Dali
Dali's location between Cangshan Mountain and the alpine Erhai Lake makes it one of the most beautiful and relaxing places in China. Historically, Dali was the political and cultural center of Yunnan and is therefore endowed with many cultural sites and an intriguing historical heritage. In and around Dali are found the Three Pagodas, a religious site dating back to China's ancient 1,000 year old Tang Dynasty; Erhai Lake, the largest alpine lake in China famous for its crystal water, and much more. Dali is home to the Bai minorities who still wear their traditional dress and still practice time honored customs.
Special Feature
Dali is China's largest Bai ethnic community. Bai people's culture, tradtions thrive in this land.
Dali's role in Tea-horse Road
Dali was one of the significant staging points on the Tea-horse Road. Dali's importance on trade influenced trading caravans, largely because it served as the political, economical, cultural center of the region, which in addition brought it with a large number of merchants, engaging in this tea-horse trade. Merchants in Dali had the largest influence on business development of the region. Traders appeared as early as the Tang Dynasty in the Xizhou area in Dali region, and was considerably boosted during the Qing Dynasty when business affairs along the trading road reached its heyday. A bustling trade continues to this day, and the smart Xizhou merchants have formed their own ideas of how to do this type of business effectively.
Sights
Dali Ancient City
Between the luxuriant Cangshan Mountain and the azure Er'hai Lake, a pristine ancient city lives and breathes. It's one of the most authentic and flourishing towns in China. Over centuries, generations of kingdoms and states have risen and fallen in this area. Standing in the streets of the city, you can still feel its glorious past with its aged houses, ancient temples and gravel streets. This is the essential Dali ancient city.
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Three Pagodas
The Three Pagodas is an ensemble of three independent Tang-dynasty pagodas as if arranged at the corners of a symmetrical triangle. Stored inside the pagodas are valued Buddhist sculptures and scripts.
Erhai Lake
Erhai Lake is the second largest highland lake in China after the Dianchi Lake in Yunnan. Erhai Lake with its azure waters appears like a green sheet of vividly glittering jewels in the highlands.
Houses of Bai people in Xizhou
Bai architecture is famous for its pristine and elegant manner. The building complex in Xizhou is an good example of the traditional Bai architecture.
Transportation
Dali airport: Dali Airport is 13 kilometers to the east of Dali City . At present, there are only flights to Kunming and Xishuangbanna. Flights from Kunming to Dali only takes around 45 minutes. A taxi from Dali airport to the city will cost 60 yuan to 80 yuan.
Train: There are daily trains from kunming to Dali or vice verse. Trains to other tourists cities including Lijiang, Shangri-la are also available.
Highway: There are buses to/ fro Kunming and Lijiang.
More info on Dali transportation
Accommodation
Two options are available for travelers. One is to stay at a more comfortable hotel in Xiaguan, and the other is to take a room at a hotel in the ancient city to feel its authentic atmosphere. Generally speaking, hotels in Xiaguan offer better facilities than those within the ancient city.
Eating
The famous local specialties include Rushan-fan-shaped milk product, Eight Bowls of the Bai People and Sand-pot Fish. The Eight Bowls is the traditional Bai cuisine so often served to treat guests. The food is comprised of eight courses with red-braised pork as the main course. Food stalls selling a variety of local food and snacks cluster the ancient town.
Local Flavor
Three Cups of Tea of the Bai People
Three Cups of Tea is a traditional tea ceremony conducted by the Bai people to express their best wishes to the tea drinkers. The three cups of tea contain one bitter tea, one sweet tea and one aftertaste tea, and they are all served one after another. This unique tea-drinking convention has its cultural connotation of success and happiness often coming after hardship. Travelers to Dali are often greeted by this ceremony.
Batik of the Bai People
This is a very old way of dying cloth, which is still conducted by the ethnic people in China's remote regions such as Guizhou and Yunnan. In Dali, tourists can witness the ancient and complicated procedure engaging in batik, which is one significant part of the local Bai people's lifestyle.
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