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39-529: Xiaguan ( 下关镇 ), formerly transliterated as Hsia-kuan, is the modern city centre and usually conflated with Dali City by virtue of being its seat. This town is the destination of most long-distance transportation heading to Dali and is sometimes referred to as Dali New Town ( 大理新镇 ) to avoid confusion. Dali Town ( 大理镇 ), formerly known as Tali , is another division of Dali City, located 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Xiaguan. This town, commonly referred to as Dali Old Town ( 大理古城 ) to distinguish it from

78-460: A massive earthquake in 1925 . Rail and then air transport have permitted the area (particularly Dali Old Town) to become accessible to tourists in the 20th century. It is now one of China's official tourist cities and, along with nearby Lijiang , one of the most popular towns. In order to preserve the appeal of the old town, industrial development is restricted to newer townships such as Xiaguan . Building codes mandate that new construction in

117-741: A center of academia, gathering professors and intellectuals after Huazhong University relocated here from Wuhan , earning the nickname "Cambridge of the East." Yale-in-China also relocated to Xizhou during World War II to escape the Japanese occupation of eastern China. During World War II, the American and Chinese armies cooperated in Yunnan as the Flying Tigers , uniting in their fight against Japan . The Americans had superior technology and

156-464: A daily dose of tourism . Many locals have taken advantage of this opportunity and cater to the emerging tourism industry by opening up restaurants, coffeeshops, and guesthouses in town. Xizhou is a short bus ride from Dali's old town, accessible by buses from both the 214 highway and the Dali-Lijiang road (大丽路). Buses from old town should take about 30 minutes and cost around 7 RMB . Xizhou

195-518: A fan over parallel bamboo poles to dry in the sunlight, this cheese is eaten like a snack or used in cooking. It is also a main ingredient in the second course of the Three Course Tea ceremony. The Bai's cheese can be eaten fresh, dried, or fried and is usually served with a sweet sauce, sugar or rose jam. Erkuai (饵块) is a locally produced rice product bought as a brick and served as either flat strips or noodles. Traditionally, making erkuai

234-475: A scholarly reputation, beginning a tradition of writing the names of students who passed the national exam on a large gate in the town square, a tradition that continues today for Xizhou residents who have achieved success in academia, business, and politics. After the Qing dynasty (1644 - 1912) business thrived and it became common for children of wealthy families to go abroad for their studies. Xizhou again became

273-401: A special Three Course Tea ceremony during weddings and as a welcome to their guests. The three courses include bitter, sweet, and strange, which represent the different phases of a human life. Although men have abandoned traditional Bai attire in recent decades, many women still wear a distinctive headdress whose shape, materials, and colors correspond to a short poem about the natural beauty of

312-508: A special bike trail around the Erhai lake. Dali Fengyi Airport (DLU) is a domestic airport about 13 km (8.1 mi) east of Xiaguan on Weishan or Airport Rd. Taxis run about 60  RMB to Xiaguan or 90  RMB to the old town. It services (as of 2014) Kunming (20 min), Xishuangbanna (25 min), Chongqing (70 min), Chengdu Shuangliu (80 min), Shanghai , Beijing , Shenzhen , Guangzhou , and Guiyuan . Dali (i.e., Xiaguan )

351-696: A temple in Xizhou that hosts statues depicting gods and spirits from different religions coexisting harmoniously. Even symbols from contradictory systems of belief like Confucianism and Taoism can be seen side by side, along with those from Buddhism and the Bai Benzhu (本主) folk religion. There is a small mosque in Xizhou in the Northwest corner, but even this place of worship has evidence of cultural exchange in its traditionally Bai architecture, much of which bears heavy Benzhu influence. The local economy

390-592: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Xizhou, Dali Xizhou ( Chinese : 喜洲 ) is a town located 20 km (12 mi) north of Dali Old Town in Dali City , part of the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture in northwestern Yunnan , China. The town consists of 13 small villages with a combined population estimated at 54,779, mostly consisting of Bai people with a small population of Hui and Han residents. Xizhou

429-588: Is a subdistrict at the southern end of Erhai Lake in Dali Prefecture , Yunnan , China . Xiaguan has a population of 146,517 (2020) and is the modern centre of the county-level city of Dali . Xiaguan has been the principal point of entry for the region since the creation of the Burma Road and has become the major city and industrial centre of the county. As with most county seats in China, Xiaguan

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468-550: Is connected to Kunming and points east by the Hangrui Expressway (G56), which also runs west to Ruili on the Burmese border. The Dali Expressway (G56₁₁) is a spur connecting it with Lijiang . The road to the old town is China National Highway 214 , which connects to the expressway to Lijiang north of the lake. It also runs south from Xiaguan to Menghai near the Burmese border . Long-distance busses run from

507-543: Is connected to Kunming with a modern high-speed train link with a frequency of one train per hour. As the railway network expands in Yunnan, train service will become available to Shangri-La County and Ruili in the future. The standard gauge line from Kunming , China to Kyaukphyu port opened in 2021, with a station at Dali. Dali is one of Yunnan's most popular tourist destinations. Sights include: Xiaguan, Dali City Xiaguan ( Chinese : 下关 ; pinyin : Xiàguān ), formerly romanized as Hsiakwan ,

546-736: Is located about 1 km (0.62 mi) from the shores of Erhai Lake to the east, and 2 km (1.2 mi) to the Cang Mountain to the west. Xizhou has been historically important as a trading post along the Tea Horse Road , it was once home to a landing strip and radio station for the Flying Tigers during WWII , has been home to notable rulers and governors of local polities past and present, and has gained notoriety in modernity for its high concentration of preserved and restored traditional Bai architecture and protected heritage sites . Although Xizhou's ancient origins are unclear,

585-645: Is located on a fertile plateau between the Cangshan mountain range to the west and Erhai lake to the east at an elevation of 2,000 m. Raosanling ( 绕三灵 ) is the most important religious festival in the calendar of the Bai people. It takes place in three villages in the Dali valley during the fourth lunar month and lasts for three days, each major activity taking place at a different location. The second day's activity takes place in Xizhou. The Bai people traditionally serve

624-487: Is mostly agricultural, many of Xizhou's local farms grow rice and corn in the summer rainy season and garlic and broad beans during the dry season the rest of the year. There are two growing seasons and the entire valley grows a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, and many families raise their own chickens, pigs, cows, and sheep for personal use or for the market. Like many other rural agricultural communities in Yunnan, some Xizhou farmers are starting to realize

663-621: Is often referred to by the county name, " Dali ". To distinguish it from the county's eponymous Dali Town , it is sometimes called " New Dali " or " Dali New Town ". It is about 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Old Dali (Dali Town) by bus. Xiaguan is connected to Kunming and Myanmar by the Hangrui Expressway (G56), with Lijiang by the Dali Expressway (G56₁₁), and with Dali's old town by Hwy 214 . 25°36′N 100°14′E  /  25.600°N 100.233°E  / 25.600; 100.233 This Yunnan location article

702-493: Is small enough to walk through its entirety in a few minutes, but horse carts and bicycles are a popular mode of transportation. Xizhou's history has a deep focus on academic success and has hosted temporary campuses for Huazhong University and Yale-in-China during the past century. Today, the town is home to public schools for locals year round, and several times a year the students of Sidwell Friends School from Washington, D.C. and Shanghai American School use Xizhou as

741-413: Is the inclusion of a large, white reflecting wall in courtyard homes. Wealthier homes will often designate one wall to be a reflecting wall while the other three serve as living spaces (三坊一照壁). The reflecting wall serves a practical and symbolic purpose; the white color creates a lighter space in the courtyard especially in the afternoon, it typically faces west in Xizhou to reflect evil spirits that dwell in

780-408: Is the traditional architecture. The history of world class engineering, architecture, and education Xizhou has enjoyed was combined with a period of great financial success in business during the 19th century, and resulted in hundreds of tastefully constructed Bai courtyard style homes that merge traditional local structures with styles imported from across Lijiang , eastern China , and abroad. Many of

819-715: The Kingdom of Dali (937–1253). That city was razed and its records burnt during its conquest by China 's Yuan Dynasty . The present old town was organized in the late 14th century under the Hongwu Emperor of the Ming Dynasty . The area became significantly Muslim ( Hui ) under the Yuan and Ming and was the center of the Panthay Rebellion against the Qing from 1856 to 1863. It was severely damaged during

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858-506: The Cang Range and Erhai. This plain has traditionally been settled by the Bai and Yi minorities. Its low latitude tempered by its high elevation, Dali has a mild subtropical highland climate ( Köppen Cwb ) with short, mild, dry winters and warm, rainy summers. Frost may occur in winter but the days still generally warm up to 16 °C (61 °F) or more. During summer, a majority of

897-605: The Chinese had strategic bases, so the two armies cooperated and shared supplies and materials, working together for several years from bases throughout Southwest China. Xizhou had a small base, airstrip, and radio station which was the first point of contact when planes carrying supplies from Burma first arrived over the Himalayan mountains . Xizhou is located 20 km (12 mi) north of Dali's old town and about 35 km (22 mi) from Dali's new centre, Xiaguan . It

936-438: The Dali valley. Wind, flowers, snow, and moonlight (风花雪月) are each symbolically depicted on Bai women's headdresses. The Bai traditionally practiced a matriarchal organization of society, which is still evident in their architecture and selected social gender roles. Under the eaves of many grand entranceways to homes and buildings, a golden phoenix (female) dominates a series of smaller dragons (male) from above, representing

975-634: The buildings were occupied by the Chinese military or served a purpose to local and provincial level governments and spared during the Cultural Revolution , a period of time that many old buildings in China didn't survive. Due to the shared values of Xizhou citizens, many of these structures have become protected heritage sites , some protected at the national level like the Great Wall . An iconic and important attribute of Bai architecture

1014-481: The city seat in Xiaguan, is usually the Dali referred to in tourist publications. The old town is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Yunnan, known for its natural scenery, historical and cultural heritage, and vibrant nightlife. Dali City is located in western Yunnan , approximately 250 km (160 mi) northwest of the provincial capital of Kunming . Dali is situated in the transition area between

1053-437: The days features some rainfall and daytime temperatures rise to 25 °C (77 °F). A great majority of the year's rainfall occurs from June to October. December 2013 was particularly marked for its high snowfall. Dali City has 3 subdistricts, 9 towns and 1 ethnic township. The Dali area was formerly known as Xiemie ( 苴咩 ; Xiémiē ). The old town was the medieval capital of both the Bai kingdom Nanzhao (779–902) and

1092-409: The depths of Erhai lake away, and it reflects luck and prosperity into the room directly opposite, which is considered to be the most important room in the courtyard. The use of marble in Bai architecture is commonplace due to its abundance and easy access. Marble is incorporated into many courtyard homes' floors, stairs, pillars, and is commonly used as artwork or decoration. Unlike many other parts of

1131-653: The dramatic valleys of the Hengduan ranges on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau and the distinctive mountains of the western Yungui Plateau . The county-level city surrounds Erhai Lake between the Cang Mountains to the west and Mount Jizu to the east. The county seat at Xiaguan is located at the outlet of the lake into the Yangbi River . Dali Old Town is situated on a fertile plain between

1170-546: The fertile valley that Xizhou lies in has been continuously inhabited for thousands of years. The history of Xizhou dates back to the Sui Dynasty (581 - 618 AD) when it was first incorporated by General Shi Wansui. Soon after, the simultaneous creation of the Nanzhao Kingdom (737 - 902 AD) and the formation of the Tea Horse Road (8th - 20th Century) in the 700s AD had a huge influence on the town's future. Xizhou

1209-418: The higher social position of women in society. Similar to Yunnan's Naxi and Tibetan matriarchal culture, Bai men traditionally were in charge of the home and raising children while women were the primary breadwinners for their families. Much has changed to Bai culture over the past century, and these traditional gender roles are far less discrete today. The best documented aspect of Bai culture in Xizhou

Dali City - Misplaced Pages Continue

1248-486: The old town and surrounding countryside must conform to the traditional Chinese style , with tiled roofs and bricks, plaster, or white-washed walls. Much of the local economy now revolves around tourism and services catering to travelers. Historically, Dali was able to control some of the trade between India and China and independently famed for the woodworkers of the town of Xizhou and for its high-quality marble , used both for construction and decorative objects. It

1287-433: The old town's west gate to Kunming (about 4½ hrs), Lijiang, and Shangri-La . Every Monday, service is also available to Shaping for its market. Long-distance busses run from Xiaguan's stations on Jianshe Road. Dali has its own railway station with daily services to Kunming and Lijiang . Service to Kunming used to consist of one train during the day and two trains running overnight, with sleeper cars. Per July 2018 Dali

1326-457: The potential of organic practices and the incorporation of green technology like solar and wind power to cut costs. In addition to farming , construction and skilled production of marble and wood make up a majority of the economy. Marble production and refinement has a long history in the valley, due to its abundance and easy access to reserves in the Cangshan mountains. Its proximity to Dali's old town has also exposed modern Xizhou to

1365-681: The region's Muslim inhabitants can trace their ancestry back to these series of migrations. The Mongol Empire also brought the region their practice of making cheese from cow's milk and whey, a tradition originating in the grassland steppes of Mongolia but one that many families in Xizhou continues today. During the Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644) Xizhou prospered in business and trade on the Tea Horse Road. Bai merchants traveled extensively from Southeast Asia to Tibet , trading their region's tea , marble , and handicrafts. This era brought Xizhou

1404-466: The world, when marble is used as art or decoration the price is not decided by its quality but by its aesthetic. In Chinese, the word 'marble' is '大理石' which literally means 'Dali stone.' Marble is found in other parts of China, but the production of marble in the Dali valley has been famous for many years. Unusual for China, the Bai people produce and eat Rushan cheese (乳扇) made from cow's milk and whey. Usually made in small batches and stretched out like

1443-578: Was located only a few kilometers from the political and military capital of the Nanzhao Kingdom, and benefited from the kingdom's expertise in architecture and engineering. During this era, it served as a military fortress and a temporary palace for the King on Nanzhao. The Yuan dynasty (1271 - 1368 AD) imported a sizeable Muslim population from Northern China and Central Asia to fill high political positions throughout modern Yunnan, and many of

1482-433: Was so prominent in the latter that the modern Chinese word for marble is literally "Dali stone" ( 大理石 ; dàlǐshí ). There is also local tea . Local transport includes buses, taxis, bicycles, and boats on Erhai Lake . Local busses 4 & 8 provide service from Xiaguan to the old town (1 hr). Tourists often rent bicycles from one of the many rental stores in the old town and explore the region by bike, for instance on

1521-483: Was very labor-intensive and only manufactured in large groups for festivals, but with the introduction of machines the production process became efficient enough to produce large amounts of erkuai for cheap consumption, and it can now be found and purchased at Xizhou's market every day. Tie-dye (扎染) is a specialty handicraft product produced in nearby Zhoucheng. The Bai people have been making tie dye fabric for generations with naturally rendered dye. It's common to find

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