Dali

City of Dali China:
Population 3.3 Million

Status:

Prefecture City:
Contains subordinate cities, all of which address to the city of Dali, due to the address organization of China and state policies.

Dali is the only autonomous Bai prefecture in China. It encompasses an area of 29,500 square kilometers and lays claim to all residents of that region, by state decree. the city is recognized as a top 24 cultural city by the Chinese Government.

Demographics.

Of the 3.3 million population, 50 percent are people of the minority groups, and the remaining 50 is precent , People of the Han. The population of the Bai minority groups accounts for one-third of the total.

History:

The prefecture if the birtheplace if the history and culture of Yunnan Province. It has a time-honored history.

As early as the Neolithic Age, ancestors of the Bai, Yi,and and other minority groups began to settle there. When the Qin Dynasty (221-207 B. C.)unified China, it brought the Dali area into its territory .

Durying the Han Dynasty (206 B. C.-A. D. 220),a prefecture and counties were established in the area.

Nanzhao State that appeared around Erhai Lake lasted for 515 years between the Tang Dynasty (618-907)

Song Dynasty (960-1279).

At that time ,Dali was the political, economic, and cultural center of Yunnan Province.

Cultural Status

At present, the ancient town of Dali and the Weishan county town are famous historical and cultural towns in China. The prefecture features a splendid culture.

people of various ethnic groups represented by the Bai minority group, were under a long-time influence of the culture in the Central Plains. They carried out extensively Culture contacts with People of various ethnic groups in the border area and fostered a brilliant culture of Nanzhao and Dali states.

The prefecture became a "land of historical documents," thriving with talented people. It was referred to as "an ancient capital at the crossroad of culture in Asia."

There are a rich collection of culture relics and historical sites, a great variety of unearthed artifacts, and a large number of well-preserved unique historical buildings.

The prefecture also boasts of rich folk customs, such festivals and celebrations as:

Unprecedented Third Month Fair,
Joyful Raosanling (Walking around Three Souls) Festival,

Hudie (Butterfly)Fair,

Three courses of tea services with singing and dancing,

The grand Torch Festival,

the unique Benzhu (village God) Festival,

The Pilgrimage-Making Festival which attracts many people to Jizu and Weibao mountains,

the Shibao mountain Singing Contest full of wit and humor,

the lively Festive Lantern Fair held in the first lunar month in Midu County

the Shuahai (Playing on the Lake) Fair,

the Zaiyang (Rice Seedling Transplanting) Festival,

the Gegen Fair,

the Eighth of the Second Month Fair ,

the Chaohua (Flower Admiration) Fair.

Each of the fairs and festivals has a beautiful legend of its own, and each legend is of great appeal. At present, the fairs and festivals have become gatherings for people to conduct businesses and trade or participate in cultural and sports activities.

Resources

The prefecture abounds in natural resources. There grow more than 3,000 species of seed plants. It is known as a home to azalea, orchid, and camellia. The prefecture has a forest coverage of 48.7%. It has an abundant growth of forests of economic value and fruit trees. It is rich in mineral and hydro-energy resources. The prefecture commands a favorable geographical position.

Location

Dali City , the capital of the prefecture, is 338 kilometers from Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province. The distance of the air route between the two cities is only 275 kilometers. dali City was a vital communications hub on the ancient road between Sichuan Province and India and an ancient bridle path for the shipment of tea. It was the only passage on the southern route of the ancient Silk Road in China leading to Southeast and South Asia at India and an ancient bridle path for the shipment of tea. It was the only passage on the southern route of the ancient Silk Road in china leading to Southeast and south Asia.

Modern Infastructure

A transportation network of highways, railroads, and air routes has taken shape. Dali city is a communications hub and a material distribution center in western Yunnan Province and a thoroughfare from Yunnan to Tibet in the north and Southeast and South Asia in the south. There are expressways , railroads, and airports that link the prefecture with the rest of China.

Notable Tourism Info

The prefecture has an enchanting landscape.there are many places of historic interest and scenic beauty. Cangshan mountain and Erhai Lake, Jizu Mountain, Shibao Mountain, Weibao Mountain, and Cibi Lake are the five major scenic resorts. Dali City is among the first group of top tourist cities in China.

Weather and Climate:

There is neither excessive heat in summer nor intolerable cold in winter, with a mean annual rainfall of 1,000 millimeters. A Spring-like climate prevails throughout the year.

Development Prospectus:

The prefecture has a broad prospect of development. The diligent, kindhearted, and intelligent people of various ethnic groups have lived in the prefecture, a miraculous and beautiful land, and created a new, happy life today.

In 2001, the prefecture registered a gross domestic product of 14.5 billion yuan and a fiscal revenue of 2.2 billion yuan, holding third and second places among China’s 30 autonomous prefectures inhabited by the people of minority groups.

With the deepening of the development of West China, a strategy formulated by the Party and state, the prefecture will become a hot spot for investment in the southwestern border area. The people of various ethnic groups there will advance toward an infinite beautiful future alongside People in other parts of china.

Glowing Praises and Artistic culture

Men of letters in and outside of China, including the Italian Marco Polo, Xu Xiake, and Guo Moruo, visited the prefecture and were overwhelmed with admiration by its unique charm. They left behind them many literary works in praise of the prefecture.

A Painting Scroll by Zhang Shengwen from Dali State is a priceless treasure in China’s painting collection.

The feature film Five Godlen Flowers with a theme on the Bai minority group and a novel by Jin Yong made the prefecture known far and near. Water Running in a Riverlet, a folk song in Midu County won a high reputation for the prefecture in China and abroad. All these helped enrich china’s cultural house and have become immortal literary works.

A picture book like this one is far from enough to help people understand the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture. The book edited by the Tourism Administration and Foreign Affairs Office of the dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture features a collection of the beautiful pictures by a photographer, serving as a window on or a boat which will carry the tourists into the prefecture, and ancient, miraculous, and picturesque land.

The time-honored history of Dali will make tourists to the prefecture lost in thought, its brilliant culture will make them reluctant to leave, the mind thronged with thoughts, and the magnificent natural landscape will make them to feel that there is no time for them to take in with their eyes. The hospitable people of various ethnic groups in the prefecture welcome guests from afar.