Yunnan · Dali · Yunlong
Jianchao Township 捡槽乡

Picturesque valley with an old salt village and interesting Bai folk customs.
Picture: An old covered bridge in Shijing 师井 village used for trade on market day.
Shijing Bridge: An old covered bridge in Shijing 师井 village used for trade on market day.

Jiancao valley is an isolated valley populated by the Bai.

Jiancao township is an uninteresting place, but further on come a number of interesting Bai villages, most notably Shijing 市井, one of Yunlong's old salt producing villages. There are a number of old buildings in town and occasionally the salt-well is still being used for making salt. Locals claim that the ham made in the valley is even better than the one in Nuodeng.

The valley is also known for a Bai folk play called Erzige 儿子歌, which is said to be one of the oldest still extant folk plays in China.


Travel Notes

There are two hotels in Jiancao, the better one not taking foreigners. Regular minibusses go to Yunlong and further up the valley.

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