Jiànshuǐ

Jianshui was a southern Yunnan town on the road from Kunming toward the Red River. Founded as Huili under Nanzhao, it became a department under the Yuan dynasty.

In 1382 the Ming moved the seat of Lin'an Prefecture to Jianshui, stationed the Lin'an Guard there and rebuilt its walls in brick. Also known as Lin'an, the town became a political and cultural centre of southern Yunnan, with a large Confucian temple and a reputation for examination success. Jianshui Department became a county in 1770.