Travel Notes of Mengzi, the Capital of Honghe Prefecture

We traveled north from Hekou along the Kaihe Expressway and Tianhou Expressway to Mengzi, covering about 160 kilometers. Mengzi City, as the capital of Honghe Prefecture, is indeed much larger in scale. The spacious square in front of the prefectural government building is even more impressive. A gold-painted bronze bull statue titled 'The Heart of a Public Servant, the Ethnic Ambition, the Soul of Honghe,' weighing 247 tons, stands on a high platform in the fountain by the roadside at the foot of the square steps. The statue was made and donated by Yunnan Copper Industry Group Co., Ltd. There are also some large decorations or trees on the square donated by various companies within the prefecture. It's unclear whether these enterprises made a lot of money and wanted to show their respect for the public servants or if they were compelled to do so. The Honghe Prefecture Museum is located next to the prefectural government building, separated by a huge parking lot. The parking spaces and the parking lot around the government building are filled with private cars, mostly belonging to the employees working in the building. The museum's exhibitions are rich and need no further elaboration. The exterior of the building immediately reminds one of a museum, very distinctive. However, there are not many visitors to the museum, perhaps because we were lucky and didn't encounter a busy time, allowing us to leisurely enjoy the exhibits. Mengzi has many attractions, and one needs to be well-fed and hydrated to have the energy to explore them all. You can't visit Mengzi without trying the authentic 'Crossing-the-Bridge Rice Noodles.' We found the Hongtai Chrysanthemum Crossing-the-Bridge Rice Noodle Shop on Cheng'en Street by the South Lake. The ingredients are presented on a small wooden bridge, the soup is fresh, and the ingredients are delicious, making you momentarily forget that there are other delicacies in the world. At the entrance of Cheng'en Street is Mengzi No. 1 High School, established in 1911. The first principal was Li Yuegai, the father of philosopher Ai Siqi. The school has a long history and profound heritage, with the Sino-Western architectural style of the teaching buildings serving as a testament. Deep in Cheng'en Street are three ancient buildings: the Jade Emperor Pavilion, the Guanyin Hall, and the Dizang Hall. At the intersection of Cheng'en Street and Wumiao Street is the Zhou Family Courtyard, which was converted into the Wangyun Museum in 2013. Initiated by a group of cultural figures, artists, and collectors, the museum showcases excellent traditional Chinese culture through inscriptions, calligraphy, and plaques. The museum is small but exquisite, and you can also learn about the Zhou Family Courtyard's history as a campus for the Southwest Associated University. The most impressive part of the museum is the forty couplets on the wooden and stone pillars, rich in life philosophy and famous sayings. During the War of Resistance, the Southwest Associated University established a campus in Mengzi. Despite the war, the teachers and students of the university persisted in teaching, embodying the spirit of 'Fortitude and Perseverance,' creating a glorious chapter in the history of Chinese education. Fortitude and perseverance, people with ambition, Standing tall and firm is the soul of the nation. Tears shed for a hundred years leave a long memory, May future generations never forget their roots. Due to limited conditions, the classrooms and dormitories of the Southwest Associated University in Mengzi were scattered in various locations. There are currently five existing sites: the Gollust Trading House, the Mengzi Customs Tax Office, the French Consulate, the Zhou Family Courtyard, and the Wang Family Courtyard. Walking through these sites, then strolling through the woods, crossing stone bridges, and circling the peninsula in South Lake Park, one gains a lot spiritually, but the energy from the Crossing-the-Bridge Rice Noodles is exhausted. Wencui Street has a bustling night market at Dashu Village, where people go mainly not for shopping but for the culinary delights. We joined the crowd, drove there to experience the nighttime atmosphere, and tried some snacks.