A place in life that's hard to forget once you've been there—Shaxi, Yunnan!

In Jianchuan, Dali, Yunnan, there is an ancient town that served as an important post on the Tea Horse Road. It is so quiet it’s almost forgotten. In the past two years, it gained fame thanks to the TV drama "To the Windy Place." There are no overwhelming crowds or noisy street vendors. In the off-season, Shaxi Ancient Town feels calm and restrained, as if deliberately avoiding the hustle and bustle of the world. The sunlight becomes softer, falling on you with just the right warmth. 📍Shaxi Ancient Town 🚗 Transportation Guide 1. Dali → Shaxi, about 3 hours direct. There are multiple daily buses from the bus station, or you can take a direct shuttle from the scenic area, which picks you up near the entrance for more flexibility. 2. Lijiang → Shaxi, about 2.5 hours direct. There are many buses from the passenger station and also direct shuttles from the scenic area, very convenient. 🗺️ Shaxi Ancient Town Tour Route Sideng Street → Ouyang Courtyard → Mint Coffee (Windy Café) → Ancient Theater Stage → Grandma A Rui’s Shop → Xingjiao Temple → Nangu Zong Alley → Big Tree → Nanzhai Gate → Dongzhai Gate → Yujin Bridge → Fanghe Inn → Beizhai Gate 📸 Recommended Spots to Check In ✅ Sifang Street / Ancient Theater Stage The core area of the ancient town, with stone-paved roads, the ancient theater stage, Xingjiao Temple, and century-old houses, full of the historic feel of the Tea Horse Road. ✅ Xingjiao Temple Opposite the ancient theater stage, Xingjiao Temple is an ancient temple that has existed in Shaxi for hundreds of years. It is very quiet inside and now open for visits. ✅ Sideng Street The only remaining market on the Tea Horse Road and the center of Shaxi Ancient Town. ✅ Yujin Bridge Morning Mist A landmark ancient bridge in Shaxi, spanning the Heihui River. The bridge is simple and rustic, surrounded by fields and distant mountains. The Heihui River is the mother river of Shaxi Ancient Town; it is clear and gentle. Yujin Bridge is the first bridge on the way to Dali and was a must-pass route for all horse caravans traveling north and south in the past. ✅ Ouyang Courtyard A horse caravan residence on the Tea Horse Road, built in traditional Bai architecture with exquisite wood carvings and a deep courtyard. ✅ Pioneer Bookstore Poetry Tower A literary bookstore transformed from a granary, blending traditional and modern aesthetics. The top floor offers a view of the ancient town. ✅ Dongzhai Gate The gate that Xu Hongdou dragged her luggage through when she first arrived at Yunmiao Village. ✅ Nanzhai Gate The gate that Xu Hongdou and A Yao walked through holding a horse. ✅ Mint Coffee Shop Also known as Windy Café, the coffee shop run by A Yao in the drama, and where Nana worked. 🍜 Ancient Town Food Shops Chujian Shaxi, Peter’s Bistro, Love and Old Food, Zuozuo Bistro—offering Yunnan cuisine and Western food, making your culinary journey rich and colorful. ☕️ Ancient Town Coffee Windy Café, Crow Coffee, Matchstick Coffee, Thirty-One Coffee, Wusu Coffee, Banshan Coffee—coffee lovers, don’t miss these! Shaxi is a very small ancient town. Although small, it’s a place that makes people want to linger and return. It’s a place where you can calm down, daydream quietly, savor quietly, and think quietly.