Dali in western Yunnan province covers an area of nearly 30,000 square kilometers. For thousands of years it has been a gateway to cultural, commercial and trade exchanges between China and the South-eastern and South Asian region.
The south-western Silk Road and the Tea-Horse Path once met at Dali, and so it was from there that Sichuan Shu brocade and Yunnan Pu'er Tea were exported to India and Afghanistan. Since that time Dali has maintained its reputation as an "ancient capital at the crossroads of Asian culture."
The Dali Three Pagodas, located in the Chongsheng Temple at the foot of the Cangshan Mountain, have a history of over 1,800 years. They have been eyewitnesses to Dali's history and embody the development of Buddhism in the area.
As the name implies, the Three Pagodas are made up of three ancient independent pagodas forming a symmetrical triangle, an arrangement which is unique in China. In order to understand the pagodas more deeply, we visit the site with Zhang Hongxia who, although still a young lady, is already a senior tour guide with the Three Pagodas Park. She says the pagodas are not only a masterpiece of architecture, but also a place full of national treasures.
Travelling some 27 kilometers south of Dali will come to a popular beauty spot known locally as the "Butterfly Spring". Situated at the foot of Mount Shenmo, the spring rises to form a square shaped pool that is shaded by the dense foliage that lines its banks. The pool is some 50 square meters overall and above it is an ancient tree which continues to grow though it is lying on the ground. This is the famous "Butterfly Tree", so called because in the short interval when spring turns to summer; its fragrant blossoms attract thousands of butterflies.
Tie-dying is the traditional handicraft of the Bai people in Dali. The tie-dyes are not merely their daily attire, but also considered as precious relics of Chinese art. Tie-dying has a very long history, dating back over 1,000 years. Originally, Bai people carried out tie-dying in their own homes. Gradually, home-based workshops appeared and became so common that nearly every family had one. The designs and the color choices are now richer than before - not just single blue but blue, green, red, and brown and so on. You can see flaming tie-dyed tablecloths, handkerchiefs, door hangings and clothes hung out in the courtyards, waving in the wind.
Another must see place in Dali is the Ancient City. The City was established in 1382 AD during the Ming Dynasty as the capital of the Dali kingdom. The layout of the ancient city resembles a chessboard. There are five streets stretching from south to north, and 8 lanes from east to west, all paved with blue slab stones. Along them are typical Bai houses which have stone walls and dark blue tile roofs. Streams from the Cangshan Mountain flow through the streets and lanes and around the city into the Erhai Lake.
The lake covers an area of 250 square kilometers and is located about two kilometres east of Dali. Seen from Cangshan Mountain it lies like a crescent between Cangshan and Dali city. On a sunny day, the crystal waters of Erhai Lake and the snow mantled Cangshan Mountain radiate light evok their time honored description "Silver Cangshan and Jade Erhai".
Dali really is a place one must see during your lifetime. But what is Dali? It is hard to give a clear definition of a place with so many amazing features.