The ancient city recommended by National Geographic, famous for its tofu

When mentioning Yunnan, the first thing that comes to mind is various ancient towns filled with poetry and distant dreams. The Dali visited by the fairy sister in 'Somewhere Only We Know,' the Lijiang that countless people long for, the Shaxi on the Tea Horse Road, and Jianshui, which has been sculpted by time for a thousand years, make people never want to leave once they arrive! In fact, south of Kunming, there is a hidden ancient city recommended by National Geographic, famous for its tofu. It boasts nearly a hundred ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties and is one of the only two 'turtle-shaped' cities in China. Yet, it has remained low-key among the mountains and rivers of southern Yunnan for a thousand years, unknown to the world! It is Shilin Ancient City, located in the Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture. With a history of over 1,200 years, it has preserved a large number of Ming and Qing residential buildings, earning the title of 'Museum of Ming and Qing Residential Buildings in Southern Yunnan,' and it doesn't charge any entrance fee. The layout of the ancient city is unique, with two main streets running east-west and north-south intersecting in front of the state office. The winding streets and alleys divide the city into several 'small blocks,' resembling the cracks on a turtle's shell, hence it is also called the 'Ancient City on the Turtle's Back.' Not only is the cultural heritage profound, but the scenery here is also very charming. It boasts the ninth largest plateau lake in Yunnan, with lake and mountain views that rival Erhai, and fewer people. Especially in this season, the lake is full of blooming lotus flowers, with red lotuses and green water reflecting each other, making people feel cooler. Here, there is also a French-style station similar to the one in 'Youth,' with bright yellow walls, dark green doors and windows, and palm trees on the platform, full of retro flavor. However, it is rarely visited by tourists, with no traces of deliberate renovation, and no crowds of people taking photos in costume, making it very primitive and quiet. Here, you can also find the best tofu in the country. The history of making tofu here exceeds 600 years, and locals can make more than 200 kinds of delicacies with tofu, such as grilled tofu, tofu pudding, dried tofu, tofu balls... Eating it three times a day is still not enough. The rice noodles here are also very special, made from locally grown Hani red rice, with a smooth texture that doesn't break, mixed with local sauces, every bite is delicious, and the best part is that it's super cheap, only 6 yuan a bowl! If you want to find a low-key ancient city in Yunnan with cheap prices, delicious food, and good places to visit, come to Shilin. Its spring-like climate all year round will never disappoint you no matter when you come. 1️⃣ Shilin Ancient City/Confucius Temple/Museum A turtle-shaped ancient city with over 600 years of history, with a long cultural heritage. Shilin Confucius Temple and Shilin Museum are full of ancient charm and worth a visit. Yunnan's only top scholar 'Yuan Jiagu' also came from here. The old teahouse on the stone-paved road in Zhutiansi Alley, the bustling life on Beizheng Street, and the ancient city street market on the fifth day of every month are worth a slow stroll and careful taste. · 2️⃣ Shilin Small Train/Qihe Tower Built in 1936, the train station has a full French-style station house, The small train departs for Baxin at 10:30 daily, passing through Yilong Lake for sightseeing; The Qihe Tower hidden in Shilin No. 1 Middle School is a national protected unit, With four eaves and an octagonal pavilion, the campus with a blend of Chinese and Western styles is stunning. · 3️⃣ Yilong Lake/Laihe Pavilion Yilong Lake, one of the nine major plateau freshwater lakes in Yunnan, The scenery changes with the seasons, the sunrise in winter mornings, and the flying seagulls are beautiful; Laihe Pavilion by the lake was built during the Kangxi period, with a great view from the top. · 4️⃣ Zhengying Village/Xiushan Temple Zhengying Village is known as 'the first village in Yunnan,' with many ancient buildings, The Morandi-colored wooden walls of the Zheng Clan Ancestral Hall, the chicken window flowers of the Chen Clan Residence, The Western-style rockery with a history of ninety years, hiding the former prosperity; Not far from Zhengying Village is Xiushan Temple, built in the Tang Dynasty, With Song Dynasty plum trees, Yuan Dynasty cypresses, and Ming Dynasty pines, it is serene and otherworldly. · 5️⃣ Baxin/Huilan Bridge Pavilion Baxin is the middle station of the Shilin small train, where you can transfer to Jianshui. The Wang Clan Residence in the town is a blend of Chinese and Western styles, and you can watch the sunset at the lakeside pier; Huilan Bridge Pavilion has three eaves, three dougong, and three arches, with a history of over a hundred years, Spanning the Lujiang River to control the water of Yilong Lake, the wind chimes on the eaves are melodious. · 🍜 Food Recommendations The slow life in Shilin also brings a big surprise in food: The best tofu in Yunnan, eaten with sweet soy sauce is authentic, There are many varieties of barbecue: glutinous rice lotus root, chicken feet, and sweet meat skewers~ You can try Mali Barbecue on Nanzheng Street and Liling Barbecue on Xizheng Street. Yangmei Pork Ribs at Yanwu Restaurant, Pan-fried Fish at Yongjian Restaurant, Crabs at Zhengying, and Qingyu Restaurant at Baxin are all worth a try.