Nestled deep in the Himalayan foothills, almost half-way between the tourist hot-spots of Dali and Lijiang, lies the tranquil Shaxi valley, a sun drenched, fertile plain that follows the gentle Heihui River, a lesser known branch of the Mekong. There is no pollution, no airport and no traffic jams, but these are more than made up for by quiet cobbled streets, spectacular local architecture and impressive courtyard homes.       >> Read more

Here's a beautifully written piece on Shaxi from GoKunming with some incredible photos by Yereth Jansen. 

The Shaxi Market Area, located in China's Yunnan Province on the historic Tea and Horse Caravan Trail that links Tibet with Southeast Asia, is the most complete surviving example of a trading center along this route. The Shaxi Market contains an intact theater, guesthouses for merchants, a temple precinct, and is surrounded by protective gates   >> read more

The vestigial cobblestone path lasts only 50 feet, climbs a set of broken stairs, then once again disappears, swept away by years of monsoonal deluges. I carry on, entering a narrow passage where the sidewalls are so steep and slippery I have to hang on to trees to keep from falling into the bouldery creek far below.  >> read more

Shaxi's recent temple and market square restoration by architect Jacques Feiner with funding from the Swiss government, has breathed new life into this ancient caravan town and won a Unesco Award of Distinction for cultural heritage preservation.          >> Read more

Sino-American Conservation Group, The Ginkgo Society have leased the rights to historic Ci Yin An (the Pear Orchard Temple) in Diantou Village, Shaxi. With a complete renovation scheduled for completion by June 2012, the temple will continue to serve as a community centre and Shaxi Visitor's Centre, with a teahouse and vegetarian dining. >> Read more