The Shaxi Laomadian Lodge
Location: Dali, Yunnan, China
Mission Statement
The Shaxi Laomadian Lodge aims to preserve the historical architecture and atmosphere of this lovely Tea-Horse Caravan Road Inn by carefully restoring the building and bringing it to modern travelers. Renovated by Swiss architects with the help of the Jianchuan government, the goal of this project is to preserve the vitality and integrity of one of the last well-conserved market centers on the famous Tea-Horse Caravan Road.
Activities of Organisation
The Shaxi Laomadian compound consists of 3 courtyards and 6 shop-fronts. It is being renovate into a modern Lodge with 9 standard rooms, 3 dormitories for back-packers, a tea house and a fusion restaurant-bar (the Karma Cafe). All of the renovations have been carried out with attention to the traditional Tibetan-Bai architectural style.
Consensus Community Perspective
Part of the idea of the Himalayan Consensus is self-sustainable culturally sensitive capitalism, and the Shaxi Laomadian Lodge has enshrined the cultural legacy of the Tea-Horse Caravan road and local Bai architecture in a functional modern business. By preserving the 150-year-old architecture and atmosphere of this inn-barn, the Laomadian shows that traditional cultural expressions can compete with modern cement boxes, and that as we move into the 21st century, the hearty elegance of structures like this will continue to feed our spirits and shelter our heads.
Contact Information
Address:
The Laomadian Lodge and Cafe
Sideng street, Shaxi old town
Jianchuan, Dali
Yunnan, China 671302
Email: laomadian@gmail.com
Website: Visit this community's website