Slow Tour of Shaxi

In recent years, Shaxi has become popular due to the TV show "Where the Wind Blows" starring the "Fairy Sister." Actually, I had known about this ancient town long before, but because of the long journey and lack of other attractions nearby, I gave up visiting. This time, I was driving through Yunnan from Kunming to Lijiang, and made a special detour to this ancient town. Unlike the ancient towns of Dali and Lijiang, even though Shaxi has become famous, there aren't too many tourists here, which adds to the tranquility of the ancient town. The uneven stone-paved roads with deep and shallow cart tracks everywhere showcase the once bustling prosperity of the ancient Tea Horse Road; the dark yellow adobe houses and weathered wooden walls silently tell stories from long ago; while the stylish cafes scattered around and rows of advertising signs at street corners inject new life into the ancient town... I regret not coming to Shaxi earlier, a place with peace and harmony etched into its very core. Walking on Yujin Bridge in the early morning, both people on the bridge and the curved arches form reflections, creating harmonious and peaceful images on the river surface. The ancient town hasn't yet awakened, with just a few pedestrians strolling along the streets, very leisurely and relaxed. I love this slow-paced lifestyle, walking around casually, not rushing for time, free from the burden of paperwork. It's quite nice to let time pass slowly while doing nothing.