Start here
Shuhe is a historic Naxi settlement north of Dayan Old Town. Come for a slower walk through market streets, bridges and water channels—not as a checklist of paid photo stops. It works as a half-day visit or a quiet overnight.
Begin in the market heart
Use the square and old lanes to orient yourself, then follow the water through the town.
Look at the town's structure
The old stone bridge is a landmark and a reminder of how paths, water and trade routes meet.
Pause beside the spring-fed water
Keep to public paths and avoid feeding fish or leaving food near the water.
Meet the work, not a sales pitch
Look for genuine workshops and ask before photographing makers or entering private courtyards.
The full handbook is part of the paid series
You have read the free preview — the introduction and the route map. The complete handbook adds the day-by-day plan, tickets and transport, culture and etiquette, food, useful Chinese, and the dated source list.