Dali

Attractions in Dali Overview

Dali Old Town is a historic town located in Yunnan Province, China. It served as an important trading post on the ancient Tea Horse Road fromTang Dynasty to the early 20th century.The town features a unique blend of Bai ethnic minority architecture and traditional Chinese elements, including stone bridges, pagodas, and temples.

Visitors to Dali Old Town can explore the ancient city walls, which date back to the Ming Dynasty, and visit many historic sites, such as the Three Pagodas and the Erhai Lake. The town also offers a range of cultural experiences, such as traditional music and dance performances, as well as workshops featuring local crafts.

Today, Dali Old Town is also known for its vibrant arts scene, with many galleries and studios showcasing the work of local artists. Visitors can sample delicious Bai cuisine at local restaurants or shop for traditional handicrafts at the bustling markets.

Overall, Dali Old Town offers visitors a chance to experience China's rich cultural heritage and natural beauty. Its unique blend of history, architecture, and culture make it a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Yunnan Province.

Three Pagodas of Chong Sheng Temple

Shaxi Town

Cangshan Mountain

Erhai Lake

Three Pagodas of Chong Sheng Temple

The Three Pagodas of Chong Sheng Temple are an ensemble of threeindependent pagodas located about 1.5 km (0.93 mi) north of Dali City, Yunnanprovince. They are at the east foot of the tenth peak of the massive CangshanMountains and face the west shore of the Erhai Lake of the ancient Dali town.

The Three Pagodas are made of brick and coveredwith white mud. As its name implies, the Three Pagodas comprise threeindependent pagodas forming a symmetric triangle. The elegant, balanced andstately style is unique in China’s ancient Buddhist architectures, which makesit a must-see in the tour of Dali.

Shaxi Town

Shaxi is a historical market town in Jianchuan County, Dali Prefecture, Yunnan province. The town is located roughly in between Dali and Lijiang. The Sideng market square of the town of Shaxi was added to the World Monuments Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites in 2001.Shaxi started as a trading point for tea and horses during the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907). The prosperity of the town was at its height during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1912). Nearby Shibao mountain contains Buddhist rock carvings and temples of over 1300 years old with, amongst others, images of the bodhisattva Guanyin. The two main ethnic groups of Shaxi are the Bai and Yi people.

Cangshan Mountain

Cangshan is a mountain range immediately west of Dali City in Yunnanprovince of Southwest China.
The highest summit, Malong, is 4,122 m, and themountain includes another 18 peaks all over 3,500 m altitude. The mountain isnoted for its very rich, diverse flora. There is a paved walkway running northand south from the top chairlift station near ancient Dali. This walkway passesseveral waterfalls, and overlooks Erhai Lake and the ancient city itself. Thiswalkway is named "Jade-Cloud Road" after the cloud formations thatappear over the Cangshan peaks.

Erhai Lake

TheErhai Lake is named after its ear-like shape. It is the second largest lake inYunnan Province.

The lakeshore can be explored by hiking. Highlights include Erhai Lake Park andthe Butterfly Springs on the Western bank. Islands on the lake – includingGuanyin Ge, Jinsuo Island ("Golden Shuttle Island"), Nanzhao FengqingIsland and Xiaoputuo Island – are also available for visits, via a boat cruiseon the lake.