Keywords: Unique Folk Houses

Location: It is located in South Yunnan Province, 220 kilometers south of Kunming

About Jianshui Old Town:

Jianshui with a long history of more than 1200 years was called Lin'an in the ancient time,first built in Tang Dynasty. As one of the national famous historic and cultural towns of China, it has more than 50 ancient buildings in good keep, enjoying a great reputation as a 'Museum of Ancient Buildings and Residential Houses'.

The history of this ancient town can be dated back to Nanzhao State (738-937). About the year 810 the Nanzhao State built Huili City here. Huili in Yi (an ethnic minority of China) language means 'vast sea', and in Han language it is translated as Jianshui. In the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) the government set up Jianshui Zhou. Later, in the Ming Dynasty, it was changed to Lin'an Fu. Under the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) it was changed to Jianshui County.

Jianshui Old Town is not large, mainly including several streets center on Lin'an Road. Except for the famous Jianshui Confucius Temple and Zhu Family Garden, many other ancient building worth your visiting.

Jianshui Old Town

Ancient Well in Jianshui Old Town

Ancient Wells are special highlights in Jianshui Old Town, which featured by the word 'Ancient'. There is the East Well(东井) that dug in early Yuan Dynasty and is still used nowadays, the Daban Well of the West Gate(西门大板井) that built during Ming Dynasty... Experiencing vicissitudes of time, the rope imprint in well curb is deep, representing the history of Jianshui Old Town and the prosperity of Confucian culture. Every morning, people will go to the Daban Well to intake water in supply of making tea, making tofu and drinking, etc. It is also worth mentioning that three-wells, four-wells, five-wells and even twelve-wells are existed in Jianshui Old Town, which is pretty unique in China.

Ancient Well in Jianshui Old Town

Main Attractions in Jianshui Old Town

• Jianshui Confucius Temple

Ticket: CNY 60 per person, CNY 133 for a combination ticket(including Jianshui Confucius Temple, Zhu Family Garden and Swallow Cave)

Opening Time: 8:00~18:00

Jianshui Confucius Temple is first built in Yuan Dynasty. With a history of more than 600 years, it is the third largest Confucius Temple in China, just behind the Qufu Confucius Temple in Shandong Province and Beijing Confucius Temple. The temple has a traditional Chinese construction style, facing south. It is 625 meters deep, covering an area of 18.78 acres, including 31 buildings. This Confucius Temple is a display of the cultural mixture of the Han and the other ethnic groups of South Yunnan.

• Zhu Family Garden

Ticket: CNY 50 per person, CNY 133 for a combination ticket(including Jianshui Confucius Temple, Zhu Family Garden and Swallow Cave)

Opening Time: 8:00~20:00

Zhu Family Garden is a representative of Chinese residential houses of the Qing Dynasty. When walking through the garden, it really seems as if you are strolling through the Grand View Garden depicted in 'A Dream of the Red Mansions' (a famous Chinese Classical novel by Cao Xueqin in the Qing Dynasty). This garden covers a land of more than 20,000 square meters. Zhu Family Garden boasts 218 pavilions and towers with steep ridges, painted crossbeams and intricate painted ceilings. 

Jianshui Confucius Temple and Zhu Family Garden

Diatances from Other Scenic Spot in Jianshui:

• Tuanshan Village: about 10.5 kilometers

• Jianshui Swallow Cave: about 22.9 kilometers

• Double-Dragon Bridge: about 6.2 kilometers 

‣‣‣ Jianshui Travel Guide

‣‣‣ Tours Including Jianshui Old Town

• 4 Days Jianshui Confucian Culture Festival Tour

• 7 Days Kunming,Jianshui and Yuanyang Rice Terraces Students Education Tour