[2025 Shiping ] Travel Guide for Narrow Gauge Train Shiping (Updated Apr)

#springwander The Shiping Miniature Train embodies a quiet charm, where time seems to slow and the air carries a hint of wistful nostalgia. Its quaint design and serene surroundings exude an artistic vibe, inviting visitors to bask in its gentle, old-world allure. It’s not just a ride—it’s a passage into simpler times, where the rhythmic hum of the train echoes memories of bygone days. An understated gem that blends sentimental warmth with a touch of creativity. 🚂✨🌿

In Yunnan, the two cities of Shiping and Jianshui are very close to each other. Basically, they play on a line. Because of the history of the meter-gauge train Now there are also sightseeing trains for tourists to experience Because I did a lot of strategy before. The internet-famous train in Jianshui next door is so popular again Expensive, crowded So I strongly recommend taking the Shiping train with your friends. 👏I came here twice in total First time visiting Shiping Station Because there is a French coffee shop here. I like it very much I took the train the next morning. Small train guide ⬇️ The train we took was called Yilonghao There are two stops between Shiping Station and Baxin Station. Each site has unique scenery and historical culture The train only runs at 20 kilometers per hour. You can slowly enjoy the scenery along the way 🎫: Off-season price: 80 for round trip, 60 for one way The peak season will increase by 20💰 ⏰Depart at 10:30 am and arrive at Baxin Station at 12:40 pm The return trip departs at 13:40 and arrives at Shiping Station at 15:10 📍Shiping Station Full of French retro style, it feels like traveling back to the Republic of China In fact, tourists who don’t take the train can also go in and take pictures. The locomotive, rails and platforms are all very photogenic. 📍Renshou Station, stop for 30 minutes, is a small village 📍Longjing Station, stop for 40 minutes, connecting to the wetland park on the other side of Yilong Lake 📍Baxin Station is larger than the previous two villages. You can visit the rural scenery and have lunch here at noon. ⭕️Scenery along the way: The best scenery is definitely the scenery along the way. Sit in the train and see the villages, lakes, and local customs along the way. It is recommended to go to the rear of the train for taking photos. The windows on the seats of this small train in Shiping cannot be opened. 🚞tips: ✅The one-way trip takes a little over 2 hours. Each person will be given bottled water. If it is not enough, you can bring some snacks with you. ✅There is no toilet in the car, you can only get off at each stop and go to the station ✅If you drive yourself, you can park your car at Shiping Station and get free parking fees by showing your ticket until 5pm ✅Compared with Jianshui's train, Shiping's train has fewer carriages and carries fewer tourists

Shilin is a hidden gem in Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province. It enjoys a spring-like climate all year round and is rarely disturbed by tourists. The city is home to a century-old iron train, a thousand-year-old ancient city, and the beautiful Yilong Lake Wetland Park. Shilin 1-Day Tour Guide First Stop Shilin Ancient City: This historical and cultural city is shaped like a turtle shell and has a well-connected road network. It is known as the hometown of the top scorer in the imperial examination and has a history of more than 2,000 years. The ancient city retains the layout of the Ming Dynasty and is home to many ancient buildings, such as the Shilin Confucian Temple, Shilin Academy, and the county government office. Second Stop The Shilin Station of the narrow-gauge railway was built in 1936. The station has been renovated and the narrow-gauge sightseeing train has been reopened. The Shilin Station retains the original ticket hall and platform, and the line to Baxin, Tuanshan, and Jianshui has been reopened. The lowest ticket price is CNY 40 for a hard seat from Shilin to Baxin, and CNY 120 for a round-trip hard seat from Shilin to Jianshui. Third Stop Yilong Lake Yilong Lake is a plateau lake connecting Shilin County and Baxin Town in Yunnan Province. Its history can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty. Attractions: Lake embankment, water pavilion, wooden arch bridge, and plank road. You can ride a bike or take a walk along the lake. Fourth Stop Haishan Pavilion Ruicheng Haishan Pavilion consists of Laicrane Pavilion, Wenchang Pavilion, and Kuixing Pavilion. It was built in the Ming Dynasty. You can enjoy a panoramic view of Yilong Lake from the top. Admission is free.

Shi Ping Mini Train is a meter-gauge train located at Yilong Town Railway Station. The entire line is 29.1 km long. It departs from Shi Ping Station and passes through Renshou Village Station, Longjing Station, and Baxin Station before arriving at Jianshui Tuanshan Station. The mini train has 7 carriages, divided into lake view soft seats, soft seats, and hard seats. It can accommodate 240 people when full. It departs from Shi Ping Station at 8:30 every morning, stays at each station for 40 minutes, and the entire journey is nearly 3 hours. Shi Ping Mini Train is not only a sightseeing route, but also carries rich historical and cultural significance. It is the only meter-gauge railway in China (part of the Bishi Railway). The entire line was opened to traffic in 1936, with a total length of 72.6 km. It has created several records in the history of railway construction, including the narrowest gauge, the smallest train, the longest construction time, and the slowest speed. This railway is also one of the earliest private railways in China, reflecting the development history of China's railways. In addition, the journey of Shi Ping Mini Train also passes through lakes and mountains, rural villages, allowing passengers to enjoy the beautiful scenery while also feeling the historical vicissitudes of the Bishi Railway. Each station passed during the journey is full of exploration value. From Shi Ping Station to Jianshui Tuanshan Station, each station has its unique scenery and historical and cultural background.

The history of the ShiPing MiGui Mini Train can be traced back to the early 20th century. Its predecessor was the GeBiShi Railway (GeJiu-MengZi-JianShui-ShiPing Railway), which is a railway line of great historical significance. The GeBiShi Railway began construction in 1915 and was fully operational in 1936. It is 177 kilometers long and is one of the earliest private railways in China's history. The construction of this railway ended the long-term dependence on human transportation in the ShiPing area. The railway starts at MengZi BiSe Village, passes through GeJiu and LinAn (JianShui), and finally arrives at ShiPing. The whole journey is 177 kilometers. It uses a unique inch-track layout with a track gauge of only 60 centimeters. From the start of construction in 1915 to the arrival of the train in ShiPing Ancient City in 1936, this railway witnessed the vicissitudes of the two ancient cities in HongHe Prefecture.

Shiping tofu may be more famous than the city itself. But when I arrived at the ancient city of Shiping, I found that 🛕The ancient buildings in the ancient city are well preserved. The degree of commercialization is much less than that of Jianshui, and there are basically no tourists. ☺️The residents in the ancient city are still locals and are very friendly. Will take the initiative to say hello and smile, The experience is particularly good. No wonder this place was in the Ming Dynasty During this year's Spring Festival, the temperature here is still around 10-23 degrees. It is one of the options for reverse travel during the Spring Festival. - ♦️Transportation: 🚗You can drive from Kunming. It takes about 3 hours to get there by highway at 237km. You can also take the train to Jianshui (49km from Shiping) Then take the shuttle bus to arrive. - ♦️Due to the small number of tourists, Accommodation near the ancient city is very cheap. You can find accommodation in Dali for more than 300 yuan for 100-150 yuan. The grilled tofu is very cheap all over the street. Various barbecues and cold rice rolls are also delicious. - ♦️Attractions in the ancient city: ⛩️Shiping Confucian Temple, 🛤️Shiping Railway Station, an ancient French building, There are still narrow-gauge tourist trains running to and from Jianshui. (Very slow, tickets start from 114, but it attracts railway enthusiasts) 🏛️Shiping No.1 Middle School (exterior) built in Mingge, 🏠Yuan Jiagu’s former residence. ⛩️Guangyin Temple, the carvings are very exquisite. 🏛️These attractions in Shiping are still free! - ♦️Self-driving attractions outside the ancient city: ⛩️Zhengying Ancient Village was built in the Ming Dynasty and is densely populated with ancient buildings. ⛩️Come to Heting and you can climb up to see Yilong Lake 🌊Yilon Lake, cycling and running around the lake is very comfortable