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conservation & sustainable tourism in Shaxi China

Shaxi Yunnan temple

New look for historic Shaxi shrines

2021-02-19 by DaliGinkgo Leave a Comment

According to inscribed marble tablets found during restoration, the history of the original Shaxi Pear Orchard Temple dates back over 400 years. Since that period the temple has survived earthquakes, fires and the destruction of the “Smash the Four Olds” of the Cultural Revolution. It has been rebuilt numerous times, most recently in 2012 as … [Read more…]

Posted in: Uncategorised Tagged: Shaxi China, Shaxi fertility temple, Shaxi Pear Orchard Temple, Shaxi temple painting, Shaxi Yunnan, Shaxi Yunnan temple

Where the light gets in

2014-06-27 by DaliGinkgo 1 Comment

Shaxi temple restoration project nears completion This month, I’m so pleased to write that after nearly two and a half years, all structural work on the Sheltered Mercy Nunnery (Pear Orchard Temple) is complete. All that remains are the details of decorative painting. Some big improvements that we made in the past month were a functioning water … [Read more…]

Posted in: Design, Vernacular Styles Tagged: Pear Orchard Temple, Shaxi Pear Orchard Temple, Shaxi Yunnan temple, The Pear Orchard Temple Shaxi

Less is more

2012-05-22 by DaliGinkgo Leave a Comment

We are in the final stages of restoration, refinishing wood and replacing mud wall rendering with our special sauce that replicates the original plasters. We have also taken out ad-hoc concrete and begun finishing work on doors, beams and windows.      

Posted in: Construction, Design, Vernacular Styles Tagged: Pear Orchard Temple renovations, Shaxi China, Shaxi Pear Orchard Temple, Shaxi temple, Shaxi Yunnan China, Shaxi Yunnan temple

The big dig

2012-05-14 by DaliGinkgo Leave a Comment

Mr. Yang’s team is now working amazingly quickly to finish major restoration work by June 1. We then begin interior details to get ready for guests by the end of June. The interesting thing about this team is how they work with an intuitive understanding of the temple’s buildings, because they are built on the … [Read more…]

Posted in: Construction Tagged: Pear Orchard Temple renovations, Shaxi China, Shaxi Pear Orchard Temple, Shaxi temple, Shaxi Yunnan China, Shaxi Yunnan temple

Mud walls and floors

2012-05-09 by DaliGinkgo Leave a Comment

During my last visit in April to the work site, Mr. Yang, Mr. Wu and I decided to take the walls and floors of secondary buildings in the temple complex down to their original earth layer, removing all concrete and plaster. After we level and tamp the floors, we will be adding brick and stone. … [Read more…]

Posted in: Construction Tagged: Pear Orchard Temple renovations, Shaxi China, Shaxi Pear Orchard Temple, Shaxi temple, Shaxi Yunnan China, Shaxi Yunnan temple

A new roof for the Pear Orchard Temple

2012-04-23 by DaliGinkgo Leave a Comment

Reconstructing a centuries old folk temple requires a local expertise that few in China have. We are lucky to have a great team of local Bai builders who have years of experience building local rammed earth houses and gabled roofs, which serve as the fundamental vernacular styles of the Pear Orchard Temple. The team began … [Read more…]

Posted in: Construction Tagged: Pear Orchard Temple renovations, Shaxi China, Shaxi Pear Orchard Temple, Shaxi temple, Shaxi Yunnan China, Shaxi Yunnan temple

A visit from Yunnan Provincial Tourism leaders

2012-03-23 by DaliGinkgo Leave a Comment

In late March we received a delegation of Provincial and Country Tourism leaders to review our progress and learn about our upcoming projects in Shaxi Valley.  

Posted in: Government Relations Tagged: Pear Orchard Temple renovations, Shaxi China, Shaxi Pear Orchard Temple, Shaxi temple, Shaxi Yunnan China, Shaxi Yunnan temple

Approved! Renovation work begins

2012-03-09 by DaliGinkgo Leave a Comment

After extensive consultations with county, town and village leaders, this February we have received official approval to begin renovations on the Pear Orchard (Ci Yin An) temple. When completed at the end of 2014, the temple will include a visitor’s center, vegetarian restaurant meditatiin rooms, classroom and activity space and a tea garden. Ginkgo project … [Read more…]

Posted in: Construction, Government Relations Tagged: Pear Orchard Temple renovations, Shaxi China, Shaxi Pear Orchard Temple, Shaxi temple, Shaxi Yunnan China, Shaxi Yunnan temple

Negotiating with local government

2012-02-26 by DaliGinkgo Leave a Comment

In this photo is Mayor Zhang on the left facing me, with a village leader and other township officials in the doorway of the main hall. Note the notices posted everywhere and the skerret (a popular local tuber) drying on the terrace. When I first visited the temple, this area was occupied by old men … [Read more…]

Posted in: Government Relations Tagged: Pear Orchard Temple, Pear Orchard Temple renovations, Shaxi China, Shaxi Pear Orchard Temple, Shaxi Yunnan China, Shaxi Yunnan temple

The Jianchuan County Heritage Bureau reviews our proposal

2012-02-17 by DaliGinkgo Leave a Comment

Now that we have submitted out proposal to the Heritage Bureau, we needed to take the officials on a tour to explain where we want to make changes, and there are a lot. We’re upgrading electric, adding windows, skylights and removing cheaply constructed recent additions and adding a public toilet. The response from Jianchuan Heritage … [Read more…]

Posted in: Government Relations Tagged: Pear Orchard Temple, Pear Orchard Temple renovations, Shaxi China, Shaxi Pear Orchard Temple, Shaxi Yunnan China, Shaxi Yunnan temple

Recent Posts

  • New look for historic Shaxi shrines
  • Shaxi in the News 2019
  • The 100-Year Facelift
  • Once upon a time on the Tea horse Road
  • Eco-friendly toilets for the Pear Orchard Temple

Recent Comments

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