That Day, a Person Wandered Through the Streets of Guandu Ancient Town in Kunming, Yunnan
That brief stay in Kunming during the Yunnan-Myanmar trip, was due to personal interest, and I went to Guandu Ancient Town.
Guandu Ancient Town is a famous historical and cultural town, one of the birthplaces of the ancient Dian culture. It is located in the south of Kunming City, about 10 kilometers from the city center.
This trip was without a tour guide, purely to experience the local customs and culture.
I learned about the history of Guandu Ancient Town from Baidu, which was an important town during the Nan Zhao and Dali Kingdoms, and a major transportation hub on the Dian Lake shore. It had ferry terminals and transport for government ships before the Song Dynasty. People would take sedan chairs or ride horses to enter Kunming City via the Jiazhuanglou (Zhuangyuan Tower), hence the name 'Guandu'.
The town is populated with numerous ancient buildings, temples, pavilions, and shrines, commonly referred to as 'Six Temples, Seven Pavilions, Eight Shrines'. Guandu Golden Tower is a national key cultural relic protection unit, one of the earliest and best-preserved Golden Throne-style stone pagodas in China.
The streets of Guandu Ancient Town are bustling, with various traditional handicrafts and folk culture elements visible everywhere. These represent the unique Yunnan customs, along with shops and stalls selling various tourist souvenirs and local products. You can also occasionally see gambling stone shops. Because I didn't understand and was hesitant to take photos.
Guandu Ancient Town has clean streets and many shops, with plenty of food, entertainment, and convenience. The town is dominated by ancient architecture, with elements of modern city life. Residents and tourists coexist harmoniously. Guandu Ancient Town does not charge entrance fees. There are many entrances and exits to the town, and several parking lots, making it very convenient for residents and visitors.
Editor
A solitary walk, without a guide to explain and introduce, I just took some photos. I feel that if I had more time, I would definitely want to listen to people explain and appreciate this place slowly.
