10 Days in Baoshan

Settle into the 600-year flagstone lanes with the 1928 Heshun library still lending books; evening noodles by the ponds.

1. baoshan heshun old town

Crater rims among the 99 cones, the about 97°C Big Boiling Pot, and the 46 m Dieshui falls above town.

1. baoshan tengchong volcano park
2. baoshan rehai hot springs
3. baoshan dieshui falls

The 1945 cemetery recording the 1944 retaking of the town, then a slow second loop of Heshun's courtyards and bridges.

1. baoshan guoshang cemetery
2. baoshan heshun old town

Punt across the floating peat mats, then Gudong's ginkgo lanes — gold from late November, courtyard tea otherwise.

1. baoshan beihai wetland
2. baoshan ginkgo village

The 2016 Longjiang suspension bridge with a main span near 1,200 m, then boardwalks around the Qinghua Sea. Overnight in Baoshan city.

1. baoshan longjiang bridge
2. baoshan qinghua sea wetland

Morning on the 1944 trench lines at Songshan in Longling, then the tea-horse flagstones of Banqiao's market street back in town.

1. baoshan songshan battlefield
2. baoshan banqiao old street

Down into the hot Nu River valley, where arabica has been grown since the 1950s and harvest runs from November; estate walks and cups along the way.

1. baoshan lujiangba coffee

Southwest into Dehong prefecture — Ruili's border markets and the "one village, two countries" garden where the boundary runs between paddy fields; honest labeling, this is Dehong, not Baoshan.

1. dehong ruili border
2. dehong yizhai liangguo

A second Dehong day in the prefecture seat, Mangshi — the hilltop golden stupa above town, lakeside walks and a Dai-flavored dinner.

1. dehong mangshi golden pagoda

The road back to Baoshan runs the river valley; a final market lunch in town, then depart from Baoshan airport or the westbound rail link.

1. baoshan city markets