[2024 Jianshui ] Travel Guide for Jianshui Excursion Train (Updated Nov)

Jianshui: Jianshui Mini Train - Travel Through the Scenery

Another must-see attraction in Jianshui is the Jianshui Mini Train. If the Ming and Qing Dynasties left Jianshui with the Jianshui Ancient City, then the Republic of China left Jianshui with the mini train. The so-called mini train refers to the narrow gauge railway, which is only one meter wide. It is also called a meter-gauge railway, which is narrower than the standard gauge railway in China, so it is called a mini train. The Jianshui Mini Train has a long history. It was built in 1915 and is the first private railway in China, with a very unique position in history. When it was first built, it was not even a meter-gauge railway, but a narrow-gauge railway, a truly miniature train. The Jianshui Mini Train currently runs for about 13 kilometers, starting from Lin'an Station next to the Jianshui Ancient City, passing through Shuanglong Bridge and Xianghui Bridge, and ending at Tuanshan Station. The mini train travels through the mountains and rivers of Jianshui, a land rich in resources. The mini train running through the fields has become the most beautiful scenery. We took the mini train, and the clanging sound was fascinating. The mini train does not run fast, which would be annoying if you are in a hurry, but it is perfect as a tourist line. We had plenty of time to take photos of the scenery and group photos, and we could sit and daze after taking photos. It was a very slow-paced healing journey. Next, we will visit each station and the scenery along the way.

Jianshui Mini Train.

3 km away from Jianshui Ancient Town, there is a Jianshui Mini Train Station. After a hundred years, it is still in operation. The train station built in the field has become the most beautiful train station. You can drink coffee and eat there, and feel the romance and passion of this border town.

Yunnan Gems: Nature, History & Culture

Feelin' the wanderlust, folks? 🌍 Let's dive into the enchanting attractions of Xishuangbanna, a place where the vibes are as lush as the landscapes! 🚂 Jianshui Excursion Train Choo-choo! All aboard the Jianshui Excursion Train for a nostalgic ride through scenic landscapes and historical stops like the Twin Dragon Bridge. 🐉 Snag a free mineral water and a local lion cake while soaking in the slow life on one of the world's slowest trains. Pro tip: grab your tickets early and don't forget your wristband – it's your golden ticket to ride! 🐾 Pu'Er Sun-River National Park Next stop, animal lovers' paradise at Pu'Er Sun-River National Park! 🦌 With easy parking and a cool forest vibe, it's perfect for families. Get up close and personal with the cutest critters for just 20 yuan. Remember to pack your raincoat, 'cause the weather can be as unpredictable as the wildlife! 🌾 Yuanyang Hani Terrace Prepare to be awestruck by the Yuanyang Hani Terrace! 🌅 These vast and majestic rice terraces are a testament to the Hani people's perseverance. Whether you're catching the sunrise at Duoyishu or sunset at Laohuzui, it's a visual feast for the soul. And if you're a fan of authentic local stays, the new hotels in the area offer a comfy and wallet-friendly rest. 🏡 Zhu's Garden Stroll through Zhu's Garden, a 20,000 square meter oasis of elegance. 🌸 With exquisite pavilions and a labyrinth of corridors, this "maze-like" architectural wonder is a must-see. Despite the August heat, the rich history and free audio guide make for an enlightening visit. 🌿 Pu'Er Tea Horse Road Scenic Spot Last but not least, saddle up for a journey down the Pu'Er Tea Horse Road Scenic Spot. 🐴 It's a blend of natural beauty, cultural performances, and interactive animal encounters. The panoramic views of Pu'er's tea plantations are the cherry on top of this delightful destination.

A train with a story

The slowest train in the world - the Jianshui narrow-gauge train, with a total length of 13KM, was built in 1915! I chose the 9 AM departure and the 1 PM return trip. There are stamps available both at the station and on the train, and each passenger is provided with a bottle of water and a piece of lion cake on the train. Along the way, there are lotus ponds🪷, corn🌽, rice🌾, and pear trees🍐. Pomegranate trees with bountiful fruits hang by the pedestrian path. With the clattering sound of the train, a pastoral scene unfolds before my eyes, a gentle breeze brushes my face, and my worries travel far away along the tracks......

A Glimpse of History in a Small Town in Southern Yunnan

In the gentle breeze of the setting sun, I seem to return to China in 1920. Jianshui, the ancient capital of Lin'an Prefecture, a key town on the Tea Horse Road, I think its current state is just right, Commercial development just meets the basic needs of travelers.

Jianshui, indeed, is the little California of Yunnan (with travel tips)

The scenery and the moon are both beautiful, and the world is romantic. For those who love ancient architecture and historical culture, Jianshui is a must-visit in southeastern Yunnan and even the whole province. Here, you can find the human touch and sense of history everywhere. Not only is it less crowded here, but the scenery is also beautiful. 🏔️Recommended attractions in Jianshui: 1⃣ Jianshui Ancient Town: Square courtyards, century-old camphor trees, crisscrossing alleys, elderly people chatting under the trees, vendors carrying shoulder poles and hawking their wares... The simplicity and leisure of Jianshui Ancient Town can only be understood by visiting. 2️⃣ Ancient City Gate: It shares the same structure as the Tiananmen Gate but predates it by 25 years. You can go upstairs to overlook the entire city, and the red city walls are very photogenic. 3️⃣ Jianshui Little Train: Although it is a tourist train, the interior is very classic and exquisite. Along the way, you can check in at retro and artistic small stations, and you shouldn't miss the pastoral scenery. The station walls are mottled yellow, and the French plane trees are tall and large. 4️⃣ Beishan Taozhuang: Jianshui purple pottery is a traditional handicraft of Jianshui County. The entire scenic area is built with stones and various pottery, mainly focusing on purple pottery culture, ceramic landscape, and stone art. Here, we can immerse ourselves in the charm of traditional purple pottery culture. 🍡Food: ① Jianshui grilled tofu, grass sprout rice noodles: Must-try Jianshui delicacies, recommended are Banjing Tofu Workshop and Weidao Lin'an near the ancient town. ② Jianshui barbecue: Local recommended Western barbecue, as well as Yaojia barbecue found online are both good! ③ Yunnan cuisine: Lin'an Restaurant in the ancient town, the steam pot chicken is amazing. ④ Desserts, coffee shops: Papaya old shop's papaya water and purple rice dew, Guishanqiu Coffee Shop at Xianghui Bridge Station.

Practical Guide to Taking the Jianshui Mini Train

The Jianshui Mini Train runs on a railway whose predecessor was the Gejiu-Linping Railway, which was China's first and, to this day, the only remaining privately-owned railway. It is now a tourist route that features the Republic of China era style and takes on a literary and retro theme, making it a quite distinctive tourism project within the country. The mini train route has four stations: Lin'an Station, Shuanglong Bridge Station, Xianghui Bridge Station, and Tuanshan Station. Tickets are in high demand; they can only be purchased online one day in advance or at the station on the day of travel. Lin'an Station is located in the Jianshui city area, and the ticket includes a round trip. 1 Lin'an Station: The main station of the Jianshui Mini Train, located in the city area, while the other stations are in the suburbs. The station building was constructed in the 1970s and was previously a warehouse for the old Jianshui train station. 2 Shuanglong Bridge Station: The highlight is the Shuanglong Bridge, one of Yunnan Province's famous ancient relics, included in the annals of Chinese bridge construction history. It has seventeen arches, also known as the Seventeen-Arch Bridge, and is a national key cultural relics protection unit. 3 Xianghui Bridge Station: The most characteristic station on the Gejiu-Linping Railway, it is also a modern building with a single eave that combines Chinese and French architectural features. 4 Tuanshan Station: Located 13 kilometers west of Jianshui Ancient Town in Tuanshan Village, it was historically a residence for the Yi ethnic group and is also a national key cultural relics protection unit. Ticket Prices: Peak season: Soft seat 150 RMB/person, hard seat 120 RMB/person; Off-peak season: Soft seat 120 RMB/person, hard seat 100 RMB/person Peak season includes January, February, July, August, and statutory holidays, while the rest of the time is considered off-peak. Departure Times: Morning shift: Departs from Lin'an Station at 9:00, arrives at Tuanshan Station at 10:30, stops at two stations in between, returns from Tuanshan Station at 13:00, arrives back at Lin'an Station at 13:40, does not stop at the two stations in between Afternoon shift: Departs from Lin'an Station at 14:30, arrives at Tuanshan Station at 16:00, stops at two stations in between, returns from Tuanshan Station at 17:50, arrives back at Lin'an Station at 18:30, does not stop at the two stations in between. TIPS: If you can't get a train ticket and you're driving yourself, you can drive along the mini train's route to each station to check in and take photos. After 10:30, the train will be at Tuanshan Station, so you can go on board to take a look and snap some photos. Although this doesn't allow you to experience the mini train, it saves time and money.

Jianshui Little Train

The Jianshui Little Train is located inside the Lin'an Station of Jianshui Ancient City, at the intersection of Yinghui Road and Donglin Road in Jianshui County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture. Jianshui County, belonging to the Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province, was historically known as Butou, also called Badian, with a history of over 1200 years of city establishment. It is reputed as 'the Zou Lu of Southern Yunnan, a famous state of literature,' and in the fifteenth year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty, the Lin'an Prefecture was established, with the prefectural government moved to Jianshui State, and the Lin'an Wei Commandery was set up. The land was expanded and the brick city was rebuilt, hence Jianshui City is also known as Lin'an City. Starting from 1910, local gentry repeatedly submitted joint petitions to Cai E, the Governor of Yunnan, requesting to raise funds from the public to build a railway from Gejiu to Mengzi and Jianshui. Cai E expressed his strong approval and replied with permission. In 1913, the 'Ge Bi Shi Railway Company Limited' was established. Due to the complex terrain in the southeastern part of Yunnan and the local gentry's consciousness of resource protection, the Ge Bi Shi Railway did not adopt the meter gauge like the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway but used a 6-inch gauge, that is, a 600-millimeter railway gauge. The construction of the Jijie to Jianshui section started in 1918 and opened to traffic in 1928. Currently, the little train runs two round trips daily from Lin'an to Tuanshan, with the schedule from 09:00 to 10:50 from Lin'an to Tuanshan in the morning, returning from 13:00 to 13:45, and in the afternoon, it departs from 14:30 to 16:20, with the return time from 17:50 to 18:35. The entire station of the Jianshui Ancient City little train, the decoration of the carriages, and the attire of the attendants are very historically atmospheric. Riding the tourist little train, the scenery on both sides of the route changes with the seasons. The train will pass by the Shuanglong Bridge and Xianghui Bridge, stopping for half an hour each for sightseeing, with the final stop at Tuanshan Station. ⏳Play Time: Free access to the train station, with parking available, playtime ranges from 10 minutes to 30 minutes. 📝Tips: If you want to take the little train for sightseeing, it is recommended to book tickets in advance. During the peak price season (January, February, July, August, and national legal holidays), the round-trip hard seat is 120 yuan/person, soft seat 150 yuan/person, one-way hard seat 100 yuan/person, soft seat 120 yuan/person. During the off-peak season (outside the peak season and national legal holidays), the round-trip hard seat is 100 yuan/person, soft seat 120 yuan/person, one-way hard seat 80 yuan/person, soft seat 100 yuan/person.

Jianshui Mini Train

Jianshui Mini Train Station, starting from Lin'an Station, ending at Tuanshan Station, passing through Shuanglong Bridge Station, Xianghui Bridge Station. The whole journey is 12.82 kilometers, which is the first and the only existing private railway in China. It was originally a French version of the inch track (600 mm gauge), and it was changed to a meter gauge in 1970. Traveling by mini train and watching the surrounding scenery is really comfortable. There are attractions to check in at all four stations, and there are Tuanshan folk houses to visit at Tuanshan Station. The mini train operates twice a day, with a round trip of 4 hours. The tickets are a bit expensive, but there are bottled water and snacks provided on the train, and there are train conductors explaining the history of the attractions, which is worth a look! Suitable for travelers who love to take pictures!

This is a train to the most beautiful scenery, the countryside, the wilderness, the rice fields along the way... let the beauty of Jianshui be presented here. Sightseeing trains all the way from the city to the fields, the scenery of the road is really beautiful! Looking at the scenery on the train is really another unique way to travel to build water, and it is particularly beautiful against the blue sky and white clouds. If you want to build water, you must take a sightseeing train.

Unlike the past green leather cars and high-speed rail, the Jianshui train is wearing yellow clothes and exudes a nostalgic atmosphere. It carries history and connects several scenic spots in Jianshui. Railway features The longest construction time (after 21 years of construction), the smallest in domestic history, the slowest running speed, and the highest revenue railway. At the same time, it is the only private railway in Chinese history. Train style As a train dedicated to sightseeing, both inside and outside are full of Republican style, such as old-fashioned wall lamps and wooden interiors. There are 4 stations in Lin'an Station, Shuanglong Bridge Station, Xianghuiqiao Station and Tuanshan Station. Each station stops at 30 minutes, while the terminal Tuanshan Station stops at 1.5 hours. Visitors can Getting off the bus and sightseeing, it takes about 4 hours to go back and forth. 1 As the starting point of Lin'an Station, there will be a large wave of tourists every morning, and the train has not yet started, everyone has taken pictures. 2 Shuanglong Bridge is located at Shuanglongqiao Station. It is considered to be the largest and most valuable ancient bridge in Yunnan Province. 3, after taking the station, you will take pictures near the station track. The flowers here are gorgeous, and the antique waiting room is also a good punching point. 4Tongzhan Tuanshan Village, the biggest highlight of the itinerary, it is known as the most exquisite ancient dwelling group in Yunnan, and the crew of "Where is Dad?" was also filmed here. fare round-trip ticket 100 yuan, soft seat 120, the flight attendant will distribute a mineral water and a shaqima to each passenger. 0 time only two cars per day, 9 am and 2:30 pm

The so-called waiting room is such a long yellow bench. Not a site, no one. I am alone in all the waiting chairs here. There is no train anyway, but it is also open to outsiders, and you can take photos and chat with you. You are willing to be on the railroad track. Get out of the waiting room, which is composed of yellowish green. The top of the head is a double-sided clock, ticking in seconds, a bit of the taste of the sunset. Today we are used to seeing the time by directly clicking on the mobile phone. Seeing this again, it feels good. I only have one person on a long chair, no, it is only us on the entire platform. Its a coincidence that I was sitting in the waiting room of Nanjing Railway Station and typing the text about Linan Station. Well, there is a man in a yellow uniform who is staring at me. With Samsonite's suitcase, headphones are stuffed in the ear. Thick, the current monk is really fashionable. Compared to today's modern railway station, Linan Station is more of my heart. At least have memories.

[Jianshui train] two shifts per day first shift: 9 in the morning