Mengzi Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)
Bise Village Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)
Bise Village, the years cannot erase your traces, what remains is precisely your "prime of life"
Bise Village, a train station, a village, the ancient railway tracks, mottled yellow walls and red tiles, and the still French-style wall clock, all bear witness to a century of historical vicissitudes, sealing dust-covered romantic bittersweet stories, and inheriting a diverse frontier culture!
The chef at the Bise Village guesthouse is said to have been from the Tianyuan Grand Hotel before, and the chrysanthemum cross-bridge rice noodles are still great.
There is a La Qingguo tin craftsmanship studio, which just has a hot wine pot, and also a rooster pattern, matching the attributes, so I bought one and have been using it.
To honor the century-old French-style train station, I made a trip to Mengzi
When I stood in front of the railway station at Bisezhai in Mengzi,
It seemed as though I could see the teachers and students of the National Southwest Associated University,
The vibrant faces of the National Southwest Associated University,
Singing in unison about this life,
'Only ask about courage, never question east or west.'
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This international railway, carved through mountains and valleys purely by human strength, connects China and Vietnam.
Due to its track gauge of 1 meter, it is also known as the 'meter-gauge railway.' The British 'The Times' once ranked it alongside the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, the Panama Canal, and the Suez Canal as one of the three great engineering wonders of the world.
Back then, many teachers and students of the National Southwest Associated University traveled via the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, arriving at Bisezhai Station, and then took a small green-stone train to Mengzi, starting that heroic chapter of the history of saving the nation through knowledge.
Caravans and merchants also used this Yunnan-Vietnam Railway to open the doors to global trade.
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The unique meter-gauge, the retro platforms...
Today's Bisezhai still retains its original appearance from when it opened in 1910
Dress up in a Republic of China student outfit
It's quite a scene for photos
Experience the charm of Mengzi and enjoy the symphony of life, on the 58th day of the drive around China
May 11, 2023, the 58th day of the drive around China, from Jingxi, Guangxi to Mengzi, Yunnan. If you drive along the G219 national road, the mountain roads are rugged and narrow, and it is very time-consuming. Choose to drive directly on the highway, avoiding this section of the national road, and reach Mengzi City directly. Surprisingly, the speed limit on this mountainous section of the highway in Guangxi is 120 kilometers. I have the utmost disdain for the low speed limits and the trap of fines on the highways.
It's hard to imagine that in Mengzi, there hides a lake like Nanhu. Nanhu was formed by the accumulation of rainwater, and was developed into a reservoir during the Ming Dynasty, formerly known as Caohu. Three mounds of earth were piled up in the lake, named Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou Islands respectively. With thousands of hectares of clear waves and willows lining the banks, the water of Nanhu is extremely beautiful. The scenery is surprisingly reminiscent of old Beijing, and the lotus pond brings back memories of Shengping. Walking by the lake, one forgets the hustle and bustle of the world and returns to the tranquility of nature.
Bizhai was a desolate and uninhabited place at the end of the Qing Dynasty, named after the station. Bizhai Station began construction in 1905, with a European style. In 1909, the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway (meter gauge) opened to traffic, and it became a hub for trade and transportation. The hotels, restaurants, and coffee shops in the village were numerous, forming a small-scale World's Fair. For the following forty years, it was a time of great prosperity. Now the station has long been abandoned, and its legendary history has also faded. A narrow-gauge train station full of sentiment, suitable for leisurely photo-taking and remembrance, has recently become popular on the internet due to director Feng Xiaogang's movie 'Youth'.
After the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway was opened, Bizhai Railway Station rose to become the largest station on the railway, the place where the 'Ge Bishi Railway' (narrow gauge) intersected and transferred, Ge Bishi (Gejiu-Bizhai—Shiping) is the most sovereignly complete railway in modern Chinese history.
The cuisine of Mengzi is also a highlight, with local delicacies such as Mengzi's rice noodles and Mengzi rice cakes being very popular with tourists. When night falls, the night market in Mengzi becomes extraordinarily lively, with a dazzling array of delicious foods that make one's mouth water. Mengzi is a city full of charm. Whether it's natural scenery or cultural landscapes, it makes people linger and forget to return.
Bisezhai Station | The once quiet French-style station has become bustling and a popular spot for internet celebrities
Located on the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, Bisezhai Railway Station was not very well-known before, but it became a hit on the internet due to movies like 'Youth' being filmed there. It was once an important hub of the Southern Yunnan Railway, built in 1909, the station retains French architectural styles with red tiles and yellow walls, and there are many historical relics and sites, attracting numerous tourists every day. In 2013, it was announced as the seventh batch of 'National Protected Sites'.
Bisezhai, originally named 'Poxin', was named by a French official stationed in Mengzi who discovered the scenic beauty of the mountains and sea here. Walking into Bisezhai, the mottled yellow walls and red tiles, the still French clocks, and the railway tracks stretching to the horizon form a unique landscape in the eyes of visitors. The existing Datong Company, Golum Hotel, and Annan Coffee House, as well as the old site of the Tax Bureau within the scenic area, are all must-visit spots in Bisezhai.
🌈Highlights:
✅ Bisezhai Railway Station, designed by the French, with red tiles, yellow walls, and wooden shutters in French architectural style, is the station building of Bisezhai Railway Station.
✅ The eaves are supported by steel frames, and these rusty steels are produced by the same steel factory that supplied the steel for the Eiffel Tower in France.
✅ The exterior wall of the Bisezhai branch of the Customs is plastered with many posters and shooting highlights of the movie 'Youth'. When the movie was released in 2018, Bisezhai became a hot topic again.
✅ Bisezhai Station is the world's first coordinate point of the Tropic of Cancer, located near the three-faced clock.
✅ In 1909, when the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway reached Bisezhai, it was the only first-class station. After the opening of the Bise Railway, the volume of passenger and freight transport surged, merchants gathered, and it became an important material transit center and trade distribution center in Yunnan, known as the 'Little Paris of the East'.
🎫Ticket: Free
🚗Transportation: Public transportation is not convenient, it is recommended to drive or charter a car to get there
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Mengzi Hongxiang Hotel Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)
Mengzi Surprise Trip - Hongxiang Grand Hotel
Mengzi gave me a surprise with the Hongxiang Grand Hotel.
It's a fantastic stay experience, the hotel is located at the junction of the old and new town.
The hotel is 3-star, the lobby is 4-star, and the service is 5-star.
After booking, the front desk proactively called me to ask about some needs and arranged the room in advance according to my request.
The size of the room is almost the same as shown on the website, the shower water is plentiful, and the bedding is clean, which gave us a good night's sleep. It's worth mentioning that the hotel is very generous, the room snacks and drinks are free, and they also provided a free lunch with a rich variety of dishes, solid ingredients, and good taste. All the hotel staff, from the front desk to the restaurant to the room service, are enthusiastic and polite, and the price is also affordable.
In the afternoon, our group of 4 had a 138 yuan set meal at the hotel, which tasted even better than the lunch, and the portion was so generous that all four of us felt it was a bit too much.
Having such a hotel in a small city is really a surprise, and I will definitely choose the Hongxiang Grand Hotel again when I bring friends here next time🌟
king selfies and caring for the kids at the same time at Mengzi Nest Time Farm
📍Detailed address: Navigate directly to Nest Time
Just stop outside this gate, parking is convenient
💰Expenses:
Site rental (excluding ingredients): Small tent 298 yuan, large tent 580 yuan (about 20 people)
Including ingredients fee: Adults 78 yuan/88 yuan per person for two standards, half price for children (children under three should not be charged, please contact in advance to ask specifically)
Provided by the owner: Includes disposable chopsticks and bowls, playing mahjong, singing, condiments, barbecue charcoal, no separate charge
🖼Hardware environment:
The flowers and plants inside are well-maintained by the owner, organized and tidy, with many spots suitable for girls to take photos, and the facilities are relatively mature. The owner has good taste
The barbecue tables are custom-made, very convenient to use
Girls can spend a whole day just taking photos here, it's very photogenic
Children's play projects: slide, swing, toy car, trampoline
🌟Highlights:
You can see Mengzi's train here, right under the railway
There weren't many people the day we went, and the owner proactively let us switch to a larger site without additional cost. Reasonable adjustments based on the situation of the day are really good, the owner is very nice, and if everyone communicates proactively and kindly, she will try to accommodate as much as possible
We brought our own fireworks to set off in the evening, which is allowed at designated places
⏳Playtime:
We had a large group, from 11 am to 8 pm before we packed up and le
Nisu Town Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)
A person goes to Mengzi to eat chrysanthemum rice noodles
Visiting Yunnan, you must try the rice noodles, and the real origin of Yunnan's 'Crossing-the-Bridge' rice noodles is Mengzi.
Food Guide: The most famous in Mengzi is the chrysanthemum rice noodles. The traditional 'Crossing-the-Bridge' rice noodles consist of a bowl of broth accompanied by several dishes of side ingredients, which are added to the soup in sequence, including eggs, meats, vegetables, and chrysanthemum petals. Recommended is the 'Old General's Traditional Crossing-the-Bridge Rice Noodles'. The average cost is 12 yuan per person.
Attraction Guide: 'Crossing-the-Bridge' Rice Noodles Town, Nisu Town, Nanhu Park, Southwest Associated University Bookstore
'Crossing-the-Bridge' Rice Noodles Town is themed after various cities in the Honghe region, creating more than ten different zones such as Jianshui Garden, Mile Garden, Kaiyuan Garden, and Pingbian Garden.
Central Axis: The Bell and Drum Tower area, dominated by Tang Dynasty and Ming-Qing antique architecture. Here you can learn about the history of Mengzi's 'Crossing-the-Bridge' rice noodles and taste authentic varieties of rice noodles. Admission is free.
Nisu Town is located on the east coast of Datunhai in Mengzi City, 5 kilometers from the city center. It preserves the heritage of the Yi nationality's Nisu customs. Adjacent to Nisu Town is Mengzi's most beautiful scenic lake, Datunhai. Admission is free.
Nanhu Scenic Area, Mengzi's Nanhu is a landmark building in the city center, where the history of 'Crossing-the-Bridge' rice noodles originated. The scenic area consists of three lake islands: Penglai Island, Fangzhang Island, and Yingzhou Island. Admission is free.
Southwest Associated University's old campus retains the French architectural style of a century ago, standing by the lakeside of Nanhu. Revisit the Republic of China street scene. Inside, there is a retro coffee house. Admission is free
Let's go to Monsieur Town and see the sea together this summer.
Let's go to Monsieur Town together this summer and see the sea.
Babies, if you can't go to Sanya or Dali, come to Mengzi first to experience the beauty of nature and the vastness of the sea and sky.
#Mengzi tourism #Mengzi photography #sunset #surrounding tour
Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)
Let me show you what's inside the Zhou Family Mansion in Mengzi
The Zhou Family Mansion, this Zhou refers to the wealthy gentleman Zhou Bozhai at that time. His ancestors made their fortune by smelting tin, and by his generation, they had become extremely wealthy. Half of the houses in the entire city of Mengzi belonged to their family, and they also owned 30,000 acres of farmland. At that time, Mengzi was the earliest open port in Yunnan, and the inland areas of Yunnan and parts of Sichuan and Guizhou were all transshipped through Mengzi, with a very large volume of trade. The 'Shunchenghao' firm he founded with his brother Zhou Lizhai was one of the eight major firms in Yunnan at that time, and he was also the founder of the earliest bank in Yunnan, Fudian Bank.
In 1938, when he learned that the Southwest United University was coming to Mengzi, he generously lent out his 'Yilou' as a dormitory for female students. The original building was three stories high, but it became two stories after being attacked by Japanese artillery.
There are more than 1,000 plaques in the Zhou Family Mansion, covering topics such as passing the imperial examination, promotion, loyalty, filial piety, etiquette, marriage, death, marriage, birthday, childbirth, house building, relocation, inscription, etc. The fonts cover truth, grass, official script, seal script, running script, etc., and the materials include rosewood, iron pear, nanmu, jujube, elm, camphor, fir, stone, copper, etc. For example, the emperor's edict plaque, the prime minister's temple plaque, the champion's imperial examination plaque, the scholar's study plaque, etc.
On August 13, 2013, after the Zhou Family Mansion was renovated and displayed, and with the donation of most of the collections by Mr. Huang He and Mr. Huang Jin, it became the Wangyun Traditional Culture Museum.
Because there are few visitors, the exhibits in each room are not lit, and you can turn them on yourself and turn them off after viewing the exhibits.
🏡Attraction: Zhou Family Mansion (Wangyun Museum)
📍Location: Next to Wumiao Street, Mengzi City, Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province
⏰Time: Every Tuesday-Sunday 9:30-12:00, 13:30-17:00, closed on Monday (New Year's Day, May 1st, National Day, State Day, Spring Festival as usual)
🎫Ticket: Free
Mengzi Cross Bridge Rice Noodle Town Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)
A person goes to Mengzi to eat chrysanthemum rice noodles
Visiting Yunnan, you must try the rice noodles, and the real origin of Yunnan's 'Crossing-the-Bridge' rice noodles is Mengzi.
Food Guide: The most famous in Mengzi is the chrysanthemum rice noodles. The traditional 'Crossing-the-Bridge' rice noodles consist of a bowl of broth accompanied by several dishes of side ingredients, which are added to the soup in sequence, including eggs, meats, vegetables, and chrysanthemum petals. Recommended is the 'Old General's Traditional Crossing-the-Bridge Rice Noodles'. The average cost is 12 yuan per person.
Attraction Guide: 'Crossing-the-Bridge' Rice Noodles Town, Nisu Town, Nanhu Park, Southwest Associated University Bookstore
'Crossing-the-Bridge' Rice Noodles Town is themed after various cities in the Honghe region, creating more than ten different zones such as Jianshui Garden, Mile Garden, Kaiyuan Garden, and Pingbian Garden.
Central Axis: The Bell and Drum Tower area, dominated by Tang Dynasty and Ming-Qing antique architecture. Here you can learn about the history of Mengzi's 'Crossing-the-Bridge' rice noodles and taste authentic varieties of rice noodles. Admission is free.
Nisu Town is located on the east coast of Datunhai in Mengzi City, 5 kilometers from the city center. It preserves the heritage of the Yi nationality's Nisu customs. Adjacent to Nisu Town is Mengzi's most beautiful scenic lake, Datunhai. Admission is free.
Nanhu Scenic Area, Mengzi's Nanhu is a landmark building in the city center, where the history of 'Crossing-the-Bridge' rice noodles originated. The scenic area consists of three lake islands: Penglai Island, Fangzhang Island, and Yingzhou Island. Admission is free.
Southwest Associated University's old campus retains the French architectural style of a century ago, standing by the lakeside of Nanhu. Revisit the Republic of China street scene. Inside, there is a retro coffee house. Admission is free
Recommended Attractions at Popular Destinations
Popular Restaurants in Mengzi