Go to Fengyu Traditional Market | Tea Horse Ancient Town in the Valley (Every Tuesday)

In Dali, traditional markets are held every day from Monday to Sunday in different towns and counties. These markets feature local food, clothing and specialties, and most of the people you meet there are locals.

One of my favorite childhood activities was going to the market every week. My parents would give me money to go to town to buy things (and sometimes cigarettes) that I couldn't buy in the village. It was always bustling with people from all the villages and towns.

There are markets every day in Dali. My family lives in Yousuo Town in Eryuan, but my favorite market is in Fengyu Town, just across the mountain pass. Maybe it’s because Fengyu Town was once an important town on the ancient Tea Horse Road. This area is located in the valley below Huadian Dam, and although it is difficult to access and the main road takes a detour, it still retains a rich tradition and natural beauty.

For example, in the market, you will see many locals wearing traditional Bai costumes, which are different from what you see in Dali City. Although they are all Bai, the food, customs and festival traditions are also different.

With the evolution of modern transportation and lifestyle, such traditional markets are becoming less and less common, and may even disappear over time. That's why I want to visit them more often. Just like the natural changes of Cangshan Mountain, the goods offered by the market change with the seasons, making every visit fun and rewarding.

On market days, many mountain residents would come down from the mountains to sell their own agricultural and handicraft products, medicinal herbs, tobacco, and ceremonial items, with trucks filled with goods.

After the morning market, it’s about a 15-minute drive to the “Dajiankou Ancient Village.” This place is hard to capture with photos; it’s best to experience it in person.

Walking in the village, you can see abandoned stone houses everywhere (locals call it Stone City). There are many walnuts fallen on the ground, which can be cracked open with stones and eaten.

After the walk, we drank tea under a big tree at the entrance of the village. This tree is more than 200 years old and has witnessed the people and events of the entire village. Now, we looked out at Fengyubazi under the shade of the tree.

Fengyu is not only beautiful, but also rich in history and culture to explore. Because I like this place, I created a new route to share with you. Bring your small backpack and go to the market with me.

journey:

Destination: Fengyu Ancient Town, Eryuan (80 kilometers from the ancient city, 1 hour and 40 minutes by car)

Departure time: 9:00am

Return time: around 4:00 p.m.

Return to the starting point around 6pm.

Have lunch at a local restaurant in Fengyu Town (share the cost, about 30-40 yuan per person, affordable, you can order dishes according to your preferences).

Weed seeds, a local snack similar to sunflower seeds