The Skybrim Market in Jiuquan looks festive on the surface, colorful lanterns and bustling stalls, but the real action is happening in whispered conversations, hidden corners, and temples that only open up at specific hours. There are 20 Anecdotes to find across this area, and missing even a few means leaving Echo Jade and Hexi Exploration XP on the table. This guide covers every single one, in order, with the NPC names and time-of-day requirements you need to trigger them.
How do you unlock the Jiuquan area in Where Winds Meet?
Before you can chase any of these Anecdotes, you need to reach Jiuquan first. You must speak to the Wanderer's Eagle to unlock the map, then use the Floating Glow cup to reveal the path into the area. Once you're in, the Skybrim Market Boundary Stone becomes your main navigation anchor for most of the Anecdotes listed below.
All Jiuquan Anecdote Locations
Anecdotes near the Skybrim Market Boundary Stone (northeast path)
These five Anecdotes are clustered along the northeastern route from the Boundary Stone. Work through them in sequence and you'll clear the cluster efficiently.
Turbulent Times starts things off. Head northeast from the Boundary Stone along the mountainside path, go up the stairs on your left, turn left past the soldiers, cross the pathway, and wrap around the building on the left. Eavesdrop on the meeting taking place there.
Thriving Prosperity is just down the path from there. Find the group of people near some crates and speak to Mi Luoduo about trade routes to Skybrim Market. This NPC only appears during Wu (late morning) hours, so adjust the time if she's not there.
Mirage Mirror Pavilion requires no interaction, just proximity. Continue forward from Mi Luoduo's spot until you find two armored soldiers discussing the Mirror Tower and the destruction of the Flying Mirror Pavilion. Listen in and the Anecdote completes.
Court's Apprehension follows immediately after. Stay on the same path and stand by a nearby door to eavesdrop on two Guiyi Army soldiers having a private conversation.
Circus is the trickiest of this cluster. Retrace your steps back to the main mountainside path and continue upward to find a circus tent. Speak to the little girl there, but note that the Hidden Acts Encounter quest must be completed first. The quest itself can be found near the circus tent location.
Where Winds Meet Guide: All 20 Jiuquan Anecdote Locations
Anecdotes south of the Boundary Stone (temple route)
This cluster runs south from the Boundary Stone and weaves through a temple area. Time-of-day requirements are heavy here.
Merchant's Thoroughfare kicks off this section. Head south from the Boundary Stone toward the fork near Silkworm Lad's Grocery Stall on the right side. Find the merchants there and speak to Dou Tuotuo.
Coexistence of Zoroastrianism and Buddhism is next. From Dou Tuotuo, follow the path to a temple and listen to Wuhui's words. This one only triggers during You (early evening) hours.
Zhang Gui Builds the City uses the same temple location but requires Zi (late night) hours. Head inside the temple and speak to Wuhui again.
Undercurrents of the Celebration sends you outside the temple. Look left for two NPCs, then follow the path downward and find Nobu Shuang for a conversation.
This Loyalty Is Hard to Return is up the path from there, turning right toward the temple. Find Jiacuo the Scarred and speak to him.
Beneath Calm Waters keeps you at the temple. Switch the time to Zi (late night) and eavesdrop on a conversation happening inside.
Purity Pagoda Anecdotes
These two Anecdotes require traveling to a separate location via the Flowing Glow cup near the temple from the Zhang Gui Builds the City Anecdote. Take the pathway by two merchants heading up the cliff, interact with the cup, and you'll be transported to Purity Pagoda.
Purification of Sins requires you to interact with Zen Master Huiyuan and Shijue inside the pagoda's temple. This only triggers during Wei (early morning) hours.
Night Rain keeps you inside the same temple. Speak to Jingqian, who only appears during Zi (late night) hours.
warning
Purity Pagoda has two Anecdotes at different times of day. Plan to visit twice, once during Wei and once during Zi, or change the time between encounters on the same visit.
Anecdotes across the bridge from the Boundary Stone
Cross the bridge from the Skybrim Market Boundary Stone to reach this final cluster. These are some of the most entertaining to find because several involve climbing onto canopies to eavesdrop.
Originating from the Raging Tides requires finding Yang Sangang, a disciple of the Raging Tides Sect. He's on the left side of the bridge but underneath it, and only appears around Si (mid-morning) hours.
Patricide Feud is at the intersection past the bridge. Spot the merchant selling traditional dragon masks on the left, then jump onto the stall's canopy and wait to eavesdrop on a secret conversation.
Unmarried... Resentment? mirrors the previous Anecdote. Across from the dragon mask merchant, find Qiang Bu and Lai Yibei, then climb or jump onto the canopy nearby and eavesdrop.
Eternal Song is a left turn from the merchant's position in the previous Anecdote. Head down to a platform and speak to Tang Yue during You (early evening) hours.
Land of Fine Wine sends you back toward the market area. Turn left and look behind some large crates to find Pu Zi. Strike up a conversation and it records to your Journal.
Mending Armor and Tending Fields is directly across from Pu Zi. Speak to Sun Mengliang, who will show you a diagram left to him by his master.
Drumbeats Control the Market wraps up all 20 Anecdotes at the main temple in Jiuquan. Cross the bridge from the Skybrim Market Boundary Stone, find the drums beside a soldier, and interact with them.
Journal Anecdote completion screen
What do you get for completing all Jiuquan Anecdotes?
Finishing all 20 Anecdotes rewards you with Echo Jade and XP toward your Hexi Exploration progress. They also contribute to completing various quests and unlocking every Boundary Stone teleport point in the area. Once collected, every Anecdote is viewable in the Experience tab of the Journal, under the Steed's Pass, Liangzhou Town section.
The Jiuquan Anecdotes are worth the effort, not just for the Echo Jade, but because several of them feed directly into quest progression that unlocks fast travel points you'll use constantly. If you're working through the rest of the Hexi Expansion content, browse more guides on GAMES.GG to keep your progress moving.