YUANYANG & JIANSHUI

Jianshui is a charming historical and cultural town and enjoys a great reputation as a “Museum of Ancient Buildings and Residential Houses”, with old buildings, an enormous Confucian temple, a cave laden with swallows, and some of the best steampot cooking and barbecue you will find in Yunnan. Actually, Yuanyang is split into two parts: Nansha, the new town, and Xinjie, the old town from which 20-minutes driving journey. Xinjie is the one you want, so make sure you get off there.

Covering an area of 7.6 hectares, Confucian Temple is the third largest Confucian temple in China. It has operated as school for nearly 750 years and was so successful that more than half of all Yunnan successful candidates in imperial examinations come from Jianshui. Located at the centre of town, Chaoyang Gate is an imposing Ming edifice. You can walk up into the gate and admire the building and views of Jianshui for free. Yuanyang Rice Terraces around dozens of outlying villages have their own special characteristics, often charging with the daylight. Duoyishu has the most awesome sunrises and is the one you should not miss. Quanfuzhuang is a less-crowded alternative and has easy access down to the terraces. Bada and Laohuzui are best for sunsets.