HeritagePhoto Wikimedia CommonsBaisha Ancient Town
Yunnan · China
Experience Content: At the Dongba Culture Museum or calligraphy studio, learn the writing skills of Dongba script, and use Dongba paper and special brushes and ink to write simple Dongba characters or blessings. Dongba script is the pictographic writing of the Naxi ethnic group and is known as the "living pictographic writing," an important part of Naxi culture.
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Baisha Ancient Town
Welcome to Baisha Ancient Town, arguably the most authentic and historically significant of the three ancient towns in the Lijiang area. Located approximately 10 kilometers north of Lijiang Old Town, Baisha sits at the very…
Listen in the app2The Main Thoroughfare and Photo Culture
As you walk down the main street of Baisha, you will immediately notice a fascinating intersection between ancient traditions and modern tourism trends. This central artery is lined with small shops, cafes, and specialized…
Listen in the app3The Market Square: A Historical Crossroads
The heart of Baisha is its main cross-section, traditionally serving as the Market Square. In centuries past, this was a vital node on the Ancient Tea Horse Road, a network of trade routes that connected Yunnan with Tibet and…
Listen in the app4The Baisha Murals: A Synthesis of Faith
Perhaps the most significant historical treasure in the town is the Baisha Mural Museum, specifically the Dabaoji Palace. These murals, painted between the early Ming and early Qing dynasties (roughly 300 to 600 years ago), are…
Listen in the app5Traditional Naxi Courtyard Architecture
To truly understand the Naxi way of life, one must examine their residential architecture. As you move away from the museum and into the residential quarters, look for traditional courtyard houses. …
Listen in the app6The Art of Naxi Embroidery
Baisha is home to several prestigious embroidery schools and workshops, where the ancient art of Naxi silk embroidery is being meticulously preserved and taught. This form of embroidery is known for its high level of detail,…
Listen in the app7The Living Language: Dongba Pictographs
As you wander the quieter side alleys of Baisha, you will encounter the world’s last living pictographic language: the Dongba script. This unique writing system, consisting of over 1,400 pictographs, is used by the Dongba priests…
Listen in the app8Closing
As our tour of Baisha Ancient Town concludes, we take away a sense of a community that has successfully balanced the demands of modern tourism with a deep respect for its historical roots. We have moved from the bustling main…
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What is Baisha Ancient Town?
Baisha Ancient Town is a place in Yunnan · China with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Yunnan · China |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 26.9537, 100.2162 |
| Last updated |