Dali Old Town Located at the foot of the Cangshan Mountain and the west side of the Erhai Lake, Dali old town was set up in 1382 A.D during the Ming Dynasty as the capital of the Dali kingdom. At present, only the south and north gate towers remain standing. There are well-preserved traditional houses of the Bai Ethnic Group people. Walking in the city, you will enjoy many historical relics, ancient buildings and rich minority customs, such as the "Foreigners Street", the ancient Yuxi School, tea houses, antique shops, Chinese and Western restaurants.

Erhai Lake is a famous alpine lake in Yunnan, situated at an altitude of 1,972 meters above sea level. It is 42 kilometers from north to south and 3 to 9 kilometers from east to west, covering an area of 250 square kilometers. The lake is in the shape of a human ear. The lake water is crystal clear. Erhai and Cangshan enhance each other's beauty. Cangshan Mountain, also called Diancang Mountain, stretches 50 kilometers from north to south and is 20 kilometers wide from east to west, facing Erhai Lake in the east. Cangshan has 19 peaks, with an average altitude of 3,500 meters above sea level. The main peak, Mount Malong, is 4,122 meters above sea level. Cangshan has beautiful scenery and rich vegetation coverage. The clear brooks flow all year round. It is a famous sight in Dali.

Cangshan Mountain Cangshan Mountain, two kilometres west of Dali, is the backdrop of Dali City. Together with Erhai Lake, the imposing mountain range makes Dali a truly vacation getaway. The stunningly beautiful mountain boasts its high peaks, uncertain clouds, susurrating streams and capping snow. With an average height of 4000 metres, it has a cluster of 19 soaring peaks. Butterfly Spring Situated at the foot of Yunlong Peak of the Cangshan Mountain, 27 km south of the Dali Old Town, Butterfly Spring is surrounded by ancient camphor trees. In spring when the trees put forth fragrant flowers, thousands of different types of butterflies flutter among the branches and over the spring water forming a dazzling "Kingdom of Butterflies". The phenomenon dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 A.D).

The three pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, built between 822 and 859, are located 1 kilometer northwest of the ancient city of Dali. The three multi-eaved pagodas include Qianxun Pagoda, the main one, and two smaller ones to its north and south. The 16-story Qianxun Pagoda is 69.13 meters high, and the two smaller pagodas are 43 meters high, in 10 stories. The three pagodas represent ancient architectural art and culture of the Bai ethnic group.

Dali Bai Ethnic Group's Residence (Baizu Minju) The Bai Ethnic Group is interested in art, which was embodied in their residences. The Bai Ethnic Group's Residence is located at the foot of Can Mountain, Dali. It was written that this area is the capital of Emperor Nanzhao in the Tang Dynasty. At that period, the craftsmen adopted many art techniques from middle China, and by adding their own creation; the architectural style of the White Ethnic Group was formed.
The structure of the residents is similar with the quadrangles in Beijing. The whole residence is built with walls, front gate, partition facing the front gate and main house and annexes at both the left and right sides.
The Bais pay more attention to the carvings on the doors, windows, partition. The drawings and patterns on the walls are colorful. The tower gate is the symbolization of the owner's social status. This brick gate tower is usually decorated with woodcarvings, cement carvings, colored drawing and patterns, and so on. The tower gate is firmly connected without any nails. From the exterior, the whole residence looks grand with the two thick black wood gates.

Xizhou Village
Xizhou Village locates 18 kilometers north of Dali, faces Erhai on the east.It grew and flourished in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) along with the fortunes of Dali renowned tea merchants that traded to Tibet. It is not only a historically famous city but also a typical commercial center of Bai Ethnic Nationality. It is now a "must" for the travelers. You can enjoy lovely ethical clothes, fairylike programs, decorative architectures, gifted garden parties and wonderful handicrafts there.