An ancient town near Kunming, a must see ancient town in Yunnan if you want to know more about Kunming.
Once you’ve been to Yunnan Provincial Museum, then be sure not to miss Guandu Ancient Town, which is opposite.
Guandu used to be a small fishing village near the Dianchi Lake. But it gradually became the largest town around Dianchi during the Tang and Song Dynasty.
As one of the few ancient towns in Kunming, the rise and fall of Guandu Ancient Town is closely related to Kunming.
The most famous and attractive building in Guandu Ancient Town is the Miaozhan Temple Vajra Tower.
The Tower was constructed during the Ming dynasty (1458) and is the oldest remaining one of its kind in China.
There are five small towers on the square shape base of the Vajra tower, with the 16-metre-high main tower at the heart.
There is a road running under the tower door, so it also called Chuanxin (means cross the centre) Tower. Local people believe that walking through the tower can bring luck.
Yunzi is a special chess piece of Go-chess (Go-chess is a chinese famous games which was invented in ancient China) manufactured in Yunnan, China. As a traditional characteristic handicraft of Yunnan Province, Yunzi started in the Tang dynasty and reached its peak in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Yunzi went on to be prized by the literati and offered to the Emperor.
In 1986, Queen Elizabeth II visited Yunnan, and the governor and Zhiqiang also gave Yunzi as a gift to the Queen. Yunnan Go Chess Factory relocated to Guandu Ancient Town in 2012, it also build a chess house for Go chess competitions.
The Yunzi chess house is uniquely built. The yin and yang taiji maps inlaid with black and white Yunzi can be seen in the entrance. The Yunzi Exhibition Centre collects precious Yunzi of various styles.
How to get Guandu Ancient Town
Bus: Take No. 169, 185 and 253, getting off at Guandu Ancient Town Station.
