Today, after breakfast, we said goodbye to Shangri-La. Our destination today was Dali, but instead of going straight there, we detoured to Shaxi Ancient Town – a very pretty, little quiet ancient town on the historic Tea Horse Ancient Road, a caravan route that once connected Yunnan with Tibet and beyond.
Exploring Shaxi Ancient Town
Shaxi instantly charmed us with its unhurried pace and real village feel. I like this ancient town the most. Not as commercial, not as touristy and in Singapore terms, still have the kampong vibes to it.
Walking through the heart of Shaxi, we discovered narrow stone paths, traditional Bai architecture, and old storefronts that felt frozen in time. The town square and marketplace are some of the only surviving remnants of this historic trading route – which was once bustling with merchants transporting tea and horses through rugged terrain centuries ago.
You can read more about the history here but when the tour guide was talking about the history, the part that caught my attention was that the caravans were made up of 100 over merchants and only 20% will survive and return 1 or 2 years later. Imagine in the past where there’s no proper road infrastructure and transportation (except for horses). So all these ancient towns became like a stopover or trading post along the long trip. Anyways, I digress. Back to the beautiful pictures.
One of the highlights was browsing the Bai Nationality Bookstore, and seeing the Poetry Tower, the Thousand-Year Market Temple, and the Ancient Theater – quiet but enchanting reminders of Shaxi’s long story.
We also stumbled upon a cosy coffee spot that’s famous for being featured in the Chinese series Meet Yourself (去有风的地方) – I didn’t watch it but apparently it has good reviews.
Lunch was simple and local, enjoyed in the shade of ancient walls and cobblestone streets, before we continued our drive toward Dali.
Arrival in Dali Ancient City
By mid-afternoon, we arrived in Dali and checked into Dali Honglongjing Hotel – I must say it is an excellent choice as the hotel is located right smacked in Dali Ancient City. Superb good location. Definitely my choice of hotel if I am ever to return to Dali.
Pro tip: Staying inside the ancient city is the best way to experience Dali’s old-town charm without long transfers.
After dropping our bags and taking a quick rest, we headed out to visit Dali Ancient City. Cobbled streets, old townhouses, and hidden courtyards greeted us at every turn. The weather was a little rainy, but that just made the atmosphere even cozier – lantern glow reflecting on wet stones, gentle chatter from teahouses, and locals sharing stories over steaming cups of tea. Again, will let the pictures do the talking
Dinner: Yunnan’s Famous Crossing-the-Bridge Noodles
Headed back to the hotel for dinner. Dinner tonight, we finally tried Yunnan’s iconic dish – crossing-the-bridge noodles (云南过桥米线). This celebrated noodle soup is everywhere in this part of China, really, you see shops selling this everywhere and I was wondering if I am ever going to have it. Having it on a cool, rainy night in Dali felt extra comforting. The rich broth, springy noodles, and colourful condiments made it unforgettable. I think I can eat this noodles soup always and never get sick of it.
Nighttime in Dali Ancient City
After dinner, we went back to the ancient city for another stroll, soaking in the nighttime charm – lanterns glowing warmly against the dark sky, quiet alleys echoing soft footsteps, and a calm that only old towns seem to have after sunset.
Unfortunately it was still raining and it really dampened the spirits so we headed back to the hotel after a short while.
Yunnan Flower Tea Wine
Now, a special mention – if you ever go to Yunnan, you’ll notice shops selling flower tea wines in many of the ancient towns, especially Lijiang and Dali (I don’t remember seeing them in Shangri-La). One of our tour members bought 5–6 bottles in Lijiang – heavy to carry, but she insisted each town has its own specialty wine. The same goes for Dali and Lijiang.
So, of course, we had to try it in Dali. And oh my gosh – they are the best wines I’ve ever had!
Friends who know me know I love sweet wine – I always have a bottle of Moscato at home. Usually, when I order a glass outside at dinner with friends, I am always frowned upon because “sweet wine isn’t serious wine,” they say. But here, it is my paradise of heaven.
We went into one of the shops and asked what’s the specialty and the lady introduced me to Puer tea wine first. Gave me a small sample and that’s it – I am sold. It’s so unique, I don’t think you can get it anywhere else. Then we went on to try a variety of other local wines – Muscat, Rose, Green Plum, Jasmine, Osmanthus, Green Tea… honestly, we couldn’t tell one from another, but that just made the tasting even more fun. Some of them were around 21% alcohol, so yes, we were definitely feeling a little tipsy stepping out of the shop – laughter included!
We only managed to buy four bottles, because we weren’t sure how much we could carry back to Singapore – but if you like sweet wine, it’s a MUST BUY, PLEASE BUY.
Our Yunnan trip is nearing the end *cries* and tomorrow we head back to Kunming for the final leg.