice place, with Sifang Street being the center. Its characteristic is tranquility.

Shaxi Sideng Street, with its ancient buildings and rich history, is the only surviving ancient market on the Tea Horse Road. We walked through Sideng Street, where water streamed through the streets, and reached the East Village Gate, where we quietly felt the bustling atmosphere of the past, with its horse caravans passing by, the jingling of horse bells, and the bustling atmosphere.

Slow! Quiet! Time really goes by slowly, especially if you don’t have your phone with you!

A must-see spot when visiting Shaxi. It's very comfortable to stroll along the street when there are few people!

Walking on Sideng Street, you can hear the sound of gurgling water, walk on green stone pavement, and see old houses of various wooden structures and mottled mud walls in front of you. The ancient and vicissitudes of time make people walk slower and slower, for fear of disturbing the sleeping ancient streets.

I miss the coffee with the two uncles and aunts next to the old stage. They could spend the whole day there.

The place where the Tea Horse Road passes is very desolate (the whole Shaxi Ancient Town is desolate = =)

The ancient stage, the center of Shaxi Ancient Town, is also a landmark building on the Ancient Tea-Horse Road.

Following the stream, we enter Sideng Street, a thousand-year-old market. Luggage is useless here, as the road is made of polished boulders. A dazzling array of inns line the streets, preserving the original charm while maintaining a touch of bourgeois charm. Strolling along Sideng Street, visitors can admire the well-preserved ancient opera stage, Xingjiao Temple, and the old horse inn, as if recounting stories of the ancient horse caravans. This area has also attracted many outsiders, who have opened inns, bars, and cafes. Designated as one of the 101 endangered structures in danger by the World Monuments & Heritage Fund in 2002, it attracts numerous international tourists. This creates a harmonious blend of Chinese and Western elements, where the modern and the past complement each other harmoniously. A visit to Shaxi is all about taking a leisurely stroll, basking in the sun, listening to the silence, gazing at the blue sky, savoring a cup of coffee, and savoring the tranquility of the ancient town. I remember that afternoon I stopped at the Maiqiu Bookstore, watching people coming and going outside the window, flipping through Shaxi's books, writing postcards to myself, and taking a sip of Yunnan coffee. I felt that this was the quiet life I really wanted, and I hoped that time could be frozen at that moment forever.

Jianchuan Shaxi Temple Street has been included in the list of 101 endangered architectural heritage sites in the world. It is the only surviving market on the Ancient Tea Horse Road, with a complete stage, horse inn, temple, and village gate.

Shaxi Sideng Street is short, only about 200 meters, but it exudes a sense of timelessness. Every building around it seems to have a story, especially the Laomadian Inn. I recommend staying there for a while.

Shaxi Temple Street is located in Shaxi Ancient Town, where locals go to market.

Shaxi, the only surviving market town on the Ancient Tea-Horse Road. The so-called Shaxi Ancient Town usually refers to Sideng Street, with Sifang Street as its center, which was once the location of Shaxi's busiest market.

I walked straight down the short Sideng Street and out the east gate. Outside, I was greeted by a vast expanse of greenery, water features, pavilions, and bridges. The bridge ahead was Yujin Bridge, one of the scenic spots. Crossing the bridge, I was greeted by vast cornfields and the faint glimpse of a Bai village. By the time I returned to the main road, it was sunset, the light soft and Sifang Street had become considerably quieter, perfect for some photo opportunities. The main scenic area isn't large, so exploring it won't take more than a few hours. It was still early enough for a break. I approached an expert from Shuanglangyin to Shaxi to ask for advice on the best route to hike Shibao Mountain, saving the 50 yuan entrance fee. As we said goodbye, it was already dusk, the slippery stone pavement reflecting the red glow of lanterns from the roadside inns. The ancient town was deserted, and a quiet atmosphere reigned.

The men who walked on the ancient Tea Horse Road in those days were

Shaxi Sideng Street is the only surviving ancient market on the Tea Horse Road. It is not well known to Chinese people. In the early years, it was mostly visited by foreign tourists. Almost every shop has an English sign.

The whole street feels different during the day and at night. There are fewer people during the day and even fewer at night. I like this place very much. This is the cover of Lonely Planet.

This is the feeling you get when strolling in the ancient town: few people and leisurely. In comparison, Dali Ancient Town is much inferior.

I went there during the Chinese New Year in early 2014. There weren't many people there. I remember there was an ancient stage, surrounded by mountains and farmland, and a stream. The scenery was beautiful and the air was fresh.

The ancient stage there is really unique and can't be seen anywhere else. Imagine the busy scene here in the past~