Ancient town's preservation sparks tourism boom

The ancient temples, old alleys and caravansaries of the ancient town of Shaxi, reminders of past glories, attract tourists from around the world.

A remote township in Jianchuan county, southwestern China's Yunnan province, Shaxi was once an important trading hub for tea, herbs, silk and salt on the ancient Tea Horse Road that linked Yunnan to Tibet.

Dong Zengxu, director of the Jianchuan cultural heritage institute, said that in ancient times, commercial exchanges not only brought Shaxi economic prosperity, but also made it a place where cultures and religions blended.