沙溪镇：茶马古道千年古镇的“新生密码”
Shaxi town in Yunnan sees tourism boom after restoration

一名游客（左）在云南省大理州沙溪镇寺登村体验制作甲马版画（4月18日摄）。沙溪镇位于云南省大理州剑川县。自唐宋起，沙溪镇便因丰饶的物产和平坦的地势，成为茶马古道上的贸易重镇。马帮驮着茶叶、盐巴与丝绸，一路翻山越岭，在此休整交易。然而，随着现代交通的兴起，沙溪一度沉寂。2001年，沙溪寺登街被列入“世界濒危建筑遗产名录”，不久后，政府启动“沙溪复兴工程”，对茶马古道上的四方街、古寨门、古戏台、兴教寺等核心遗产进行抢救性修复，最大限度恢复古建筑的历史真容。同时，沙溪镇以“文化赋能乡村振兴”为理念，探索出一条“轻开发、深体验”的文旅融合之路——通过完善基础设施，修缮古旧建筑等举措，不仅让村民有了更好的生活环境，也吸引不少外商投资，有效促进村集体经济发展，带动群众增收致富。据统计，2024年沙溪镇共接待海内外游客311.68万人次，实现旅游总花费42.98亿元。[新华社记者 胡超 摄]

A tourist (L) tries to make a piece of local traditional woodblock print known as Jiama at Sideng Village of Shaxi Town, Jianchuan County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 18, 2025. A remote town in Jianchuan County, Shaxi was once an important trading hub for tea, herbs, silks and salt on the ancient Tea Horse Road, a trade route dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907). However, the trading hub in the late 19th century saw a decline because it was far away from emerging modern arterial roads, and other means of transport replaced the traveling caravans. Therefore, the local government initiated a restoration project with an aim to preserve its cultural heritage and landscape by improving infrastructure and promoting economic growth in Shaxi. Years of efforts are paying off. The town saw its old buildings renovated and sceneries beautified. Currently, Shaxi has turned into a desirable destination for tourists at home and abroad. In 2024 alone, Shaxi received over 3 million tourist trips from home and abroad, along with a total revenue of 4.298 billion yuan (about 589.8 million U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Hu Chao)