Hidden Gem Cities Perfect for a 3-Day Getaway with Direct High-Speed Rail Access
by SARA MCDOWELL
Jun 19, 2025
If I had to find reasons to love a city🌃,
I could list countless reasons for Jianshui...
I adore the vibrant, smoky Jianshui barbecue,
cherish the last narrow-gauge train on the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway,
and love Shuanglong Bridge under the sunset🌇...
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The daily water-fetching at Dabajing Well,
the square dancing under Chaoyang Tower,
and the Jianshui tofu eaten from morning till night,
all make me feel this ancient city⛩️ is truly alive...
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🚗Transportation:
▶Kunming⇨Jianshui: 2-hour high-speed rail🚅;
▶Cars🚙 are restricted in the ancient town, mainly walking; taxis available for surrounding attractions;
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📈Suggested Itinerary: [Two Days One Night]
D1 Beishan Pottery Village⇨Ancient Town Citywalk (White Sparrow Temple/Jade Emperor Pavilion☞Chaoyang Tower⛩️☞Zhujia Garden☞Jianshui Confucian Temple☞Qingyuan Gate☞Dabajing Well)⇨Shuanglong Bridge sunset🌇
D2 Take narrow-gauge train🚞 from Lin'an Station⇨Tuanshan Folk Houses⇨Ant Workshop⇨Wulong Lake Park
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🌃Attractions:
①🕌Beishan Pottery Village: 30¥, recommended for photography📸 lovers;
②🏡Zhujia Garden: 35¥, large Qing dynasty private garden/dubbed "Grand View Garden of Southern Yunnan"/closes at 19:00;
③⛩️Jianshui Confucian Temple: 40¥, Ming dynasty architecture/second only to Qufu and Beijing Confucian Temples;
④🏯Jade Emperor Pavilion/White Sparrow Temple: Free, Ming-Qing architecture/features intangible cultural heritage exhibitions/includes Yuan dynasty Chongwen Pagoda;
⑤Dabajing Well: Free, 600-year-old well featured in "A Bite of China"/used by locals/nearby tofu shop offers 5¥ all-you-can-eat;
⑥🌉Shuanglong Bridge: Free, 17-arch Qing dynasty bridge/stunning sunset/stop on narrow-gauge train route;
⑦🛖Tuanshan Folk Houses: 35¥, "Folk House Museum"/terminus of Jianshui narrow-gauge train/listed as World Monumental Architectural Heritage;
⑧🕋Ant Workshop: 20¥, dopamine-colored pottery workshop/great for photos📸;
⑨Wulong Lake Park: Free, colorful geological park+unique multicolored earth mounds/features islands🏝️ and coconut palm beaches;
⑩🚞Narrow-Gauge Train:
▶Lin'an Station☞Tuanshan Folk Houses, round trip 4-5 hours;
▶Lin'an Station➡️Shuanglong Bridge (30min stop)➡️Xianghui Bridge (20min stop)➡️Tuanshan Village (90-130min stop) ➡️Return (non-stop)
▶🎫Hard seat round trip: 120¥/two daily departures (9:00/14:30)
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🥗Food:
I believe Jianshui is a city🏙️ worth visiting repeatedly for food alone;
✔Jianshui Barbecue🍢:
In town: Amao Halal BBQ and Xiaobo BBQ; outside town: Western BBQ;
✔Lihua Jian Snack Shop: local delicacies, closes at 18:00;
✔Tuwa Fang: high value, extremely crowded during mealtimes;
✔Papaya Old Shop: time-honored sweet drink spot, affordable and delicious;
✔🌿Grass Shoot Rice Noodles: Jianshui specialty, worth trying;
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🏨Accommodation:
Jianshui is small; staying inside or near the ancient town is convenient. Note: vehicles are restricted in town, requiring luggage🧳 hauling on stone roads. Converted ancient house homestays offer unique experiences - highly recommended;
Post by MICHEAL MCDANIEL | Jul 27, 2025























