Sites Around Shaxi Valley
Shizhong Grottoes in Shaxi Yunnan
Shibao Mountain: The Shibao Shan rock carvings are over 1300 years old and evidence of the spread of Mahayana Buddhism into Yunnan from Tibet. Representations of the bodhisattva Guanyin and other Buddhist images are carved into the rocky mountainside. Spend a day at the grottoes or just hike around the temples through the lush forest - perhaps you'll be lucky enough to come across a group of monkeys. Go to the historic site by vehicle (40 minutes) or take the scenic 2 hour hike from Mr. Wu's.
Friday Market in Sideng: The Friday market in Shaxi's Sideng Square is one of Yunnan's finest. On this day, minority peoples of the Yi and Bai come down from their mountain villages dressed in their finest attire. The market serves as both a meeting place for friends and family as well as a place to trade for goods hard to come by in the mountains. The animal market is one of the most interesting features. Pigs, cows, goats, sheep, ducks, and chickens are traded openly in a large field adjacent to the main road.
Mushroom Picking Around Shaxi: The matsutake mushroom - 'pine mushroom' in English and 'songrong' in Chinese - is one of the most sought-after mushrooms in the world. Most of the world's supply, the Japanese being the largest consumers, comes from Shaxi's surrounding mountains. Between the months of July and October, go on mushroom hunts with local experts. The mushroom gatherers will take you deep into the hills and teach you how to discover and distinguish between a diverse species of native mushrooms.
Friday Market in Sideng: The Friday market in Shaxi's Sideng Square is one of Yunnan's finest. On this day, minority peoples of the Yi and Bai come down from their mountain villages dressed in their finest attire. The market serves as both a meeting place for friends and family as well as a place to trade for goods hard to come by in the mountains. The animal market is one of the most interesting features. Pigs, cows, goats, sheep, ducks, and chickens are traded openly in a large field adjacent to the main road.
Mushroom Picking Around Shaxi: The matsutake mushroom - 'pine mushroom' in English and 'songrong' in Chinese - is one of the most sought-after mushrooms in the world. Most of the world's supply, the Japanese being the largest consumers, comes from Shaxi's surrounding mountains. Between the months of July and October, go on mushroom hunts with local experts. The mushroom gatherers will take you deep into the hills and teach you how to discover and distinguish between a diverse species of native mushrooms.
