Shaxi Ancient Town, Dali, Yunnan: What to See & Do

Written by Veronica | Updated December 26,2025

Located in the southwest of Jianchuan County, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Shaxi Ancient Town was once an important commercial hub on the Tea Horse Road connecting Yunnan with Tibet. This historical gem is recognized as the living fossil of Bai ethnic architecture from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In 2001, the town was listed among the 101 World Monuments by the World Monuments Fund for its well-preserved ancient architecture and rich cultural features and folk activities of the Bai people.

Nestled between Dali and Lijiang Ancient Town, and embraced by lush mountains and the serene Heihui River, Shaxi Old Town is in a very convenient position and boasts picturesque natural landscapes. If you seek an authentic cultural and life experience in an ultimately tranquil atmosphere, Shaxi Ancient Town should be included in your Yunnan tour.

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Fast Facts of Shaxi Ancient Town
What to See and Do at Shaxi Ancient Town
Important Events and Festivals around Shaxi
Understanding the Bai Ethnic Group
History of Shaxi Old Town and Tea Horse Road
How to Get to Shaxi Old Town
Best Time to Visit
Accommodation in Shaxi Ancient Town
Attractions Nearby
FAQs about Shaxi Ancient Town
Discover the Highlights of Shaxi with China Xian Tour

Fast Facts of Shaxi Ancient Town

Chinese name: 沙溪古镇 (shā xī gǔ zhèn)
Location: County Road 084, Jianchuan County, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province
Opening hours: all day
Entrance fee: Free, certain sites in the town may require entrance tickets.
Highlights: Bai architecture from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, authentic experience of Bai ethnic culture, time-honored temples, theatre, bridge, and market.
Best time to visit: All year round
Visiting time needed: 1-2 days

Dali Shaxi Ancient Town — Shaxi Ancient Town

What to See and Do at Shaxi Ancient Town

In Shaxi Old Town, streets and alleys are still in the traditional Bai ethnic layout. Ancient temples, ancestral halls, ancient village gates, and traditional opera stages are still standing. The traditional crafts, such as wood carving and embroidery, are still well preserved, allowing visitors to experience these artisanal skills firsthand. Even the Friday Market, originating from the trading activities along the Tea Horse Road, is still held every Friday… The town will offer so much joy and cultural experiences to ensure you a memorable journey.

Sideng Street

The main street connecting different parts of Shaxi Ancient Town, Sideng Street is one of the core areas to look into local’s daily life and the past prosperity of Shaxi. Its historic lanes are lined with traditional shops and Bai-style houses with wooden frameworks and intricate carvings and eaves. Walking into Sideng Street is like stepping back to the time of thriving caravans and prosperous trade along the Ancient Tea Horse Road.

Besides the ancient architectural complex and traditional shops, Sideng Street also well preserves the ancient opera stage, Xingjiao Temple, Yujin Bridge, and many other cultural and religious treasures.

Xingjiao Temple

Xingjiao Temple is the only surviving Ming Dynasty temple of the Bai ethnic group in China. The existing buildings of the temple include a main hall and a second hall. Both of the two halls still well preserve the original architectural components, showcasing architecture styles of the Tang, Song, and Yuan Dynasties. For example, the beams and columns are robust and grand, and the wooden brackets are intricate and elegant with detailed carvings. The 12 sets of Ming Dynasty murals in the main hall will offer you an insight into the Bai religious art.

Yujin Bridge

Spanning the Heihui River, Yujin Bridge is located a short distance from Shaxi Ancient Town to the east. It is a single-arch bridge, featuring an elegant structure and intricate carvings. The bridge was initially built in the Qing Dynasty. During the Ancient Tea Horse Road era, the bridge served as an important point for connecting travelers and merchants to Dali in the south and Lijiang in the north. Until today, we can still spot some marks of horse hooves on its stone slabs.

More than its historical significance, the bridge is also attractive for its elegant structure, exquisite decorative elements and the harmonious blend with the surrounding ancient trees and river. It’s highly advised to visit at sunset when the golden light transforms the view into something truly picturesque.

Ancient Opera Stage

Located at the heart of Sideng Street and facing Xingjiao Temple to the west, the Ancient Opera Stage is one of the most important cultural landmark of Shaxi Ancient Town. The stage is also a Qing Dynasty building, consisting of three levels and in traditional Bai architectural style. In ancient times, it was an important venue for cultural and clan activities.

To admire the stage up close, you can’t help but be attracted by the flying eaves, exceptionally detailed carvings and paintings, and the seamless integration of a pavilion, stage, and shops.

Attend the Vibrant Friday Market

Dating from the days of the Ancient Tea Horse Road, the Friday Market in Shaxi is the only surviving marketplace along this historic trading route. As a unique event in Shaxi, the market is held each Friday on Sideng Street, offering a rare chance to experience the local vibrant culture and daily life.

To trace its highlights, visitors just need to follow local villagers carrying baskets. Typically, villagers from different ethnic groups in the surrounding areas will gather here. By then, you can not only interact with local people, but also explore an array of local products, including fresh fruits and vegetables, specialties, dry goods, clothing, and household items.

Best Yunnan Tours including Shaxi Ancient Town:

Important Events and Festivals around Shaxi

Taizihui Holiday – The Temple Fair for Prince Shakyamuni

Dates: Annually on the 8th day of the second lunar month
Location: Xingjiao Temple, Sideng Street, and the surrounding areas

Each year, on the 8th day of the second lunar month, local Bai people will gather at Xingjiao Temple to worship the youthful Shakyamuni Buddha, known as the prince. Originating from the religious beliefs and folk customs of the Bai people, this festival is one of the most lively ethnic gatherings of the Bai people in the Jianchuan area.

During the festival, a grand procession will carry the statues of the Prince and the Buddha’s mother through the streets. Accompanied by drum, gong bands, and traditional music ensembles, the parade creates the most striking scene of the festival.

If you are interested in folk performances, head to the Ancient Opera Stage. Various traditional opera performances will be showcased here. Not only enhance the festive atmosphere, these performances are also rare chances to gain insight into the town’s culture and traditions.

Shibao Mountain Folk Song Festival

Dates: Annually from the 26th day of the seventh lunar month to the first day of the eighth lunar month
Location: Shibao Mountain near Shaxi Old Town

This Bai people’s traditional festival can be traced back over 1,000 years. During the festival, young men and women will wear their most elaborate ethnic costumes, gather to celebrate the harvest, and express emotions through song. The main instrument used for the singing is the sanxian – a traditional three-stringed instrument. A main highlight of the festival is love duets, a traditional form of courtship with young men and women expressing their feelings.

Understanding the Bai Ethnic Group

Bai Ethnic Group Statistics

The population of Bai ethnic group is about 2.09 million, and it is one of the largest ethnic minorities in Yunnan Province. Around 80% of the Bai people live in Dali, and Shaxi Ancient Town is also an important settlement. Besides, they are also distributed in Lijiang, Kunming and other provinces, including Guizhou, Hunan and Sichuan.

The Bai Language

Bai Language belongs to the Sino-Tibetan language. The most significant feature of it is the profound influence of the Chinese language. About 60% of the words are borrowed from Chinese. But it maintains its own grammatical structure. The language can be classified into three dialects: the northern (Dali), the central (Jianchuan) and the southern (Bijiang). Their basic vocabularies are the same to a large extent, but due to the different pronunciations, it may be hard to understand each other in the first communication.

Local Bai Cuisine

The Bai cuisine is good at using the local materials and has a rich flavor. The raw pigskin is the signature dish the Bai people are most proud of. The pigskin is roasted over a fire using rice straw or wheat straw until it is about 30% to 40% cooked, and then cut into thin slices. It is usually served with a special dipping sauce. Dairy fan is the most common snack. It is a thin slice made of milk. And fish of the famous Stewed Fish in Pottery Pot and Sour and Spicy Fish are caught from Erhai Lake. The Eight Bowls is the standard traditional banquet of Bai Nationality. It consists of eight dishes that balance meat and vegetables, and involves steaming, boiling, frying and deep-frying techniques.

Jianchuan wood carving tradition

Jianchuan wood carving is renowned as one of the eight wood carving schools in China. It is not just exquisite artworks, but also a cultural symbolism integrating the architecture, houses and daily life of Bai ethnic group. With a history of over 1,000 years, it originated in Tang and Song dynasties and flourished in Ming and Qing dynasties. Its carving technique is diverse and engraved or relief carving are the two main techniques. The patterns include flowers, birds, animals, myths and legends, etc. It is widely seen in the architecture, furniture and handicrafts.

History of Shaxi Old Town and Tea Horse Road

Established during the Tang and Song Dynasties, the Ancient Tea Horse Road was a vast network of routes for promoting trades of tea and horses. The route mainly connected southwestern regions of China with Tibet, northwestern regions, and further areas beyond China. It continued its prosperity through the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Besides commercial trading, the route also served as a corridor for the exchange of diverse cultures.

Since located on the route connecting the Nanzhao and Dali Kingdoms, Shaxi gradually gained prominence and earned the title “Salt Capital” as a key site for caravans along the Tea Horse Road to rest and trade. Besides commercial trading, the town also served as a witness to the diverse religious and cultural activities of the Nanzhao Kingdom. This rich history has left it with a wealth of historical relics related to the Tea Horse Road and religion.

How to Get to Shaxi Old Town

Currently, the old town can not be reached by flight or train directly. The most popular ways to get to Shaxi are to take a long-distance bus or book a private vehicle from Dali/Lijiang.

From Dali to Shaxi, the trip is about 140 kilometers and will take about 3.5 hours by bus. But only 2-3 bus trips are running between Dali Bus Station to Shaxi Town Bus Station per day. An alternative option is to take a 2-hour bus from Dali to Jianchuan County, where more frequent buses are available. Then take a local minibus to Shaxi Town in about 45 minutes.

From Lijiang to Shaxi, you’ll need to take a bus from Lijiang Bus Station to Jianchuan County first. The ride will also take about 2 hours. And after arriving, transfer to a local minibus to reach Shaxi.

For a more convenient and faster transfer, you’d better book a private vehicle or customize a Dali tour including Shaxi Ancient Town. Then, all the logistic work such as transportation, itinerary plan, accommodation, etc. will all be taken care of.

Best Time to Visit

Shaxi Ancient Town is great to visit in all seasons. Usually, February to May is preferred for the pleasant weather and more authentic atmosphere in this period. For those who want to experience traditional festivals, visit the Taizihui Holiday on the lunar calendar February 8th is recommended. Or, arrange your travel to Shaxi on a Friday to gain a chance to participate in the vibrant Friday Market.

Accommodation in Shaxi Ancient Town

The accommodation options in Shaxi Ancient Town are mainly composed of three types. The high-end boutique homestay is usually designed by a famous designer, so its overall layout and decoration are more beautiful. Customers can enjoy a quieter environment and butler service. The boutique resort hotel has a larger scale with more facilities and standard service, which balances comfort and feature. The characteristic Bai Ethnic Courtyard Inn can offer a more immersive living experience. This kind of hotel is transformed from the traditional Bai ethnic residence.

Recommended Hotels:

1. Jixiashan Hotel

Location: No. 115, Sideng Street
Feature: It is composed of 4 Bai ethnic courtyards. The style integrates that of modern Chinese garden. Each guest has a 24-hour dedicated travel butler who can arrange in-depth experience activities for you, such as making horse caravan meal.
Price: CNY 700 – 1,500

2. Shuxia Inn

Location: No. 30, Jianglehe Village, about 600 meters to Shaxi Ancient Town
Feature: It is transformed from a traditional Bai ethnic residence. There are many exhibits of books on Bai ethnic culture and handicrafts, such as wood carvings and black pottery. Some guesthouses come with fenced courtyards, providing good privacy.
Price: CNY 700 -1,300

Attractions Nearby

Shibao Mountain: About 18 kilometers from Shaxi, Shibao Mountain is best known for its numerous Buddhist grottoes, earning it the title “Dunhuang of the Southwest”.
Dali Ancient Town: About 130 kilometers from Shaxi; A thousand-year-old town once served as capital of Nanzhao and Dali Kingdoms; is endowed with rich historical relics and rich Bai-style architecture.
Lijiang Old Town: 105 kilometers from Shaxi; A UNESCO-listed site featuring well-preserved ancient architecture and rich Naxi culture.
Tiger Leaping Gorge: 120 kilometers away; One of the deepest gorges in the world, Tiger Leaping Gorge is a paradise for hiking, with towering snow-capped mountains on both sides and the roaring Jinsha River below.

FAQs about Shaxi Ancient Town

Is Shaxi Ancient Town very crowded, especially compared to Dali or Lijiang?

Compared with Dali and Lijiang, it is not crowded at all. The number of tourists in one day is even less than 1,000.

How much time is really needed to explore Shaxi Ancient Town?

1 – 2 days will be needed.

Is the town easily walkable, or is transportation needed within the area?

Most main scenic spots are in the core areas and very concentrated, so walking is the best way to explore.

What are the most reliable and fastest ways to get to Shaxi from Dali?

The chartered bus is the most convenient and fastest way. Although there are direct buses, only 2 – 3 departures are provided every day. Otherwise, you need to transfer at Jianchuan, which will take more time.

Where is the best place to see the traditional Bai architecture up close?

Ouyang Courtyard, Sideng Street and Ancient Opera Stage are the best places.

Discover the Highlights of Shaxi with China Xian Tour

When planning a travel to Shaxi, you may want to find a bus departing at a reasonable time. If travelling with China Xian Tour, you do not have to worry about anything, including the transportation. Our trip is tailored. We can arrange a driver for you, so you can depart at any time you like. And we can help you to book the hotel you prefer. You only need to enjoy the trip. Just feel free to contact us at any time.

Shaxi Ancient Town – Experience The Most Primitive Bai Lifestyle