Guandu — "the official ferry" — was the medieval port on the northeast shore of Dianchi Lake, the main landing for boats coming up from the lake to the city of Kunming, six kilometres further north. The lake has long since receded and the old town is now an inland district, but the core of low-rise stone houses, temples, and narrow alleyways has been preserved (and somewhat over-restored) as a tourist quarter.
The standout sight is the Diamond Throne Pagoda — Jingang Ta — a Ming-dynasty Indian-style stupa from 1457, with a tall central pagoda flanked by four smaller ones on a single high platform. It is the only example of this architectural form in southern China. The streets around it offer cheap Yunnan noodles, snack food, and folk-craft shops. Easy reach by metro from the city centre.