Yunnan Travel: This Hidden Gem Is Little Known

We drove from Dali to Jianshui with our family on a road trip through Yunnan. The 500 km, six-hour drive felt like we had been transported to summer. Dali has a plateau monsoon climate, and the temperature difference between day and night in March is significant, requiring warmer clothing in the mornings and evenings. Jianshui has a subtropical monsoon climate, and in March, only a light jacket is needed throughout the day. Jianshui is located in the south of Yunnan Province and belongs to the Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture. Jianshui's claim to fame is the Jianshui Ancient City, a national historical and cultural city and scenic area. The earliest version of Jianshui City was an earthen city built during the Nanzhao period. It was expanded into a brick city during the Ming Dynasty. The Chaoyang Tower at the east gate has a history of more than 600 years and has withstood numerous wars and earthquakes, a truly magnificent sight! Walking through the ancient city at night, you can see locals dancing in front of the Chaoyang Tower, creating a lively atmosphere. On weekends and holidays, visitors to Jianshui Ancient City can also enjoy the Chaoyang Tower light show. 💁 Main Attractions 🟢 Chaoyang Tower 🟢 Zhu Family Garden 🟢 Xuezheng Examination Hall 🟢 Confucian Temple 🟢 Lin'an Yamen 🤩 Jianshui Cuisine Grilled tofu, Jianshui barbecue, Yunnan steam pot chicken, Qujiang roast duck, etc. 🏨 Accommodation Recommendation We stayed at the First Sight · Yunshang Inn near Chaoyang Tower. The inn is located on Jishi Street, with Chaoyang Tower in front and Xiaogui Lake behind. There are many chain restaurants, shops, and pharmacies nearby, making it a great location. Guests driving to the inn can park directly in the underground parking lot for free. The inn's common area is quite large, where guests can enjoy watching fish or playing chess, giving it a homey feel. The inn gave us two rooms: a Huishou · Ningchu double room and a Banxia Sunshine twin room. Both rooms were spacious enough to accommodate our luggage for three adults and one child. The welcome fruit provided in both rooms was a nice touch. At night, Jishi Street transforms into a food street, allowing guests to sample delicious and affordable local snacks just downstairs. The narrow-gauge railway station is about a 10-minute walk from the inn, and the Seventeen-Arch Bridge is about a 20-minute drive. The inn also provides pick-up service for guests arriving by high-speed rail. 📍 Address: Jishi Street, Lin'an Town, Jianshui County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, D-9-1-4 💰 Room Rates: CNY 200–600. The average price for the rooms we stayed in was around CNY 300, offering excellent value for money.