Citywalk | Xizhou Ancient Town, once the most prosperous place in Dali

Warm reminder : There are many tourists in Xizhou during the peak season. If you mind, please consider carefully.

Bian Bian once followed Yu Bo's "Citywalk" to Xizhou for an in-depth tour. She later said to Yu Bo: "Although I have been to Xizhou many times, this is the first time I really understand this place." Therefore, Yu Bo's "Citywalk Series" started from Xizhou and opened at the "Cangshan Hiking Home".

The “Dali-Xizhou Line” hiking tour is led by You Bo.

Guides familiar with Xizhou will take you into the real Xizhou and explain it to you from the perspectives of architecture, family, folk customs and cultural history. Many private courtyards are not open to the public, but because we have local connections, our guides can take you into these more hidden places.

People often say: "To understand Dali and Bai culture, you must first understand Xizhou." Xizhou is a cultural town with a thousand-year history of the Bai people and is one of the main birthplaces of Dali culture.

In many articles about Xizhou, we often see Mr. Lao She's evaluation of Xizhou: "I can't think of a place in China that is so remote, yet so solemn. When you go in, it feels like you've walked into Cambridge, England, with water flowing on both sides of the street; when you go out, you can wash vegetables and clothes, and the dirt is washed away instantly."

Walking on the ancient stone streets of the ancient town, with the gentle breeze and warm sunshine, time seems to have slowed down. Almost every tourist who comes to Xizhou for the first time will fall in love with this place.

Unlike the usual quick photo taking or aimless wandering, this trip is accompanied by a professional guide. Adhering to the concept of "traveling like a local", we walk along the established routes and themes to get to know the city more deeply, discovering hidden beauty at every step, and thus gaining a deeper understanding of the city's history, culture, and changes.

Image from Lonely Planet's Yunnan guide

This city walk was inspired by the Lonely Planet Yunnan travel guide and follows the Xizhou travel route in the "travel bible" Lonely Planet Yunnan.

Although I have been to Xizhou many times, I found that this trip made me rediscover this place that I thought I was familiar with. With every step, surprises are hidden in the next street corner or an inconspicuous corner. This route includes many places, and the following are some of the places that impressed me.

Xizhou Mosque Located at the northern end of the ancient city. This temple, built in the Yuan and Ming dynasties, is ancient and elegant. The gate is a typical Bai style "three drops of water", and there is a plaque above the gate that reads "Xizhou Mosque". It is worth a look. Please note that although you can visit the courtyard, you are not allowed to enter the temple building without permission.

Not far away, you will arrive at the Xizhou Agricultural Culture and Art Museum of Jiasheji. The seven different exhibition halls here show the stories of farming throughout the year. There are also some old objects and black-and-white old photos that restore the supply and marketing cooperatives, cinemas, village offices, etc. in the 19th century. There is a cafe here where you can sit and drink coffee and take a break.

At the entrance In Jishan Village , there is a white stone tablet with the history of the Anti-Japanese War engraved on it. Looking east from here, you can see a house with a half-collapsed roof - that was the navigation station of the former American Flying Tigers in Xizhou. Today, this abandoned navigation station is located in someone's courtyard. After asking politely, the owner was very enthusiastic and said that many people used to visit. However, when I went to Xizhou alone later, I thought I might disturb the owner, so I just looked outside. In today's dilapidated state, it is hard to imagine that this place once played an important role in history.

Left: Abandoned US Flying Tigers navigation station.

journey:

• 11:00 Xizhou Justice Gate
  • Wandering in the streets and alleys.
• 12:00 Lunch (at a local restaurant, pay separately or order your own food).
  • Continue the journey and enjoy afternoon tea.
• 15:30 The journey ends.