Heshun Ancient Town is located 4 kilometers southwest of Tengchong City, Baoshan City, Yunnan Province, and is a national 5A-level tourist attraction. Surrounded by volcanoes, the town lies in a horseshoe-shaped basin with a maximum altitude of 2,091 meters and a minimum altitude of 1,490 meters, covering a total area of 17.4 square kilometers. Rich in history and culture, it is a renowned commercial town, cultural town, and tourist town along the Southern Silk Road, as well as a famous overseas Chinese hometown with unique overseas Chinese and horse caravan cultures. The town boasts numerous ancient buildings, including over 100 century-old courtyards, 8 ancestral halls, 9 temples, 9 stone bridges, 6 laundry pavilions, 9 memorial archways, 13 lattice gates, and 24 platforms.
History and Culture
The ancient name of Heshun Ancient Town was "Yangwendun". Due to a small river winding through the village, it was renamed "Heshun" (meaning "peaceful river"), and later refined to its current name, symbolizing "harmonious scholars and obedient people". It is the hometown of the philosopher Ai Siqi and the "Jade King". In 2003, Yunnan Bolian Heshun Tourism and Culture Development Co., Ltd. began a 40-year management project for the town. In 2006, it was named the first "Top Ten Tourism Leadership Brands in China"; in 2007, it was designated as a "Third Batch of Chinese Historical and Cultural Towns"; in 2013, it was featured on the special stamp series "Chinese Ancient Towns (I)"; in 2019, it became a "Characteristic Town in Yunnan Province"; and in 2020, it obtained the qualification to create a national 5A-level tourist attraction.
Main Attractions
Heshun Shunhe Memorial Archway
Built in 2001, this iconic structure of Heshun uses a palindrome technique to combine the characters "Heshun" into a reciprocal pattern, symbolizing good wishes. The back of the archway bears the inscription "Renli" (Benevolent Village) written by Zhao Fan, signifying that Heshun is a hometown of benevolence and morality rooted in traditional culture.
Yuzhou Pavilion
Constructed in memory of Cun Shusheng, the first principal of Yiqun Middle School, the pavilion features a stone tablet inscribed with "Yuzhou Pavilion" by Chu Tunan. The road beside the lotus pond, named Qiunong Road, honors Li Zuhua, the second principal of Yiqun Middle School, reflecting Heshun's tradition of respecting teachers and education.
Double Rainbow Bridge
The old bridge was first built in the early Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in the 10th year of the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty. The new bridge was constructed in 1921. The two bridges resemble twin rainbows lying on the water, with elegant designs and shady willows along the banks.
Water Impression
Located in Heshun Xianhe (Sunken River), a wetland characterized by biodiversity and the main source of the Sanhe River in Heshun, this area has a sound ecosystem with 187 plant species, 58 bird species, 21 mammal species, 14 reptile species, and 9 amphibian species.
Thousand-Hand Guanyin Ancient Tree Group
Composed of seven century-old camphor trees towering into the sky, with five arranged in a straight line, the group resembles a green canopy up close and a Thousand-Hand Guanyin with outstretched arms from a distance.
Yuanlong Pavilion
Originally a Guanyin Hall, the pavilion was built in the 27th year of the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty and named Yuanlong Pavilion, integrating Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Fronted by a dragon pond and backed by lush ancient trees, it consists of a mountain gate, Dragon King Hall, and other structures.
Zhongtian Temple
Located at the foot of the back mountain southwest of the main village, it was first built in the 8th year of the Chongzhen Reign of the Ming Dynasty (1635), funded and established by villager Zhang Chaohai. Through subsequent expansions and renovations, the temple consists of structures such as the Mountain Gate and Maitreya Hall, constructed along the main axis against the mountain. It is the largest temple in Heshun, with a total area of 5,000 square meters, including approximately 1,140 square meters for the main halls and about 777 square meters for auxiliary areas.
Kui Pavilion
Also known as Aofeng Temple, it was first built in the Ming Dynasty, and the existing structure was rebuilt in the 19th year of the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty. Villagers enshrined Kuixing (the God of Literature) here for education and as a summer retreat. It consists of a mountain gate, anterooms, and other buildings, preserving 33 inscriptions and poems since the Ming Dynasty.
Wanlouzi Folk House Museum
It got its name because the buildings are constructed along the curved alleyways. It is a courtyard complex featuring a three-entry layout with three rooms and a screen wall, and also serves as the alias for the renowned Yongmaohe Li family business. The business has gone through five generations and boasts a brilliant history of over 100 years.
Centenarian Archway
Erected for respected elders who lived to a ripe old age, the current archway under the Shuidui Li Ancestral Hall was built for Li Degui's wife's 100th birthday. Inscribed with "Tianmu Peak High" by Tang Jiyao, Governor of Yunnan Province, it symbolizes longevity in Heshun.
Preamble Hall of the Great Caravan Museum
It displays content related to the Southern Silk Road, with the main mode of transportation being horse caravan transport. Sculptures in the museum depict scenes of horse caravan leaders (maguotou) leading large caravans over mountains and through valleys.
Yunnan-Burma War of Resistance Museum
Built in 2005 at the former headquarters of the 20th Group Army of the Expeditionary Force that recovered Tengchong, it is China's first private museum dedicated to the Yunnan-Burma War of Resistance. In 2013, its artifacts were moved to the Western Yunnan War of Resistance Memorial Hall.
Liu Ancestral Hall
Built in the fifth year of the Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty, it has a history of nearly 150 years. In the front is a semi-circular lotus pond, on which a double-arch stone bridge is built to reach the moon platform. On the moon platform, there is an archway-style gate. After entering the ancestral hall, there are halls, wing rooms and the main hall in turn. The main hall enshrines the ancestor of the Liu family, and an ancestral hall cultural museum is set up to show the ancestral hall culture.
Cuisine
Heshun Songhua Cake
A signature dish of Heshun Ancient Town, these square cakes have a rich, layered texture with red bean paste under pine pollen, served on banana leaves for a delicate, sweet flavor.
Shangpin Roasted Pig Trotter
Marinated with a 200-year-old secret recipe and roasted after braising, the trotters have a crispy golden skin and tender, glutinous meat. Served with pickled vegetable paste, they offer an excellent taste.
Cun Dama Bean Noodles
Handmade for 70 years, these smooth bean noodles are a must-try, along with their thin bean paste, large sliced bean noodles, and golden crisps.
Cun's Rice Noodle Rolls
The rice is soaked one day in advance, and then ground into a slurry the next day. Controlling the heat ensures the rice noodle rolls are white and translucent. They are wrapped with ingredients like rice noodles and cucumber, dipped in chili oil, and offer a fresh and delicious taste.
Yuanzhongyuan Steamed Dumplings
The proprietress inherits the craftsmanship of the older generation. The shumai are small in size, with paper-thin wrappers filled with fresh meat stuffing and soup. They are visually appealing and delicious.
Tounao (Brain Soup)
A traditional Heshun breakfast made from glutinous rice pastries, eggs, and diced meat, cooked to a soft, sweet, and nutritious consistency.
Tickets
Adult tickets are 55 yuan per person.
For the latest updates or online booking, search for the official WeChat public account "和顺古镇景区".
Opening Hours
Open year-round from 7:30–20:30 (main entrance). Individual attractions generally open from 8:00–18:00 with slight variations.
Tour Routes
Classic one-day route: Scenic Entrance → Heshun Shunhe Archway → Double Rainbow Bridge → Laundry Pavilion → Yuanlong Pavilion → Ai Siqi Memorial Hall → Thousand-Hand Guanyin Ancient Tree Group → Liu Ancestral Hall → Li Ancestral Hall → Yunnan-Burma War of Resistance Museum → Wanlouzi Folk House Museum → Kui Pavilion → Zhongtian Temple → Centenarian Archway → Water Impression → Yuzhou Pavilion → Scenic Exit.
Transportation
- Bus: Take Route 6 from Tengchong City to Heshun Ancient Town directly, fare 2 yuan, departs 6:30–18:30, approximately every 15 minutes.
- Taxi: About 15 yuan from Tengchong Urban Area, 15 minutes by car.
- Self-driving: Navigate to "Heshun Ancient Town", parking lot available, 10 yuan/day for cars.
Must-See Attractions
- Heshun Shunhe Archway: Iconic structure blending palindrome art and traditional culture.
- Double Rainbow Bridge: Ming Dynasty ancient bridge and Republic-era new bridge, enjoying the view of "double rainbows on water".
- Yunnan-Burma War of Resistance Museum: Learn about the history of the Western Yunnan resistance and commemorate heroic deeds.
- Wanlouzi Folk House Museum: Explore the century-old overseas Chinese merchant compound and experience the architectural aesthetics of the hometown of overseas Chinese.
- Water Impression (Xianhe Wetland): Bird-watching and lotus-viewing in a volcanic dam lake ecosystem.
Tour Tips
- Visit in the morning or evening to avoid midday sunlight and enjoy the best lighting for photography.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes due to the many stone paths in the town.
- Rent a voice guide (about 20 yuan/unit) to deeply understand the overseas Chinese and horse caravan cultures.
- Taste signature dishes like Songhua Cake and roasted pig trotters; recommend experiencing traditional tea snacks in old town teahouses.
- Apply sunscreen and use mosquito repellent in summer; dress warmly in winter as Tengchong has large day-night temperature differences.
Notes
- Ancient buildings are protected—no climbing or carving. Please cherish cultural relics.
- Respect local residents' customs and keep quiet when entering ancestral halls and temples.
- Xianhe Wetland is an ecological reserve—do not feed birds or litter.
- When purchasing specialties like jade and tea, choose designated shops and request official invoices.
- Be cautious of slippery roads during the rainy season; some mountain paths are steep, so it is recommended to travel in groups.