The Little Paris of the East: A Journey Through Time and Cinema at Mengzi Bisezhai Station

The "Little Paris of the East"

1.Located in Caoba: Town, Mengzi City, within the Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province, Bisezhai Station is a historic landmark that serves as a frozen "Museum of History" and a testament to the region's opening to the world. Often referred to as the "Little Paris of the East," this station was a critical hub on the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, which began construction in 1903 and opened to traffic in 1910. For decades, it was not just a transportation node but a bustling center of commerce and logistics where Chinese and Western cultures intertwined. At its peak, Bisezhai attracted merchants, diplomats, and travelers from France, Vietnam, and beyond, filling the streets with foreign companies ("Yangs"), coffee shops, and the sounds of a busy international port. Today, it stands as a unique cultural landscape where the whistle of the train seems to echo through the century-old yellow walls and red tiles.

Architectural Fusion and French Elegance

2.The architecture of: Bisezhai is its most striking feature, characterized by a distinct French style blended with local elements. The station buildings feature iconic yellow walls, red tiled roofs, and green windows, creating a vibrant color palette against the blue Yunnan sky. The core protected area covers about 1,300 meters, housing numerous historical relics including the main station building, the staff quarters, and the iconic Water Tower. The large stone water tower, shaped with a unique spherical top, was once essential for the steam locomotives and remains a photographic icon today. Visitors can also see the traces of the famous "Three-Face Watch" (Sanmian Zhong) on the station walls; although the original mechanism is gone, the location still marks the passage of time and the station's historical importance.

A Stage for Cinema and History

Beyond its architectural beauty, Bisezhai holds deep cultural significance. It experienced a resurgence in popularity as the primary filming location for the acclaimed movie "Youth" (Fanghua), directed by Feng Xiaogang. Fans of the film flock here to recreate scenes on the platform and soak in the nostalgic atmosphere. Historically, the station also played a role during the Anti-Japanese War as a transit point for the National Southwest Associated University students and faculty moving south. Renowned writer Zhu Ziqing once lived here, adding a layer of literary heritage to the site. Walking along the railway tracks, visitors can see the remnants of the tennis courts and the old customs house, imagining the unique blend of colonial lifestyle and local resilience that defined this "Open Air Museum".

A Photographer's Paradise

Today, Bisezhai has transformed from a busy logistics hub into a serene travel destination perfect for photography and history enthusiasts. The contrast between the mottled yellow walls and the iron rails creates a retro aesthetic that captures the essence of a bygone era. Visitors often dress in period costumes to take photos against the backdrop of the station signs and the long stretching tracks. It is a place where history is tangible, allowing travelers to touch the bricks of the past and witness the legacy of the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, which was once considered one of the three great engineering marvels of the world alongside the Suez and Panama Canals.