Jianshui Yunnan - with a 1200-year History

Jianshui located in southeast Yunnan, 220km southeast of Kunming and 117km northeast of Yuanyang. With a 1200-year history, Jianshui is rich in cultural heritage from the ancient time. 

There are numerous buildings of historic value and places of interest, including over 100 temples, academies of classical learning and huge residences, which are still kept in good condition. Once an important center of Yunnan and an obligatory stop on route from Kunming to Vietnam, the Dai kingdom of Xishuangbanna and the edge of the Chinese empire, Jianshui grew on the profits of its lucrative position as a center of trade.

The town's extensive architectural legacy bears witness to this former glory, and charms those few visitors it does receive. You can take your time to stroll at old streets and see ancient houses and wells at your pace.

The private Garden Of the Zhu Family  
With a total area of 20k sq.m and a floor space of 5k sq.m, The grand complex is a typical local residence with distinctive features. As it was built by Zhu brothers in the late Qing Dynasty. You can even stay overnight at the guestroom of Zhu Family Courtyard House. 28 delicate traditional guestrooms are opened to the tourists. The atmosphere and surrounding are incomparable to any other hotels. Many movies were once filmed there.

The Chaoyang Gateway Arch 
Built in 1389AD, it stands in the center of the city as the symbol of this ancient military town in the southeast border and an emblem of Jianshui. Its significance to Jianshui is the same as that of Tian'Anmen to Beijing. The Arch was built as the town's east gate tower (The Yinghui Gate). Through 600 years' vicissitude, the Chaoyang Gateway Arch is the only extant tower. Today, it is a public cultural center of Jianshui County.

The Confucius Temple (Wen Miao)
The biggest temple in Yunnan. Located near the North Gate of Jianshui. Its scale is second only to that of the Qufu Confucius temple in Shandong Province and is now one of the provincial historical relics.

Eating
Jianshui is quite famous for its Muslim population, so be sure to try some of their famed noodles. You might even see some Muslim vendors pushing carts around the street laden with huge cakes. Patterned with preserved fruit. Barbecue is very popular in Jianshui. Stalls are centralized in a narrow lane facing the first memorial gate.