Habiter à Shuhe, l’Ancienne Ville Tranquille Naxi

Shuhe is in the former commercial district known for its leather and fur artisans. Known locally as Longquan village, Shuhe is thought to be the birthplace of the eminent Mu family of the Naxi minority ethnic group. A walk along it narrows streets and alleyways affords a glimpse into a previous era.

                                                       The focal point is the broad street known as Sifangjie, to the west of which is the three-storeyed Kegongfang (Imperial Examination Archway), flanked by the western and central rivers. The old town area contains many stone bridges, one of the oldest being the Qinglong Bridge, built during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). At the end of the street the Long Pool (Dragon Pool) is overlooked by the Sansheng temple.

Shuhe is one of the earliest settlements of the Naxi people, built a thousand years ago as a crucial post on the Tea Trade routes. In the Naxi language, Shuhe means “a village at the foot of a peak”.

The central square of Shuhe is Sifang Jie. By day it’s a car park for tour minibuses, but in the evening it comes alive with music and dancing. It’s surrounded by shops selling the local specialities of woodcarving and leatherwork, particularly cobblers.

AWAY from the crowds. That’s right, Shuhe Old Town in Yunnan Province is off the beaten track.