Dali Ancient Town is located in Dali City, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, facing Erhai Lake to the east and leaning against Cangshan Mountain to the west, covering an area of 3 square kilometers. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. The ancient city retains the chessboard-style grid structure from the Ming and Qing dynasties, known as "nine streets and eighteen alleys," with north and south city gates facing each other and east and west city gates staggered. The city is approximately 1,000 meters wide from east to west and 2,000 meters long from north to south. Four city gates are set on the walls: East Gate (Erhai Gate, also known as Tonghai Gate), South Gate (Twin Crane Gate, also known as Chengen Gate), West Gate (Cangshan Gate), and North Gate (Three Pagodas Gate, also known as Anyuan Gate), with a moat outside the city.
Historical Culture
The history of Dali Ancient Town can be traced back to the Warring States Period in the 4th century BC, when it was the territory of the Dian Kingdom. In 779 AD (the 14th year of the Dali reign of the Tang Dynasty), Nanzhao King Yimouxun moved the capital from Taihe City here and modeled it after the layout of Chang'an (now Xi'an) to build the Nanzhao capital. In 937 AD, Duan Siping destroyed the Dayingning Kingdom and established the Dali Kingdom centered in Dali. In 1382 AD (the 15th year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty), after the Ming army conquered Dali, they built the current Dali Ancient Town on the foundation of Yangjiumie City and expanded it eastward. In 1982, Dali Ancient Town was listed as one of the first 24 national historical and cultural cities in China.
Dali Ancient Town is one of the core birthplaces of Bai culture, where residents still maintain many traditional lifestyles and cultural activities. For example, the "March Street" (Sanyuejie) on the 15th day of the third lunar month each year is a large-scale folk festival integrating trade, culture, and religion. With a history of over a thousand years, it is known as "Asia's Largest Ethnic Festival." Additionally, intangible cultural heritages of the Bai people, such as tie-dyeing techniques, the Three-Course Tea ceremony, and Raosanling (a folk song and dance activity), have been preserved here.
Main Attractions
South City Gate (Chengen Gate)
The main gate of Dali Ancient Town, first built in 1382 AD, was reconstructed in 1982. The gate is 12 meters high and 9.8 meters wide, with a Xieshan-style architectural style featuring upturned eaves, exuding grandeur. The characters "Dali" on the gate were inscribed by Guo Moruo, making it an iconic photo spot in the city.
Foreigner Street (Huguo Road)
A 1,200-meter-long characteristic street named for the gathering of foreign tourists in early years. The street preserves the traditional Bai residential architectural style of "three compounds and one screen wall," paved with blue stone slabs, and lined with cafes, handicraft shops, and western restaurants. A popular spot for experiencing the blend of Chinese and Western cultures, it was named one of "China's Ten Most Charming Streets" by China National Geographic.
Wuhua Tower
The highest point in the ancient city, first built in the Tang Dynasty as a venue for Nanzhao kings to entertain guests. The existing structure was rebuilt in 1998, standing 21.5 meters tall with five floors, offering a panoramic view of the city and the Cangshan-Erhai landscape from the top. The tower displays historical inscriptions and calligraphy works of Dali, serving as an important window to understand local history and culture.
Dali City Museum
Located inside the South City Gate, the museum was formerly the site of the Yunnan Provincial Military Command, covering an area of 15 mu (about 1 hectare). It houses nearly 5,000 cultural relics, including cremation urns from the Nanzhao period, Achuoye Guanyin statues from the Dali Kingdom period, and Bai ethnic costumes from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Among them, the fragments of the "Nanzhao Dehua Stele" are important physical materials for studying Nanzhao history.
Food
Dali Duan Gongzi · Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils Themed Restaurant
A popular internet-famous restaurant themed around Jin Yong's martial arts novels, its signature dish "Prince Duan's Fairy Chicken" uses local free-range chickens marinated with over 20 spices and roasted, priced at about 88 yuan per serving. Located in the city center, the restaurant's decor replicates scenes from martial arts stories, making it ideal for photos.
Bai Three-Course Tea Ceremony
A traditional Bai hospitality ritual: the first course is "Bitter Tea" (roasted tea), the second is "Sweet Tea" (with walnuts and rushan, a Bai dairy product), and the third is "Aftertaste Tea" (with honey and Sichuan pepper). The experience in city teahouses costs about 30-50 yuan per person, often paired with Bai song and dance performances.
Xizhou Baba (Stuffed Scone)
A traditional pastry from Xizhou Town, available in sweet and savory versions. The sweet filling uses rose sugar and walnuts, while the savory filling uses fresh meat and scallions, baked over charcoal to a crispy exterior and soft interior. Each costs 5-8 yuan, recommended at the "Freshly Baked Xizhou Baba" old shop in the city.
Papaya Sour Soup Fish
A Dali specialty made by stewing local papayas and Erhai crucian carp in a sweet and sour broth, best served with rice. A small portion in city restaurants costs about 68 yuan, recommended at old-established eateries like "Shijing Private Cuisine."
Rushan (Bai Dairy Fan)
A unique Bai dairy product made from cow's milk, which can be grilled, fried, or served cold. "Grilled Rushan" stalls are common on city streets, seasoned with rose jam or sugar, costing 5-10 yuan per serving—a must-try street snack.
Admission
Dali Ancient Town is free to enter.
Opening Hours
The Dali Ancient Town is open 24 hours;
Main attractions' hours:
• Dali City Museum: 9:00-17:00 (closed Mondays)
• Wuhua Tower: 8:30-21:00
• Most shops open 9:30-22:30
Tour Routes
Classic One-Day Tour:
1. South City Gate (photo stop) → Dali City Museum (history tour) → Fuxing Road (handicraft shopping) → Wuhua Tower (panoramic view) → Foreigner Street (lunch & coffee break) → Yu'er Garden (relaxation) → North City Gate (sunset viewing)
Cultural Experience Route:
2. West Cangshan Gate → March Street Site (market on lunar 5th, 14th, 23rd) → Dali Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum (free, 9:00-16:30) → Zhoucheng Village (25 km from the city, tie-dye experience, about 150 yuan round-trip by chartered car)
Night View Route:
3. Renmin Road (night market stalls) → Da Bing's Cabin (folk music performances from 20:00) → Honglongjing (lit water landscape) → South City Wall (night access until 21:00, overlook city lights)
Transportation
- Airplane: 40-minute taxi from Dali Airport (80-100 yuan); or take the airport bus to Dali Railway Station, transfer to Bus Route 8 to South City Gate (3 yuan, 1 hour total).
- Train/High-Speed Rail: From Dali Station, take Bus Routes 8 or Three Pagodas Special Line to South City Gate (2-3 yuan, 30 minutes); taxi about 20 yuan, 15 minutes.
- Bus: Multiple routes (4, 8, Three Pagodas Special Line) from the city center to each city gate, fare 1-3 yuan.
- Self-Driving: Navigate to "Dali Ancient Town South Gate Parking Lot," parking fee 10-20 yuan/day; multiple parking areas around the city.
- Cycling: Rental shops at East Gate offer e-bikes (50-80 yuan/day) and bicycles (20-30 yuan/day), suitable for Erhai Lake cycling or city tours.
Must-See Attractions
- South City Gate: A city landmark—climb the walls to capture classic photos of "Cangshan Snow" framed by the gate, best visited during soft morning or evening light.
- Foreigner Street: Experience the blend of Bai architecture and Western culture—recommended to overlook Cangshan from a café terrace in the afternoon, average consumption 40-60 yuan.
- Wuhua Tower: The best viewing spot in the city—free to climb, visit 16:00-18:00 to photograph both Cangshan and the city panoramic view.
- Dali City Museum: Free access to Nanzhao and Dali Kingdom history—the museum's treasure, the "Achuoye Guanyin Statue," is a must-see, allowing 1 hour for the visit.
Tour Tips
- Best Seasons: Spring and autumn (March-May, September-November) with mild weather; avoid the rainy season (June-August) and winter winds.
- Wear comfortable sneakers—the city's blue stone paths can be slippery; carry a light jacket for large day-night temperature differences (about 10℃).
- Visit museums and city gates in the morning to avoid tourist peaks; spend afternoons relaxing on Foreigner Street or Renmin Road, and explore night markets in the evening.
- Shop around and bargain when buying handicrafts; recommended purchases include Bai tie-dye (50-200 yuan average) and marble products (30-100 yuan).
- If time allows, spend half a day in Xizhou Town (18 km from the city, 30-minute taxi ride) to visit Yan Family Courtyard and taste authentic Xizhou Baba.
Notes
- Some city streets are pedestrian-only—pay attention to navigation tips when driving.
- Respect Bai customs: remove shoes before entering temples or residences, and avoid sensitive religious topics.
- During festivals like March Street, crowds are dense—protect personal belongings and plan routes in advance.
- Few pharmacies exist in the city—bring common medications; at an altitude of about 2,000 meters, avoid strenuous exercise to prevent altitude sickness.
- Some homestays are located in alleyways—confirm the exact location when booking, and prefer accommodations near main streets (e.g., Fuxing Road, Foreigner Street).