RV China Border Tour Day134-136: Shaxi Ancient Town - the only surviving ancient market on the Tea Horse Road

Last time I mentioned: Stop at Jianchuan Ancient City Qianshi Mountain ...

When I came to Jianchuan County, I saw many Yunnan Bai people walking out on the street carrying bamboo baskets.

At noon, we found a local restaurant and ate cold elbow scallops and stir-fried sweet potato leaves.

After dinner, we drove to Shaxi Ancient Town located in Jianchuan, Dali. "Xu Xiake's Travels" says: "The flow of Jianchuan Lake, together with the Tuoqiang River, goes out of the gorge and runs through the middle of the Sichuan. It is called Shaxi. Its dock is five or six miles wide from east to west, and no less than fifty miles from north to south. The rice produced was so abundant that people from Jianchuan Prefecture came to get enough of it. "

Sideng Street—the only surviving ancient market on the Tea Horse Road

The ancient roads are well preserved

On both sides are gurgling water

When the thin horse meets the rainbow on the ancient road

Take a walk along the Tea Horse Road and savor the flavor of the ancient alleys

Ancient buildings that have been preserved to this day

intestinal tract

Broken brick house

Teahouses and literary shops in ancient alleys

old silversmith

A small shop opened by an old woman from the Bai ethnic group in Yunnan, selling some small knitted items made by herself.

In the evening, I found a literary restaurant in Gudaoli

The courtyard is decorated in a very antique style and comes with two sharp-eyed bodyguards in black.

The boss is from Tianjin, and the food he cooks is very appetizing, including braised meatballs and garlic pork ribs.

Braised noodles with tomatoes and eggs

Passion fruit juice

While eating, there were two bodyguards in black beside me, one on the left and one on the right, watching intently.

After dinner, watch the beauties of the Bai ethnic group dancing around the bonfire

Viewing Yujin Bridge at night is like a dream

The ancient road is decorated with lights

Good night!

The next morning, we took a walk to Yujin Bridge - built during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, it was an important passage for caravans to enter the ancient town of Shaxi from Dali. It has been preserved to this day despite hundreds of years of wars and winds.

Stand on the bridge and experience the centuries-old historical changes of Shaxi Ancient Town

The mountains and rivers under the bridge are hazy and as beautiful as a picture scroll

Crossing Yujin Bridge is Shaxi Siden Street

Horses walking on the ancient path by the river

A row of students quietly sat by the river sketching, recording the beautiful scenery of the ancient town one stroke at a time.

At noon, I took Hee Hee with me to do some shopping at the Guji Food Market.

Bought fresh matsutake and large yellow mushrooms

At noon, we returned to the parking lot of Shaxi Ancient Town, with the willows clinging to the river. We put up an awning outside the RV and started cooking.

Big yellow mushroom bigger than the palm of your hand

Clean the matsutake mushrooms and eat them raw

Heehee, I am very happy to watch daddy cooking.

I don’t know what I’m talking about.

Make a meal and eat under the willows by the river!

Drinking a little wine and blowing in the breeze, it's very comfortable

Hehehe is speechless, why is it not mine?

After dinner, take a nap under the shade of a tree

In the afternoon, have afternoon tea with the beautiful scenery

In the evening, we used the remaining matsutake mushrooms to make matsutake crucian carp soup in the RV. It was very nutritious and delicious!

It’s another beautiful and quiet night in the ancient town. Good night!

The next day, I happened to catch up with the weekly market in Shaxi Ancient Town, which has been preserved since the Tea Horse Road period.

Starting from around 8 o'clock in the morning, city dwellers would drive their cars to Sideng Town to sell their goods. In ancient times, people would ride horses to transport goods. Sell seasonal fruits, vegetables, daily necessities, Chinese medicinal materials, etc.

Still using a very primitive weighing method

The local Bai people all carry bamboo baskets and come out to buy goods.

Some foreigners also came to visit the ancient market. They bought large and small bags at the big market and went back.

After visiting Shaxi Ancient Market, drive to Xizhou Ancient Town in Dali

Arriving at Xizhou Ancient Town at five or six in the afternoon, I was very surprised to see the blue sky and white clouds and the endless rice fields.

Walking in the fields is very peaceful and feels very close to nature

Beating rice ears

Buy a stick of Dali Xizhou ice cream

Walking through the streets of Xizhou Ancient Town

ancient house

Literary shop

rural mural

At night, we parked in the parking lot next to the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple. It happened to be the full moon night of the Mid-Autumn Festival.