Shaxi Ancient Town, located between Lijiang Old Town and Dali Ancient City,
used to be an important and prosperous hub along the ancient Tea Horse
Road which refers to the international trade route with the caravan as
the main means of transportation.
With the decline of the ancient
Tea Horse Road, the town seems to have been forgotten. But this helps
retain the original appearance of the small town. Many of the historical
sites have been well preserved including Sifang Street, Xingjiao
Temple, Yuxi Bridge and Ancient Opera Stage. Compared with other
commercialized ancient towns in China, the undeveloped Shaxi Ancient
Town is a better place to escape from the hustle and bustle of the
modern city and experience the quaint lives of local Bai People.