Some people like the quietness of Jianshui and to enjoy its simplicity. Some people like its food and enjoy the taste experience of braised tofu on the tip of the tongue. Some people like the literature and art and strolls on the Zitao Street.
The beauty of Jianshui is to savour the “slow life”. To experience this, suitable transportation is required. From Kunming, it takes less than three hours by train to reach Jianshui. A chance to experience the town, while also enjoying mesmerising scenery along the way.
Upon arrival, you can also visit Jianshui by the “little train of Jianshui ancient town.” Taking “the hundred-year-old little train to go back centuries” has become a must-do when visiting Jianshui. By the little train and in the wobbly wooden compartments, you can appreciate idyllic scenery and chat about childhood memories.
Officially opened on 1 May 2015, the little train of Jianshui ancient town is referred to as the metre-gauge railway sightseeing train, and runs from Jianshui Lin’an Station to folk houses in Tuanshan.
The Yunnan metre-gauge railway evolved from the Yunnan-Vietnam railway and Gebi-Linping Railway. Passing through three centuries and having been operated for more than 100 years, it carries special historical memories of China, France and Vietnam and is an important historical and cultural resource in the world.
Kunming Railway Administration and Jianshui County jointly invested in the little train by maintaining engines, vehicles and lines, repairing station buildings and adding landscape and scenic spots along the route, to revive the Gebi-Linping Railway.
The line for the metre-gauge railway sightseeing train, from Jianshui Lin’an Station to folk houses in Tuanshan. The 13km railway takes about one hour, including the stations of Lin’an, Shuanglong Bridge, Xianghui Bridge and Tuanshan.
There are abundant natural landscapes, historical and cultural resources around, such as agro-farming scenery, unique ancient bridges, temples, buildings and other cultural relics. It offers passengers idyllic farming scenery along the route and can also take them to famous scenic spots such as Shuanglong Bridge and Tuanshan folk houses.
On the tourist train, the scenery along the route changes by four seasons: vigorous and bright yellow spring rape flowers, verdurous summer rice seedlings, golden autumn rice delivering the joy of harvest and glistening winter paddy fields breeding new hope.
Travel tips:
Kunming-Jianshui
Everyday there are four trains from Kunming to Jianshui. You can take the train at Kunming station.
Line of Jianshui little train: From Jianshui Lin’an station to Tuanshan folk houses
Distance: around 12.82km
Stations: Lin’an, Shuanglong Bridge, Xianghui Bridge and Tuanshan
Time of operation: Two round-trips every day, starting at 9:00 am and 2:30pm