The Severely Underrated "Southwest Ancient Town"

【Day 1: Exploring the Ancient City】 Step into Tonghai Ancient Town while the morning mist still lingers, and you'll find the vermilion doors of the Confucian Temple already half-open🪔. The 600-year-old ginkgo tree sheds golden leaves in the morning light, while bronze bells under the upturned eaves chime gently in the wind, creating the illusion of brushing shoulders with Ming and Qing dynasty scholars on their way to imperial examinations. Heading north along the bluestone path, weathered brick walls hide memories of the ancient Tea Horse Road, while copper kettles outside old teahouses still steam with the essence of bygone days. In the afternoon, climb the steps up Mount Xiu🌿, where ancient cypress trees line stone steps worn smooth by the passage of time. The Ming dynasty entrance gate of Yongjin Temple still stands tall, with the plaque reading "Most Beautiful in Southern Yunnan" reflecting shifting cloud shadows. The Qingleng Terrace halfway up the mountain is perfect for a rest; from the railings, you can see the overlapping gray-tiled roofs of the ancient town, like boats anchored in a sea of time. Before sunset, stroll to Juikui Pavilion, a three-tiered Ming dynasty structure that stands like a frozen morning bell. As wind chimes at the eaves harmonize with returning birds, the entire city bathes in amber twilight🌇. Remember to look for the century-old bronze mirror at the corner of the tower—it reflects not just your face, but also the unspoken vicissitudes of this ancient town. 【Day 2: Dialogue Between Lake and Mountain】 At dawn, Qilu Lake shimmers like silver silk🚣♂. Walking along the lakeside boardwalk, white egrets startle from the reeds, while fishermen's wooden oars break the mirror-like surface, creating ripples like annual rings. The Sansheng Palace by the lake houses astonishing wood carvings—on six latticed doors, fifty relief sculptures tell stories from the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," with the edge of the Green Dragon Crescent Blade still appearing sharp after three hundred years. In the afternoon, take a boat to explore Gushan Island⛵, which floats on the emerald waves like a green spiral shell. The remaining ancient stage faces the clouds of southern Yunnan, while wild chrysanthemums bloom stubbornly in the crevices between stone steps. Yinghai Tower at the highest point is ideal for gazing into the distance—sunlight shatters the lake water into countless scales, blurring the distinction between moving clouds and flowing mountains. Before leaving, remember to mail a postcard from the old post office at the south gate of the ancient town📮. The weathered green mailbox swallows your current mood, while light filtered through cast-iron window grilles falls on the old Republic-era scale at the counter. Around the corner, you might encounter an elderly woman selling velvet flowers from a shoulder pole, the begonia flowers at her temples as vibrant as this ancient town—always maintaining a gentle vitality amidst the vicissitudes of time🌸. ✨Tip: Wear comfortable cloth shoes to feel the temperature of the ancient town; the flying eaves of Juikui Pavilion at dusk and the misty waves of Qilu Lake at dawn are best captured as ink-wash silhouettes.