3 Days & 2 Nights In-Depth Travel Guide to Shaxi, Yunnan｜A Millennium Secret on the Ancient Tea-Horse Road!

🌿 3 Days & 2 Nights In-Depth Travel Guide to Shaxi, Yunnan｜Discover this timeless sanctuary along the Tea-Horse Road, where slow living reaches its pinnacle! 🌿

🌟 Trip Highlights

✅ The only surviving ancient market town on the Tea-Horse Road, with well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasty architecture
✅ Filming location for *Princess of Dali* and *The Moon and the Saber*, featuring three iconic landmarks: the Ancient Stage, Yujin Bridge, and Xingjiao Temple
✅ Immersive cultural experiences at the avant-garde Pioneer Bookstore Poetry Tower, Bai ethnic tie-dye workshops, and the lively Friday Market
✅ Taste highland flavors like rice field coffee, wild mushroom hotpot, and crispy mountain root chips

🚗 Transportation Guide｜How to Get to Shaxi?

✈️ From Dali
• Self-drive/Carpool: Dali Ancient Town → Shaxi Ancient Town (~2 hours, carpool costs ¥50-80/person)
• Bus: Dali North Bus Station → Jianchuan County (2 hours, ¥39) → Transfer to rural minibus to Shaxi (40 minutes, ¥13)

🚌 From Lijiang
• Bus: Lijiang Bus Station → Jianchuan County (2 hours, ¥23) → Transfer to minibus to Shaxi

🚌 From Kunming
• High-speed rail + bus: Kunming Station → Dali Station (2 hours) → Follow the above route
• Direct bus: Kunming West Bus Station → Jianchuan County (7 hours, ¥133-160) → Transfer to minibus

📌 Tips: Shaxi Ancient Town is walkable—wear comfortable shoes for cobblestone streets. The Friday Market is a must-experience!

📅 3 Days & 2 Nights Itinerary

🌅 **Day 1: First Encounter with Shaxi·Ancient Alley Charm**
📍 **Sideng Street (8:30-10:00)**
▪️ Stroll the quiet cobblestone streets at dawn, photographing Ming-Qing architecture
▪️ Visit the Ancient Stage and Kuixing Pavilion—the café on the second floor has stunning views
📍 **Xingjiao Temple (10:30-11:30)**
▪️ Explore this unique "Azali" Esoteric Buddhist temple with breathtaking Ming dynasty murals
📍 **Yujin Bridge (12:00-13:00)**
▪️ Admire the Black River’s reflection of the sky and relics of ancient horse caravans
🍜 Lunch: Sideng Street Breakfast Shop (pea flour soup with fried dough, ¥5/bowl)
📍 **Pioneer Shaxi Bai Bookstore (14:30-16:00)**
▪️ A transformed granary with a poetry tower overlooking rice fields and creative souvenirs
🌃 Dinner: Shaxi Fireplace Restaurant (wild mushroom hotpot, ~¥91/person)
🏨 Stay: Shiran Mountain Retreat (Li Xian’s favorite homestay with great natural light)

🌄 **Day 2: Countryside Wanderings·Pastoral Poetry**
📍 **Hualong Village (9:00-11:00)**
▪️ Hike to Half Mountain Coffee for panoramic views of Shaxi Valley
▪️ Bike along the Black River, reliving horse caravan history (~¥100/hour)
📍 **Shibao Mountain Grottoes (13:30-15:30)**
▪️ Explore Nanzhao Kingdom-era caves with playful wild monkeys
📍 **Friday Market (16:00-18:00, Fridays only)**
▪️ Shop for wild mushrooms, handmade milk fans, and Bai tie-dye while bargaining with locals
🍜 Dinner: Tea-Horse Road Wild Mushroom & Beef Hotpot (~¥87/person)
🏨 Stay: Jishan Shaxi Wild Garden (Bai-style courtyard, perfect for photos)

🌅 **Day 3: Cultural Deep Dive·Hands-On Experiences**
📍 **Ouyang Compound (9:00-10:00)**
▪️ A Bai architectural gem with intricate horse caravan heritage details
📍 **Bai Tie-Dye Workshop (10:30-12:00)**
▪️ Craft your own indigo-dyed scarf (~¥80/person)
📍 **Bailongtan Hike (14:00-16:00)**
▪️ A hidden gem with crystal-clear springs, ideal for photos and relaxation
🍜 Lunch: Chunzhili Garden Restaurant (Bai-style sour-spicy fish with red rice noodles, ~¥73/person)
🛍️ Souvenirs: Dried wild mushrooms, honey, walnut oil (can be mailed)

🍜 Food Guide｜Must-Try List in Shaxi
🔥 **Main Dishes**
▪️ Shaxi Fireplace Restaurant: Wild mushroom hotpot + rooftop café in a retro granary
▪️ Tea-Horse Road Wild Mushroom & Beef Hotpot: Timed cooking for safety and ritual
▪️ First Sight Shaxi: Bai sour-spicy fish with red rice noodles

🍰 **Snacks**
▪️ Sideng Street Milk Fan Stall: Grilled milk fans with rose jam, ¥5/serving
▪️ He Family Garden: Crispy mountain root chips (a Shaxi specialty)
▪️ Cosmic Bakery: Limited-edition wild yeast bread (rosemary sea salt flavor is a must)

📸 Photo Ops
▪️ Outfits: New Chinese-style dresses, linen shirts, straw bags/ethnic shawls
▪️ Golden Hours: Yujin Bridge sunset (18:30-19:30), Sideng Street at dawn (7:00-8:30)
▪️ Hidden Spots: Pioneer Bookstore Poetry Tower, Ancient Stage’s second-floor window

💡 Travel Tips
1️⃣ Strong UV protection: sunglasses, hat, sunscreen
2️⃣ Some shops/horse carts only accept cash—bring small bills
3️⃣ Respect Bai customs; avoid intruding into homes for photos
4️⃣ Rainy season (July-August)—carry a raincoat; spring (March-May) has stunning blooms

🌿 While cities measure life in KPIs, Shaxi teaches you with a cup of tea, a bridge, and a rice field: Time can be slow, and happiness can be simple. Stay in an earthen homestay, listen to the echoes of horse caravans, and let the Black River’s evening breeze carry your worries away—this is the true essence of travel.

👉 Click to save and start your Shaxi slow-living journey! 👈