Mengzi One- or Two-Day Travel Guide｜In the Southern Yunnan Town, Attend a Date with "Youth" and Sweet and Sour Flavors

Mengzi, a small town hidden in Honghe Prefecture in southern Yunnan, is more laid-back than Kunming and less touristy than Dali, yet it holds many surprises: the French old-time charm from the movie "Youth," mouthwatering crossing-the-bridge rice noodles, and the sweet freshness of vast pomegranate orchards... One or two days are enough for you to understand its gentleness and everyday life. 🌞 One-Day Tour Route: A Concentrated Dose of Mengzi’s "Poetry and Distance" Morning: Start the morning with a bowl of "crossing-the-bridge rice noodles" 08:30-10:00 Check in at the "Famous Chinese Snack"—the birthplace of crossing-the-bridge rice noodles When in Mengzi, your first bowl must be crossing-the-bridge rice noodles! Recommended are the century-old "Jianxinyuan" or the local favorite "Jiang Brothers Qiaoxiangyuan." Served on the table are piping hot chicken broth, neatly arranged raw meat slices (pork loin, fish fillet, ham), vegetables, and a bowl of snowy white rice noodles. Add the meat first, then the vegetables, and finally the noodles. When stirring, the aroma rises straight to your head, so fresh it might make your eyebrows fall off. Tips: Try different sizes like "Xiucai Rice Noodles" or "Juren Rice Noodles" to experience the old scholar and crossing-the-bridge rice noodles legend~ Noon: Stroll through French old-time charm and encounter the filming locations of "Youth" 10:30-12:30 Bisezhai Station—The "Little Paris" on the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway Take a 20-minute taxi from downtown to Bisezhai, a filming location for "Youth" and "Forever Young." A hundred years ago, it was an important hub on the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway. Today, it still preserves the French-style station building, red brick walls, and rusty steam locomotives. Standing on the tracks, sunlight filters through the leaves, as if traveling back to the Republic of China era: girls in qipao, travelers carrying cameras, flower vendors... every shot looks like a vintage masterpiece. Tips: Wear light-colored clothes, a straw hat, or vintage sunglasses for better photos; mornings have better light and fewer people than afternoons. Afternoon: Explore the ancient town, taste snacks, and feel the local life 13:30-15:00 Xin'ansuo Ancient Town—Slow life in the hometown of pomegranates Mengzi is the "Hometown of Chinese Pomegranates," and Xin'ansuo Ancient Town hides the most authentic pomegranate culture. Along the street are old houses and pomegranate stalls, with aunties sitting at doorways peeling pomegranate seeds, the bright red fruit piled high. You can buy a box of freshly peeled sweet pomegranates, juicy and sweet to the core; you can also try pomegranate juice and pomegranate wine, refreshing with a fruity aroma. 15:30-17:00 Nanhu Park—The "birthplace" of crossing-the-bridge rice noodles Nanhu is Mengzi’s "urban green lung," with willows by the lake and an ancient bridge spanning the water. Legend has it that a scholar studied hard in the lake pavilion, and his wife, afraid the noodles would get cold, kept them warm with chicken broth, thus naming the dish "crossing-the-bridge rice noodles." Rent a small boat to tour the lake or sit in a lakeside teahouse drinking tea, watching locals play chess and stroll, and time slows down. Evening: A "taste bud carnival" at the night market 18:30-20:00 Wencui Road Night Market—A local hidden food street As night falls, Wencui Road Night Market comes alive. Must-try foods: grilled small meat skewers (best with 30 skewers or more), Guo Juan (rice skin wrapped with shredded radish and fish mint, sour and spicy to whet your appetite), papaya water (a grease-cutting, sweet and refreshing drink), Vietnamese small rolled rice noodles (smooth rice skin dipped in special sauce is amazing). Eat while strolling and feel the lively atmosphere of Mengzi. 🌙 Two-Day Tour Add-ons: Dive deeper into Mengzi’s "hidden gems" If you have two days, arrange the second day like this: - Morning: Visit the "Southwest Associated University Mengzi Branch Site," where Zhu Ziqing and Wen Yiduo once taught, feeling the sound of studying amid wartime; - Afternoon: Cycle at "Changqiao Sea," a quieter wetland than Nanhu, with reeds, water birds, and rice fields intertwined, perfect for zoning out; - Evening: Go to "Nisu Town," enjoy a Hani ethnic dinner, watch a bonfire party, and experience minority culture. ✨ Practical Tips 1. Transportation: Mengzi city center is small; taxi starting fare is 7 yuan. It’s recommended to take a taxi or drive to Bisezhai (about 20 minutes); 2. Best season: September to October when pomegranates are ripe and explosively sweet; March to April when spring flowers bloom, perfect for photos; 3. Dress: Strong UV in southern Yunnan, remember to bring sun-protective clothing and hats; Bisezhai suits vintage style, daily casual wear is fine in the city. Mengzi lacks the bustle of Dali and the commercialization of Lijiang. It’s like a bowl of lukewarm crossing-the-bridge rice noodles—plain at first taste, but with a lingering sweetness. Come here, no need to rush your itinerary, walk slowly, eat slowly, and you will gain the simplest happiness~