In the centre of Guandu Ancient Town, the Diamond Throne Pagoda — Jingang Bao Zuo Ta — is a unique Ming-dynasty Indian-style stupa, the only example of its kind in southern China. The structure is a tall central pagoda flanked by four smaller ones on a single square platform, with a barrel-vaulted gateway cut through the middle of the base. It was built in 1457 by a Buddhist monk who had travelled to India.
The pagoda is small — barely sixteen metres tall — but unusual enough to be worth a brief stop. Inscribed Sanskrit and Tibetan mantras run around the base. Free to view; combine with a walk through the surrounding restored old streets and a meal of Yunnanese snacks from one of the food stalls around the pagoda square.