Shaxi (Chinese: 沙溪) is a historic market town in Jianchuan County, Dali Prefecture, Yunnan province, China.[1] It is located roughly halfway between Dali and Lijiang.
The Sideng market square of Shaxi was added to the World Monuments Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites in 2001.
Shaxi started as a trading point for tea and horses during the Tang dynasty (618–907). The prosperity of the town was at its height during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1912).
It is probably the most intact horse caravan town on the Ancient tea route leading from Yunnan into Burma and Tibet and is now being preserved through a cooperation between the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich (ETH) and the People's Government of Jianchuan County.
The two main ethnic groups of Shaxi are the Bai and Yi people.
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沙溪 is an ancient town that sits in the 茶马古道 route for more than 1500 years. It is still very much under developed - agriculture is the main source of supply (seemed to be quite self-sufficient). It enjoyed its serene quietness till the place was featured in the Chinese drama, 去有风的地方 (summary), post Covid period. This is an example that illustrates how media could successfully turn an unnoticed place into a popular destination to many... though tourism, which turned out to be an additional income resource for the villages. On the other hand, I hope it would not become too commercialised, like any other ancient town, which somehow has lost their attraction.
