Old Town of Dali

Dali Ancient City is a historic town that stands between Canshan Mountain to the west and Erhai Lake to the east. It dates back to the year 1382 at the time of the Ming Dynasty, and is rich in the culture of the Bai ethnic minority. It is also the ancient capital of Nanzhao Kingdom and Dali Kingdom.

Its great city wall, traditional Bai houses and beautiful scenery make it a strong draw for visitors. It's a perfect place for a walking tour during which you can appreciate the Bai architecture, the shops, cafes and bars, as well as the temples and old courtyard homes converted to hotels. Dali Ancient City is one of China's most popular attractions.

Dali's city wall is nearly four miles long, 25 feet high and 20 feet thick, with four main city gate towers.

With its traditional Bai houses with their green-gray tile roofs Dali is unique among all cities of China. Walking the cobblestone streets and old houses of the ancient city creates a feeling of being transported through time to a much simpler world of the deep past. Traditional arts and crafts are available for purchase in shops along the ancient streets.

In ancient times Dali Ancient City was a gateway to the Silk Road in Southwest China. It was also a seat of government and a major military base for Yunnan Province. The city is itself a museum of ancient Dali culture, but within the city are also some very special museums, including the Dali Museum, the China Dali Rural Film History Museum and the Dali Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum.  

Cangshan Mountain west of Dali Ancient City is actually made up of 19 peaks and 18 streams. The highest of the peaks is Malong Peak at an elevation of 13,524 feet. In May and June the mountain is carpeted with brilliantly colored flowers, with the bright pink azaleas dominating the show. In the winter the dazzling display of snow on the mountain is as thrilling as the flowers in summer.