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The Jianshui Ancient Town.

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The Jianshui Ancient Town, 220 kilometers south of Kunming, has been called "Butou" in ancient times. It was also called "Badian". Huili town was founded here by the Nanzhao Regime during the Yuanhe years of the Tang Dynasty. It was under the jurisdiction of Tonghai Dudu (name of administrative area).

Huili is the ancient language of the Yi nationality. It means "sea". Translated into Chinese, it's Jianshui. Jianshui Prefecture was founded here in the Yuan Dynasty. It was governed by Lin’an Lu (name of administrative area). In addition, the Xuan Wei Si (administrative department) of Lin'an, Guangxi, Yuanjiang and the like was set up here. It reigned over Lin'an Lu, Guangxi Lu, Yuanjiang Lu and some other Lu. In the Ming dynasty, it was still called Jianshui Prefecture. However, it was changed from Lu to Fu (name of administrative area).

The administrative department of Lin'an Prefecture moved into Jianshui. In the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, Jianshui Prefecture was changed into Jianshui County. In the first year of the Repbulic of China, Jianshui County was changed into Lin'an County.  The next year the name was changed into Jianshui County again.

 The earliest Jianshui Town was built up with earth during the period of the Nanzhao Regime. In the 20^th year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (A.D.1387), it was built into a brick town. When Li Guo'an conquered Lin'an Town, three city towns in the south, north and west were distoryed during heavy fighting. In the 4^th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, the town was rebuilt but damaged again. Only the Chaoyang City Tower in the east still stood there although it has experienced a lot of wars and earthquakes. It has had a history of nearly 600 years so far. Since the Yuan Dynasty, the temple school began to appear in Jianshui County.

The school of Lin'an Prefecture was set up in the Hongli reign of the Ming Dynasty. The Confucianism of Jianshui Prefecture was set up in the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty. In the Qing Dynasty, the Chongzheng College, the Huanwen College, the Chongwen College and the Qujiang College were built up successively. At that time, Jianshui was called "Lin Half List". It meant that the successful candidates coming from Lin'an Prefecture, whose names were published on the list, accounted for 50 percent of the total number in the imperial examinations of Yunnan.

The number was the largest in Yunnan. The phenomenon was rare in the whole country.  In 1994, Jianshui was one of the third group of China's famous historic and cultural cities, which are authorized by the State Council of the People's Republic of China. The ancient town has been constructed for 12 centuries. There are more than 50 ancient buildings well-kept until now. It's reputed as "the Ancient Building Museum" and "the Folk House Museum".

Location:

Ticket Price:

Opening Time:
24 hours

How to get there:

There are many buses to the Jianshui Ancient Town in all bus stations of Kunming.

Tips:
Recommended Travelling Time: one day or two days