Vacation in Dali China with Asian Vacations, Inc.

Dali Attractions

Butterfly Spring

Butterfly Spring (Hudie Quan), 25km north of Dali, is surrounded by ancient camphor trees. By hiking under the last of Mt. Cangshan's 19 peaks and exploring the northern end of Erhai Lake, a visit here can be quite exciting. In spring when the trees put forth fragrant flowers, thousands of butterflies flutter among the branches and over the spring water forming a dazzling "Kingdom of Butterflies". The spectacle has become a true wonder known far and wide. The legend associated with the spring is that two lovers committed suicide here to escape a cruel king. After jumping into the bottomless pond, they turned into two of the butterflies which gather here each year during May. For centuries, the spring in a shady grove on the lower slopes of the Mt. Cangshan, has been justifiably famous because of the breathtaking convergence each spring of tens of thousands of butterflies. The phenomenon has been documented many times. At the southern end of the spring is a Museum of Butterflies displaying 45,000 butterfly samples belonging to 400 species and 11 families. Around April 15 each year, young Bai come here with their lovers to socialize, dance and sing. How to get there: You can walk to the Yunnan-Tibet Highway west of the ancient town of Dali (a 10 minute walk) and get onto almost any passenger bus heading north. The spring is 32km from the ancient town of Dali and if you tell the driver that you are heading to Hudiequan, then the bus will drop you off there for around �4. The Butterfly Spring is just by the main road. In peak season, there are minibuses running between Dali Gucheng and the Butterfly Spring. Cost: Entry fee �20. Opening Hours: 08:00 - 19:00.

Erhai Lake
Erhai (literally the Ear Lake), just as its name implies, is similar in form to that of an ear. As it is also 1,972 m above sea level the lake is also known as the "plateau pearl". Looking down from the Cangshan Mountains in the west, the lake resembles a huge silver mirror under the sun. It is a fresh water lake 2km east of Dali and, in the middle of it, there are islets and sandbars. Covering 250 sq. km, the blue, rippling lake and the snow-covered Mt. Cangshan add radiance and beauty to each other. The scene is, therefore, described as "Silver Cangshan and Jade Erhai". Three main islands and several temples and villages along the lake's dry eastern shore are worth visiting. About an hour by boat from Xianguan is Golden Shuttle Island (Jinsuo Dao), with a small fishing community on the east side and a cave for exploring. On the shore, directly north of the island, is a rocky peninsula crowned by a pavilion and temple. Sacred Buddhist buildings, destroyed and rebuilt many times, have stood on this spot for nearly 1,500 years. Luoyuan Temple was badly damaged during the Cultural Revolution but has been put back together and has a great charm. Visitors can have their fortunes told by an old priest who guides them in shaking and selecting a single bamboo stick from a bundle of 100. The numbered stick then corresponds to a specific fortune. A tiny, picturesque temple island, Xiao Putuo Dao, dating from the 15th Century, is devoted to Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy. The outside walls have been restored with pointed eaves and are especially nice. On the shore nearby is the fishing village of Haiyin, whose boatmen are steeped in the lore of the lake. One of their specialties is night fishing for the huge 40-kg (88 lb) 'green fish'. At the southern-most end of the lake is Erhai Park, which used to be a lonely miniature peninsular on the lake and a hunting resort for the King of the Nanzhao Kingdom. The Park that exists today was built in 1976 and includes an arboretum (with camellia, azalea and rare snow lotus), a zoo, a children's playground, and a public swimming pool. Winding paths weave through the hills in the park. The spot best for a good view of the Lake from the Park is Guanertai, a pagoda that overlooks the surrounding scenery. How to get there: The Erhai Lake park can be reached by taking Bus #6 from Xiaguan. The Lake can also be easily reached by foot or bike from the ancient city in less than 15 minutes. Opening Hours: 07:00 - 21:00.

The Erhai Lake Tour:
A tour of Erhai Lake is a great way to explore the entire Dali area. Tours start from the Xiaguan Erhai Lake Docks (Erhaihu Matou) where you board a rather nice passenger ferry at around 9 am. The boat cruises Erhai Lake and takes in various destinations on the lake mostly along the eastern shore, including Jinsuo Island, Little Putuo Island, Guanyin Ge and Nanzhao Fengqing Island. Lastly, the ship stops on the western bank of Erhai Lake near Butterfly Springs. There, you'll transfer onto a waiting bus to continue your trip to the Butterfly Springs, the ancient city of Dali (Gucheng) and the famous Three Pagodas and possibly a few other spots (this varies from tour to tour). Lastly, the bus goes back to Xiaguan at around 16:30. The tour costs �180 and can be booked at travel agencies throughout Xiaguan. The price includes boat fare, admission, bus fare, lunch, a Bai "three cups of tea" on the boat and a Chinese speaking guide. You can also choose to do an half-day tour which stops on the western banks of Erhai Lake near Butterfly Spring with no included lunch, but this half-day tour only costs around �90.

Cangshan Mountain
The Cangshan Mountain, also known as Diancangshan, is 2km west of Dali and forms the backdrop for Dali City. Together with Erhai Lake, the imposing mountain range makes Dali a true vacation getaway. The stunningly beautiful mountain boasts high snow capped peaks, shifting clouds, and babbling streams. With an average height of 4,000 m, it has a cluster of 19 soaring peaks. The highest peak, Malong, spires 4,122 m high. On Shengying peak, there is a huge chess board covering 460 square metres! Streams trickle down between every two peaks. With thick forest and vegetation, the mountain also boasts a botanical garden and a zoo. How to get there: A cable car is now available for the Cangshan Mountain day tours from Dali or Xiaguan. The cable car starts west of the ancient town of Dali and goes to Zhonghe Temple. It costs �35 for a round trip ticket. There, you can walk along Yudai Lu, a 18km newly built path on the waist of the mountain. Although none of the cultural sites along the road charge admission, it is quite impossible to visit all the sites on the mountain within a day. Cable car tickets can be arranged in the ancient town through the cafes and the travel agents of Dali. The cable car company has buses which the travel agents in Dali can arrange to come pick you up for your mountain tour. If you don't buy it in Dali, then the ticket may cost �39 for "insurance fees.

Three Pagodas
The three elegant pagodas arise on the Mt. Cangshan slope overlooking the Erhai Lake, known as Chong Sheng San Ta, the Three Pagodas of Saintly Worship. These outstanding landmarks of the region were once part of the greatest temple complex on the Dali plain. In recent times the Three Pagodas site has become extremely popular with tourists, and inevitably is becoming overrun with stalls selling marble wares. The tallest of the three, Qianxun Pagoda, has 16 tiers that reach a height of 69.13 m (230 ft). Its structure is similar to the Small Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province. It is built in an architectural style typical of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). The two smaller pagodas to its west and north, each 42 m (135 ft) high with ten tiers, have a luxurious appearance with their exquisite carvings. They were built in the Five Dynasties (907-960). More than 600 rare relics of the states of Nanzhao and Dali were discovered in the three pagodas during the 1978 reconstruction, making them even more famous. Pagodas are among the most ubiquitous structures throughout the Buddhist world. Their Sanskrit name is stupa, originally a mound or round dome or cylinder on a square base with a shaft emerging upward. Stupas probably evolved in India from prehistoric times as burial mounds for local rulers and heroes. Legend says that in the 5th Century BC Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha, asked to have his ashes interred in a stupa. Since that time stupas have become symbols of the Buddha, reminders of his earthly existence, cult objects, and places of devotion. As Buddhism spread through Asia, the shape of stupas adapted to local architecture, giving rise to the huge variety of styles. Generally speaking there are three types of stupas, or pagodas, in China. The Storied style: This results from traditional Chinese storied architecture and is marked by panoramic views form large windows and outer railings at each level. The Pavilion style: This is also known as the 'single-layered stupa', with one story only. The Close-eaved or (Miyi) style, or multi-eaved style: These pagodas are characterized by a spacious first story, low subsequent stories and all eaves spaced closely to one another. Windows are small or nonexistent and the interior space is cramped and dark. Colse-eaved pagodas are an early style whose popularity rested on the extreme simplicity and gracefulness of form. They are best viewed from a distance where their lines can be seen in relief against a mountain or the far horizon. The Chongsheng Santa are clearly of the third type. The pagodas were founded for two main reasons. First, they were holy structures that invoked the Buddha's protection against the frequent disasters of floods and earthquakes. A carved marble inscription in front of Qianxunta bears the four Chinese characters "yong zhen shan chuan", meaning "subdue Forever the Mountains and the Rivers". Secondly, the pagodas were reliquaries for the ashes and bones of saints and a storehouse for scriptures and precious objects. Admission: �10

The Tie-dying in Zhoucheng
Bai-style houses greet you as you enter Zhoucheng. Peddlers can be seen busily roaming the trade fairs. If you get the chance, make sure you join the Bai people in their special wedding ceremonies. Get a taste of the local Bai foods. Enjoy the thrill and satisfaction of buying the folk handicrafts of the Bai people - a reflection of their artistic creativity. In particular, you must not miss watching how the Bai people make their tie-dye cloths. Tie-dying is the traditional handicraft of the Bai. Everyone who comes to visit Zhoucheng must make the effort to see this handicraft. The tie-dyes are not merely daily attire of the Bai people - they are art pieces, considered as precious relics in Chinese art. Tie-dying has a very long history, dating back to over 1,000 years ago. In the beginning, Bai people carried out tie-dying in their own houses. The material used is pure white cotton cloth; the dye color used is blue. The designs are simple, fade-proof and bucolic. Gradually, home-based workshops appeared and became so common that nearly every family had one. Working procedures became more and more complicated with increased demand. The first step involves drawing the colorful and diversified designs on each piece of cloth. Unlike other tie-dying designs comprising only dots and scrambled graphics, familiar features like flowers, animals and plants, e.g. bees, butterflies, bamboos and lilies are incorporated - wonderful and lively! The second step is to tie the cloth with thread - not too tightly not too loosely. Thirdly, it involves the dyeing of the cloth with the paint made of Banlangen (a kind of Chinese medicine). The smell is good for your skin and health. Finally, the threads have to be removed and the cloth hung out to dry. In Dali, all the girls have mastered the technique. In recent years, "family factories" have begun to spring up. The choices and designs are richer than before - not single blue but blue, green, red, brown and so on. You can see flaming tie-dyed tablecloth, handkerchief, portiere and clothes hung out in the courtyards, waving in the wind. What attractive folk art! The delicate, colorful, unique and historical significance of the tie-dye cloth appeals to many travelers from abroad. Many foreign orders are received for the sale of these tie-dye cloths. For those who are interested in Chinese traditional folk culture, Zhoucheng and Xizhou are places you have to visit. These two places have the most typical and deepest cultural characteristics of the Bai nationality. Zhoucheng Village lies near Butterfly Spring, 30km (19 miles) north of Dali on the main road, ruled by Xizhou Town. It is the biggest natural village of Dali, and also "the Hometown of Tie-dying". Of course, Zhoucheng also has a lot of attractions besides tie-dying, such as interesting architecture, namely Bai-style houses, When you enter a Bai residence it is typical to find each laneway paved with flagstone, deviously in line, the entrance of which has a gate tower and screened walls. The ornamental gate tower, on which there are flying buttresses, carved beams and painted rafters, is an important feature in the architecture of Bai. Many giant green trees grow inside the village, spreading their flourishing branches and leaves just like a huge umbrella. The local people are also very hospitable. You will always be welcomed to their homes for delicious tea and some special food.

The Yan's Compound of Bai Minority in Xizhou
According to a public survey, "if you have 101 things to do in Dali, what's the most important of all?" 100% answered "to visit Zhoucheng and Xizhou." Surely, it's a "must" for the travelers. Because you can enjoy lovely ethical clothes, fairylike programs, decorative architectures, gifted garden parties and wonderful handicrafts in here. Located at only 18km north of Dali, Xizhou faces Erhai on the east and rests on Cangshan in the west. It's not only a historically famous city but also a typical commercial center of Bai Nationality. Speaking of Xizhou, people of course take importance to the Bai-style architectures. Examples are Yan's compound, Hou's compound and Dong's compound. The Bai houses are very distinctive. Entering Xizhou, capacious courtyard and peaceful streets treat visitors with calmness and elegance which were typical in the ancient times. The Yan's compound lies in the central part of Xizhou. It is made up of five courtyards from north to south, including Sanfangyizhaobi (compounds with three houses on each side and a screen wall facing the main house), Sihewutianjing (compounds with four houses in the center and five light wells in each corner) and an independent three-storied western-style building. Each of the houses puts great emphasis on designing the front gate of the compound, because it shows the owner's economic status and also is the symbol of bringing honor to his ancestor. Doors, windows and walls are designed delicately and beautifully. The doors and windows are engraved with the figures of different birds and flowers. The walls are decorated with wash paintings. All of these reveal the superb skills and creative talents of the Bai Nationality. Besides visiting the Bai-style architectures, visitors also have chances to touch the living styles of the local people, taste their special food, and drink their unique tea. "Three Courses of Tea" is very dainty; it's different from other Chinese tea. The first course smells a little bitter; the second course is a bit sweet (adding candy and walnut pieces in it); and the third course is memorable (with condiments in it). Maybe you have drunk black tea, green tea, jasmine tea or other kinds of Chinese tea, but "three courses of tea" gives you a different feel. It's just like life, bitter first and sweet later. You must taste slowly. Meanwhile, when you taste the tea, you can also enjoy the Bai's singing and dancing performances, and take part in some local evenings and activities. In the day-time, you can go to the commercial center to buy what you want, such as marble wares, which enjoy great popularity among the visitors. The Bai is a minority reveling in art. The Yan's compound stands for the Bai's traditional residential characteristics and is a combination of Chinese and western architectural style. In 1987, it was announced by the State Council to be one of the third group of State Monuments. Admission: �5

Foreigner's Street
One of the ancient city of Dali's core attractions for foreign travelers is Huguo Lu, also known with locals as Yangren Jie or "Foreigner's Street". This street is where the famous cafes and guesthouses cluster along with souvenir shops and other interesting stores to create a little tourist paradise. Huguo Lu is the major reason that Dali has developed into a backpacker's paradise with cheap beer, Western food, and lodging. Currently, forty thousand tourists visit Dali annually and "Foreigner's Street" has expanded into neighboring streets including Bo'ai Lu and Fuxing Lu. How to get there: Huguo Lu is located in the northern part of the ancient town between Bo'ai Lu and Fuxing Lu. Since the ancient town is quite small, you can access the street by foot, from any point in the town.

Jizu Mountain
Jizu Mountain (Jizu Shan) is one of the four sacred Buddhist mountains of Chinese Buddhism. It's name comes from the fact that this volcanic mountain is shaped like a chicken's foot with three hills on one side and a single hill at the back. Many of the temples on the mountain were first built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), reaching their heyday during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) and Qing Dynasties. However, during the cultural revolution, many were razed to the ground. Now what still remains are the Jiuling Temple, Zunsheng Temple and Huideng Temple and a few other smaller temples. Besides these Buddhist attractions, you can also climb to the top of the mountain in the early morning and watch the sunrise. It is possible to make a round trip to the mountain top within a day, but lodging in the Bingchuan County is inevitable. How to get there: The Mountain is 33km from Bingchuan County Town (about 70km east of Xiaguan). You can take a public bus from the main bus station on Jianshe Lu in Xiaguan to Bingchuan County Town. The trip takes about 2 hours and costs �15. From Bingchuan County Town, many minibuses run daily trips to the mountain, also for �15. Cost: �30 entry fee and �15-30 dorm beds in Bingchuan.

Nanzhao Dehua Stele
Nanzhao Dehua Stele (Dehuabei) records the defeat of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) Chinese army to the Nanzhao Kingdom, known as the Tianbao War. The distribution of various ethnic groups in Yunnan at the time of the war was also inscribed on the stele. Therefore, this stele is an important relic for researching the social system, politics, economy, culture and religions of the Nanzhao Kingdom. In modern times, it has become famous as a historic relic as well as one of Dali's many tourist attractions. How to get there: The Stele is located halfway from Xiaguan to the ancient town of Dali. Get off your bus to Dali at the stop for the Stele. It is also included in many local Dali and Xiaguan tours. Opening Hours: 08:00 - 18:00.

Shibao Mountain
Shibao Mountain is famous for its natural beauty as well as the local Buddhist caves, sculpture and temples. Amongst rocks of various strange shape and size, the slopes of the mountain are covered with azaleas and other green vegetation. There are two main tourist attractions on the mountain, namely the Shizhong Caves and Baoxiang Temple. The caves were created during the Sung Dynasty (960-1279 AD). Altogether there are 16 caves with 136 Buddhist statues. If you mount the ninety-nine steps to the top, you'll pass an interesting ancient stone pagoda. An annual folk song festival is also held here, attracting thousands of Chinese and ethnic minority people and tourists. It is possible to finish the trip in a day, but many travelers choose to stay a night on the mountain, and some of the temples have accommodation. How to get there: The mountain is 25km south of Jianchuan County Town. Take a bus to Jianchuan County from the main bus station in Xiaguan and then take the local bus heading towards the mountain. The first leg of the trip should take a couple of hours and the second leg should take about an hour.

Weibao Mountain
Located in Weishan county about 61km south of Xiaguan, Weibao Mountain (Weibaoshan) is one of the most renowned scenic spots in the Dali area. It is also one of China's most famous Daoist holy mountains. This is the birthplace of Xinluo, the first, legendary King of Nanzhao Kingdom. For centuries, scholars from throughout China and the world have visited Weibao Mountain. Wenchan Hall on the mountain, is dedicated to a former regional Daoist ruler, and it is here, that one can find the "Mural of Dancing", the only ancient Daoist mural in Yunnan. Focusing on the ancient folk customs of the Yi people, the mural is uniquely vivid and lifelike. The palace was designed according to Daoist geometric principles. On the mountain slopes, Qingxia Temple is also known as Laojun Temple, dedicated to the highest of Daoist gods. The interior of the temple is solemn and stately. If you happen to visit this place in the second month of the Chinese lunar calendar, you may catch a glimpse of Daoist pilgrims paying homage. How to get there: Take a bus from the main bus station in Xiaguan to Weishan County Town. There, you'll find lots of minibuses that can take you to Weibao Mountain about 8km south of town. The trip costs �6 and takes about half an hour.

Xizhou
Xizhou, aside from Dali, is another great place to observe typical Bai folk culture and architecture. A typical Bai courtyard home consists of rooms on three sides and a decorative screen wall on the south side. These homes have carved beams, turned up eaves, and look splendid in their green, gold, blue and white paint. Numerous intriguing Bai festivals are held in Xizhou, almost one major festival each month. The one most worth mentioning is the "Three Spirits Festival" in April, when local young men and women gather together to choose their lovers and future spouses. During the festival, local people perform all manner of Bai folk dances wearing their very best clothing. Xizhou is also home to embroidery and wax dying which can be used to make and decorate shoes, hats, clothing, tablecloths, tapestries and bed sheets. Not far from Xizhou, Zhoucheng is yet another good place to see well-preserved Bai houses and architecture. The local Erhai fish is fantastic and a regular bazaar is held here regularly. How to get there: From the ancient town, take the Yunnan-Tibet Highway which lies west of town and wait for buses heading north. Xizhou is 26km north of ancient Dali. Tell the bus operators that you are going to Xizhou and the buses will drop you off at an intersection where pedicabs wait to take travelers into Xizhou. From that point, Xizhou is about 2km east of the highway and costs a mere �1. Opening Hours: While the towns themselves don't have "opening hours" per se, things quieten down early in the small town of Xizhou.