Red Sky Inn in Jianshui County, Honghe

Basic Information

• Location:
  No. 8 Taishi Lane (near Hanlin Street), core area of Jianshui Ancient Town, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. Nestled in the heart of the ancient cultural district, it’s a 2-minute walk from Zhu Family Garden and a 5-minute walk from Jianshui Confucius Temple. Surrounded by purple pottery workshops and time-honored snack shops (e.g., “Linyan Restaurant”), it offers a peaceful base amid the town’s vibrant historic atmosphere, perfect for deep exploration of ancient town life.
• Architectural Features:
  Originally the “Yang Family Residence” from the late Qing Dynasty to early Republic of China, it preserves the traditional southern Yunnan layout of a “two-courtyard compound” with a “four-sided courtyard containing five skylights.” Green-tiled roofs, carved wooden windows, stone floors, and courtyard greenery create a harmonious scene. Interior decor incorporates purple pottery ornaments, ethnic embroidery, and vintage furniture, with public areas displaying Jianshui’s old photos and folk artifacts, recreating the ancient town’s living scenes. Spanning 800㎡, the inn has only 10 rooms, ensuring an intimate and cozy atmosphere.
• Opening Year: 2018 (renovated from a historic building, awarded “Jianshui Ancient Town Demonstration Project for Characteristic Residential Renovation”).

Guest Rooms – Where Antiquity Meets Comfort

• Room Types:
  10 uniquely styled rooms, including courtyard standard rooms, loft king rooms, and family rooms, named “Yingyue” (Moon Reflection), “Tingzhu” (Listening to Bamboo), “Wangyun” (Gazing at Clouds):
  • Courtyard Standard Rooms: Face the central courtyard, offering views of fish ponds and ancient trees, furnished with solid wood furniture and purple pottery tea sets.
  • Loft King Rooms: Duplex design with sloped wooden beams on the second floor, ideal for couples or solo travelers.
  • Family Rooms: Equipped with bunk beds or extra beds, providing children’s toiletries and hand-drawn ancient town maps.
• Amenities:
  • Slumberland mattresses, private bathrooms, central air conditioning, smart TVs, and high-speed Wi-Fi.
  • Select rooms feature viewing balconies or bay windows overlooking ancient alley rooftops.
  • Complimentary mineral water, Yunnan small-bean coffee, and Jianshui specialty snacks (e.g., Lion Cake).

Dining & Public Spaces – A Taste of Local Life

• Homestyle Breakfast:
  Free Chinese breakfast is served daily from 7:30–9:30, including Jianshui watercress rice noodles (with local chicken broth), handmade flower rolls, pickled vegetable tofu, and freshly ground soy milk—ingredients mostly sourced from nearby farms to highlight local flavors.
• Courtyard Tea Break:
  An open courtyard teahouse offers free Pu’er tea and glutinous rice-scented tea throughout the day, paired with the owner’s homemade rose sugar cakes. Guests can read, 品茶 (sip tea), or chat with fellow travelers here.
• Public Areas:
  • The first-floor living room features an old-fashioned eight Immortals table and a charcoal brazier (for winter), with Jianshui purple pottery tea sets and ancient books available for free use.
  • The second-floor terrace, furnished with rattan chairs and greenery, offers panoramic views of the ancient town’s roofs and the distant Chaoyang Tower.

Service Highlights – Live Like a Local

• Butler-Style Service:
  • 24-hour front desk provides ancient town maps, assists with attraction ticket bookings (e.g., Zhu Family Garden, Jianshui Small Train), and arranges car rentals for trips to Tuan Shan Ancient Village and Shuanglong Bridge.
  • Free electric cart service within the ancient town (advance booking required), convenient for guests with large luggage.
• Cultural Experiences:
  • “Ancient Alley Walk” Tour: Every morning at 10 AM, the owner personally leads guests through ancient alleys, sharing stories of Jianshui’s residences and recommending snack spots (e.g., the grilled tofu stall at the alley end）.
  • Purple Pottery Workshops: Guests can book visits to nearby workshops for hands-on experiences in clay shaping and carving (exclusive discounts for inn guests).
  • Seasonal Events: Participate in traditional festivals like Spring Festival couplet writing, Dragon Boat Festival zongzi making, or Mid-Autumn courtyard tea parties.
• Thoughtful Touches:
  • A handwritten welcome card (featuring Jianshui’s iconic architecture) and local honey upon arrival.
  • Turndown service with osmanthus sweet soup or Jianshui sweet rice wine; electric blankets provided in winter.

Nearby Attractions & Local Life – Steps from History and Flavor

Within 5-Minute Walk

• Zhu Family Garden (200m): A Qing Dynasty private garden known as the “Grand View Garden of Southern Yunnan,” showcasing architectural and imperial examination culture exhibits.
• Jianshui Confucius Temple (500m): One of the largest Confucian temples in southern China, ideal for morning walks to the sound of ancient music.
• Hanlin Street (100m): A cobblestone street lined with purple pottery studios (e.g., “Xiang Fengchun” old workshop) and time-honored snack shops (e.g., “Fují” watercress dumplings).

Local Conveniences

• Street vendors outside the inn sell fresh watercress, tofu, and other ingredients; a 3-minute walk to Yongzhen Road Farmer’s Market offers an authentic local experience.
• A 8-minute walk to Zitao Street for night markets, BBQ (e.g., grilled tofu, watercress omelets), and folk music performances.

Short Trips

• Shuanglong Bridge: A 10-minute drive (or 15-minute bike ride) to photograph the 17-arch bridge’s sunset reflections, where local vendors sell watercress pancakes.
• Tuan Shan Ancient Village: A 20-minute drive to a World Heritage-listed village with well-preserved Ming/Qing mansions and ancient horse trails.

Ideal Guests & Reputation

• Target Audience:
  Budget-conscious travelers who prefer niche guesthouses and authentic local experiences, especially couples, families, solo travelers, and those seeking to embrace the ancient town’s pace.
• Guest Reviews:
  Ctrip rating of 4.7+, praised for “prime location,” “warm hosts,” and “authentic breakfast.” Guests often mention, “Feels like staying at a friend’s home—convenient for exploring and eating,” making it perfect for slow travel and deep immersion.

Transportation Guide

• By Car: Traffic-restricted in the ancient town core; navigate to nearby parking (e.g., “Zhu Family Garden Parking Lot”), then a 5-minute walk to the inn (free luggage transfer provided).
• By High-Speed Rail: A 20-minute taxi ride from Jianshui Railway Station (¥25 fare), or take Bus Route 13 to “Hanlin Street Station” and walk 3 minutes.
• By Bus: A 15-minute walk or 5-minute taxi ride from Jianshui Bus Station (1.2km away).