Dali, Yunnan

Dali is another Chinese ethnic minority town with a well preserved and touristy old town section.  The minority is the Bai people, and it's possible to see their traditional houses, dress, and lifestyle around Dali and the surrounding villages. Dali is much more low-key than Lijian, easier to see, and way less crowded.  We loved the clear, cool weather for hiking.  We did an awesome 15+ kilometer hike up to Zhonghe Temple, across the range to Gantong Temple, then back to the road where we caught a bus back to Dali.

Dali is bordered by mountains, Cang Shan, on one side and a huge lake, Erhai Hu, on the other side with Bai villages along the valley.  We went to the village Shaping for market day, and some tough bargaining practice.

Jade Emu Hostel

old town Dali

Bai house details

view to Cang Shan

Ty and Stu, stream side cafe

local beer

Steph happy to sit for a minute

shopping in Dali

temple in Dali

at Yi Ran Tang, simple Buddhist veggie food,
cheap, "take what you want, eat what you take"

start hike up Cang Shan

Dali and lake

at Zhonghe Temple, which way to go?

Zhongehe Temple

paved traverse

at one end of traverse, a gondola
and a giant Chinese Chess game with movable pieces

hiking out, past the gondola

"trail" down

Gantong temple, 2000 years old, still in use

detail at Gantong

courtyard at Gantong

Steph at Shaping Bai market