Things to do in Weishan

I'm a big fan of Mo Xiang Tong Xiu's books, and I came specifically for the Prince Temple. The scenery along the way was beautiful, serene and elegant, and each Taoist temple and monastery had its own unique charm, with the Wenchang Palace being particularly outstanding and unforgettable. I also met many fellow enthusiasts along the way, including lovely cosplayers. Everyone was very friendly, and I hope that such fun collaboration events can be held more often. Hua Cheng and Xie Lian are awesome!

🏮Weishan Ancient City | The Ancient Land of Nanzhao, a Living, Slow-Paced Ancient City Compared to the bustling Dali Ancient City, Weishan Ancient City offers a more relaxed and leisurely atmosphere, perfect for leisurely strolls and daydreaming. The ancient city is free to enter and retains its complete Ming and Qing dynasty chessboard layout. The Gongchen Tower and Xinggong Tower stand as landmarks in the city center, with crisscrossing bluestone streets and old courtyards scattered throughout. Local residents still live here, creating a vibrant and authentic atmosphere, free from the hustle and bustle of excessive commercialization. There's no need to obsess over visiting every single spot. Wander freely into the alleys, admire the wood carvings on the screen walls of old houses, and stumble upon small shops selling tie-dye and incense, experiencing the cultural heritage of Nanzhao. When you're tired from exploring, find a quiet courtyard to relax in. I chose Chaya Tea House, tucked away in a Nanzhao alley. The spacious courtyard terrace offers a perfect setting for enjoying a pot of ancient tree Pu'er tea with simple snacks, basking in the warm sunshine while chatting and sipping tea, slowly unwinding from your journey. Here you can also experience local roasted tea in a peaceful setting, ideal for small gatherings with friends. As evening falls, the lights of the ancient city slowly illuminate the streets, filling the alleys with the aroma of braised pork rice noodles and single-strand noodles—a truly delightful experience for strolling and tasting. A gentle reminder: Wear comfortable flat shoes to the cobblestone streets of the ancient city; don't rush your itinerary, the charm of Weishan lies not in taking photos, but in the leisurely pace of everyday life. Only by wandering and sitting in the ancient streets and alleys, sipping tea and letting your mind wander, can you truly understand this old city of Nanzhao.

The double-eaved hip roof, seven-step brackets, and carved flower beams make Wenhua Academy a solemn and elegant place. Cloud shadows hang from the eaves, and the fragrance of ink and pine and cypress are interspersed with the fragrance of flowers. The golden leaves of ginkgo trees fall in the wind. Tea lovers can sit quietly and relax in the Shuxiang Pavilion.

The Nanzhao Museum, located in the ancient city of Weishan, is not large in size. It has an entrance hall and seven exhibition halls, which detail the history of the Nanzhao Kingdom from its establishment to the unification of the six Zhao kingdoms and its eventual demise. The Nanzhao Kingdom lasted for 253 years and had thirteen kings, which is basically the same period as the Tang Dynasty. Those who are interested in history can come and visit.

Yunnan Changchun Cave is a Taoist building complex located on the western foot of Weibao Mountain in Weishan Yi and Hui Autonomous County, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. It was first built in the 44th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign in the Qing Dynasty (1779) by Taoists Li Faji and Yang Fayin. It was later expanded during the Jiaqing, Daoguang, Xianfeng and Guangxu years to form its current scale. ‌ Architectural Features Layout‌: Facing east and west, built against the mountain, covering an area of 1,656 square meters, the floor plan is arranged in the Taoist "Eight Diagrams" format, including the mountain gate, front hall, main hall, wing rooms, Taoist houses, gardens and other buildings. ‌ ‌Main Hall Structure‌: Double-eaved hip roof building, adopting the "two open and one dark" pattern (two floors on the outside and single floor on the inside), the main hall caisson is the Eight Diagrams, with dragons carved inside, and the surrounding skirts painted with "Twenty-Four Filial Piety" and Taoist murals. ‌

The history of the construction of Weishan Confucian Temple is very long. "Yunnan Tongzhi, Nanzhao Beginning and End" records: "Shenglupi was established in the first year of Emperor Xuanzong's Xiantian reign, and Confucius Temple was established in the country." Many ancient historical materials have records of the construction of the Confucian Temple by Shenglupi of Mengshezhao. The Weishan Confucian Temple in the Ming Dynasty has made great progress on the basis of Mengshezhao in the Tang Dynasty. The main buildings of the Confucian Temple were completed during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty. After many years of repair and expansion during the Tianshun, Chenghua, Hongzhi and Jiajing periods, it has formed a magnificent ancient building complex.

The Xinggong Tower in Weishan Yi and Hui Autonomous County of Dali is located right in the middle of the ancient city. The entire ancient tower has a history of hundreds of years. It looks particularly vicissitudes and full of history. You can overlook the entire ancient city by climbing up the tower.

The weather down the mountain was actually quite nice, a bit overcast but the temperature was alright. As the cable car ascended higher and higher, the entire Dali city and Erhai Lake slowly came into view below. That stretch of scenery was truly worthwhile; looking down through the cable car glass, I finally had a truly concrete feeling about "Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake" for the first time.

Gongchen Tower has beautiful scenery, distinctive architecture, ancient charm, beautiful scenery, pleasant scenery, infinitely good views, and strong interest. It allows you to learn relevant historical and cultural knowledge and is worth recommending to everyone.

There aren't many tall buildings on either side of Erhai Lake; it's mostly mountains and water. Its unique feature is the scenery of the lake and mountains. Culturally, it's somewhat related to the local Bai ethnic group's life. The landscape is a combination of the lake and the Cangshan Mountains, which is pleasing to the eye, but the sun is very strong and the wind is also strong.