dali_ancient

Dali Ancient Town

Located in Dali Town of Dali City, it is a national historical and cultural city. Dali Ancient Town, also called Yeyu City, Zijing City or Zhonghe Town, is 13km to the north of Xiaguan, where Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture Government is located. Leaned against Cangshan Mountain and facing Erhai Lake, the Ancient Town with a perimeter of 6 km covers an area of 4 km2 and has a population of about 20,000. The Ancient Town was built in the 14th year during the reign of Dali in Tang Dynasty (779 A.D.). Historically, it was capitals of Nanzhao Kingdom and Dali Kingdom. During the 500 years between Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty, it was the political, economic and cultural center in Yunnan region. The layout of the Ancient Town is like a typical chessboard, with running from north to south and from east to west. The buildings feature roofs with green tiles of the same color and cobblestone walls. Civilian dwellings are mostly courtyard-type. Residents here love to plant flowers and trees. The small bridge and flowing stream in front of the gate look simple but elegant.

The spectacular and exquisite Ancient Town is home to numerous scenic spots including the Literature Building in the south, the East Gate, South Gate, West Gate and North Gate surrounding the Ancient Town, as well as the Wuhua Building, the Old Site of Marshal House in memory of Du Wenxiu's uprising against the Qing government, Yuer Park, Yangjia Huayuan (a restaurant well received among customers) and Foreigner Street inside. The climate in Dali is pleasant and it’s like spring all year round with fresh and moist air. With beautiful and warm environment, it is a rare and ideal destination for relaxation, resting therapies and sightseeing tours.