County-level
Da Li City
The majestic Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple overlook blue waters of Lake Erhai below Cangshan snows in Dali, cradle of Bai culture.
Spatial Framework & Civilizational Geography · Prefecture-level
Dali
Follow lakeside wetlands and water-town craft, and Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture's regional layers come into view.
Regional story
A place shaped through time
Within the regional setting of Yunnan, the spatial identity of Dali is first captured by this local fact: “Follow lakeside wetlands and water-town craft, and Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture's regional layers come into view.” It points to an observable local combination in which the setting of Dali is shaped by both environment and lived practice. Historical development brought natural conditions and human activity into repeated negotiation, leaving traces in settlement, routes, and memory. Specific places and continuing lives turn a broad regional relationship into experience that can be observed and checked. The meaning of Dali rests in specific places and continuing life, not only in its name or formal classification.
Dali
12 counties
Affiliated Regions
County-level
County-level
Yang Bi Yi Zu Autonomous County
Spectacular red rhododendrons blossom on western slopes of Mount Cangshan near Shimen Pass glass walkway in Yangbi, Walnut Capital.
County-level
Xiang Yun County
Ancient stone paving marks the Silk Road caravans at Yunnan Post Town in Xiangyun, namesake origin of Yunnan near Mount Shuimushan pagoda forest.
County-level
Bin Chuan County
Mount Jizu 4A enshrines the sacred monastery of Mahakasyapa atop cliff-ringed Huashou Gate in Binchuan, famous for sun-sweetened table grapes.
County-level
Mi Du County
The celebrated folk ballad Little Flowing Brook originated in Midu, acclaimed Home of Lantern Opera preserving the Tang-era Nanzhao Iron Pillar.
County-level
Nan Jian Yi Zu Autonomous County
Pink winter cherry blossoms bloom across tea plantations in Wuliangshan Cherry Blossom Valley in Nanjian, famed for acrobatic Nanjian Tiaocai dance.
County-level
Wei Shan Yi Zu Hui Zu Autonomous County
The grand timber gates of Gongchen Tower crown Weishan Ancient City in Weishan, ancestral cradle of the Nanzhao Kingdom beside Taoist Mount Weibaoshan.
County-level
Yong Ping County
Ancient caravan tracks of Bonan Ancient Road cross historic river chains in Yongping, Home of spicy Huangmen Braised Chicken below Mount Baotaishan.
County-level
Yun Long County
The natural Yin-Yang meander of Bijiang River wraps around green ridges in Yunlong, home to ancient salt wells of Nuodeng Ancient Village.
County-level
Er Yuan County
Crystal waters of Lake Zibihu feed the headwaters of Lake Erhai in Eryuan, Hot Spring County acclaimed for carved sweet Bai plum candy.
County-level
Jian Chuan County
Nanzhao rock reliefs at Mount Shibaoshan Grottoes 4A and the preserved market square of Shaxi Ancient Town anchor woodcarving heritage in Jianchuan.
County-level
He Qing County
One thousand years of silversmith hammer strokes echo across Xinhua Silver Village in Heqing, bordered by wetland reed waters at Caohai Lake.
Dali
3 Matrix Entries
Atlas Matrix
Shaxi Ancient Town
The only surviving market town on the Tea Horse Road — a dense plaza unit of red-earth fortress, ancient stage, and horse inns, a high-altitude international trade router carved by muleteers' flesh and blood.
Three Pagodas of Dali
The Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple in Dali — standing tall through dozens of violent earthquakes over a millennium, the spiritual landmark by which the Nanzhao and Dali kingdoms formatted the wild southwest frontier with grand brick geometry.
Dali Ancient City
Capital of the Nanzhao and Dali kingdoms; a scholarly city between Cangshan and Erhai; the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple embody a millennium of Buddhist heritage.