Weishan Old Town
巍山古城
A Ming-dynasty old town with an intact grid layout of 25 streets and 18 lanes. Local life is still going strong, earning it the nickname “living ancient town.”
Weishan Old Town lies in Nanzhao Town, Weishan County. It was first built during the Hongwu era of the Ming dynasty and is organized around the north–south axis formed by Gongchen Tower and Xinggong Tower, creating a grid of “25 streets and 18 lanes.” It is a nationally designated historic and cultural city. Compared with Dali's old town, it is far less commercialized. The lanes are still filled with local daily life, with long-established snack shops, handicraft workshops, and Ming- and Qing-dynasty courtyard houses along the streets. Admission to the old town is free, and it suits a half-day of slow exploration on foot or by bike. Recommended snacks include yi ba la, pa rou er si (rice noodles with minced pork), and qing dou xiao gao (green bean cakes). It's about 55 km from downtown Dali, and buses run from Dali station.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Dengjue Temple
- Gongchen Tower
- Xinggong Tower
- Weishan Dongyue Palace
- Weishan Confucian Temple
- Weishan Wenbi Pagoda
- Mengshe City Ruins
- Weibao Mountain