One of the most-heard ancient towns in Yunnan and even China, Dali Ancient Town (or Dali Ancient City) is always at the top of any bucket list for traveling to Yunnan. The town is located in the west of Yunnan, about 320 kilometers from Kunming City, and about 28 kilometers from Dali city center. The surrounding Erhai Lake and Cangshan Mountains offer the old town a picturesque background.
Walking into Dali Ancient Town, you’ll see its steep history breathing in every corner, including the ancient city wall, historical landmark buildings, and ancient street layout. These are all testaments of its centuries-old history and vibrant culture in the ancient Nanzhao and Dali Kingdoms, and the following dynasties.
Residents in the old town are mostly Bai ethnic people who have their unique language, culture, clothing, food, festivals, architectural styles, and so on. That means a visit to Dali Old City will reward you with a variety of vibrant ethnic activities, including the Bai “Three-Course Tea” ceremony, traditional singing competitions, etc.
Fast Facts of Dali Ancient City
- Chinese name: 大理古城
- Location: No. 42, Yita Road, Dali City, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province
- Altitude: 2000-2100 meters above sea level
- Area: 3 square kilometers
- Opening hours: All day
- Ticket: Free
- Visiting time needed: Half a day
- Why visit: Ancient landmark buildings, rich Bai ethnic residences, Bai culture and life experience, breathtaking natural beauty, delectable cuisine, various ethnic festivals, etc.
Unique Layout of Dali Ancient Town
All the ancient shops, residences, and ancient landmarks are scattering along the ancient town’s five main east-west roads and eight north-south streets. These streets forms its unique grid-like street layout, being often mentioned as “Nine Streets and Eighteen Alleys”. This kind of orderly layout makes it easy to stroll around the town.
Ancient city walls surrounded the town in a square shape, with four gate towers standing on the east-west, and south-north axes. From east to west, the town measures over 1,000 meters and about 2,000 meters from south to north. Fuxing Road is the main road connecting the southern and northern gates. While Renmin Road serves as the main east-west road.
What to See and Do in Dali Ancient City?
Visit Ancient Buildings
The old city of Dali is pedestrian-friendly as vehicles are not allowed inside. Taking a leisurely walk around the old town, you’ll look into abundant ancient buildings. As important carriers of the Bai people’s craftsmanship and history, these buildings will captivate you with their distinctive architectural style and intricate woodwork and carvings. Below are some of the highly recommended ones:
South Gate (Chengen Tower):
It is the main gateway to enter the ancient town. Not only an iconic landmark and the best-preserved gate tower of the town, the gate is also a great place for photos. The tower offers great far views of Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake.
Wuhua Tower:
It was in the center of the town, initially constructed by Nanzhao King in 856 AD to host distinguished guests. The current building was rebuilt in 1998, standing over 20 meters tall. It stands out for the intricate carvings and stunning panoramic views of the town from its top.
The Catholic Church:
The church is an important symbol of Catholic influence in Yunnan in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties. It features a unique blend of local Bai ethnic culture, Han architectural styles, and Western designs. The best highlight is its traditional Bai ethnic “Three Drops of Water” style entrance.
Grand Marshal Residence of the President:
Originally constructed during the Qing Dynasty, the mansion once served as the residence of Yunnan Commander-in-Chief. It mimics the layout of the imperial palaces and is facilitated with high walls, watchtowers, and powerful design. Now, the mansion is converted into the Dali Museum, serving as a great place to learn about rich history and cultural heritage of the region.
Unique Museums:
Dali Rural Film History Museum is the first specialized rural film history museum in China, featuring an impressive display of film reels, costumes, props from various eras etc. Dali Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum is where you can gain a deeper understanding of traditional arts, crafts, and rituals in Dali.
Dali Old Town Wumiao Temple:
Also known as Guandi Temple, Wumiao Temple in Dali Ancient Town can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty. The temple is dedicated to the worship of Guan Yu and also blends the local Bai people’s Benzhu culture, creating its unique cultural experience and atmosphere. It is most notable for its screen wall, boasting the largest of its kind in China.
Explore Vibrant Streets
Want to look into the essence of Dali Old City time-efficiently? Exploring the vibrant streets should be the choice for you. Being lined with traditional Bai architecture, handicraft shops, restaurants and food stalls, historical landmarks, bars, elegant gardens, cafes, etc., these bustling streets offer the town’s architectural beauty, daily life scene, and steep history.
Nights are the time when the town comes to its most bustling and colorful, with bars and shops lighting up the streets, and live performances filling the air with festive ambiance. Below are some of the most popular streets:
- Fuxing Road: A key north-south street through the ancient town, Fuxing Road still preserves its charm and layout of the Ming Dynasty. Today, this street has evolved into a bustling commercial street with numerous Bai-style handicraft shops and various food stalls.
- Renmin Road: It is a main east-west road running through the heart of the ancient city. The road features a profound artistic atmosphere and a laid-back vibe due to the many creative shops, galleries and studios along it.
- Foreigner’s Street: Located near the southern gate, the street offers a wide range of international food options and most shops along the street can provide service in English. This contributes to its popularity among foreign visitors. The numerous bars and handicraft shops make the street a great place to experience a lively yet culture-rich nightlife.
- Yu’er Road: It is 2 2-kilometer road connecting Erhai Gate in the east and Cangshan Gate in the west. Both of these two gates are important historical heritage in the city, with many guesthouses and hotels providing balconies with stunning Erhai lake views. Handicraft shops and street food are also abundant on this road.
If you’re interested, please feel free to contact us to customize your perfect Dali tour.
Popular Bai Minority’s Festival
March Street Festival (March Fair)
Date: Annually on the 15th day of the third lunar month
March Street Festival, also known as the March Fair of Guanyin Fair, is the most important Bai ethnic festival in Dali, and also a well-known ethnic festival throughout the country. The festival can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty and began as a religious temple fair. Now, it has been developed into an event with massive marketplaces, multiple ethnic sports competitions, folk performances, and more.
The west gate of the city is the main venue for gatherings and festival activities. During the festival, a variety of sports activities will be held, including horse racing, archery, and wrestling. Beyond that, trade fairs, folk music and dance performances of the Bai people, and traditional worship rituals together will offer visitors a lively festive atmosphere and immersive cultural experiences.
How to Get to Dali Ancient Town?
A popular way to reach Dali Ancient City is to get to Dali City first by either flight or high-speed train. Dali Airport is the only airport in Dali City, offering direct flights to most domestic cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Kunming, Xian, etc.
Dali Ancient Town is about 29 kilometers away from the airport, you can take either the airport shuttle bus or a taxi to reach in about 1 hour.
If by high-speed train or bullet train, you will arrive at Dali Railway Station which is about 23 kilometers from the old town. Frequent intercity bullet trains are available connecting Kunming or Lijiang with Dali. There are also direct high-speed trains to/from major cities, like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. After arriving at Dali Railway Station, you can take a taxi to reach the old town in about 50 minutes. Or, transfer by Bus No. 8.
Best Time to Visit
The subtropical highland monsoon climate in Dali gives the ancient town a pleasant and comfortable weather throughout the year. The annual average temperature here is around 15°C. If you want to enjoy its ethnic life, historical landmarks and architectural marvels, it is great to visit Dali Old Town at any time of the year. However, if you want to experience the various cultural ceremonies and festival activities of the March Street Fair, it is best to visit the town in spring.
Accommodations in Dali Old Town
Dali Ancient City offers a wide range of accommodation options, from budget hostels, and local-featured guesthouses to comfortable 4-star hotels, and luxury 5-star hotels.
Renmin Road is where you can find many boutique inns with personalized services and decorations. Foreigner’s Street offers more boutique hotels and international-style inns of higher comfortability. Guesthouses and hotels along Yu’er Road offer great views of the Erhai Lake and a more peaceful environment.
Each of the four main gates offers its unique advantages for accommodation. The East Gate is the closest gate to Erhai Lake, and hotels in this area offer great lake views and are near many popular food stalls and street snacks. Hotels near the South Gate are recommended for those who want easy access to major attractions and enjoy a bustling environment. West Gate is near the famous March Street Market. If you want to enjoy more time to experience local fairs that are held on specific dates, staying in this area is a good choice. More residents live around the North Gate, this area is quieter and offers a closer connection to local life.
Nearby Attractions
- Cangshan Mountains: About 5 kilometers from Dali Old Town; It is a natural landmark of Dali, consisting of 19 snowcapped peaks; Here visitors can enjoy magnificent scenery, rich biodiversity, and great hiking trails.
- Erhai Lake: About 3 kilometers east of Dali Ancient town; It is a stunning highland lake surrounded by the Cangshan Mountains, serving as a symbol of Bai culture; Visitors can walk or bike around the lake to enjoy its natural beauty and explore Bai ethnic culture in the surrounding villages.
- Three Pagodas of Dali: About 3 kilometers from Dali Old City; They are iconic structures of Dali City, showcasing typical Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty architectural styles.
- Xizhou Ancient Town: About 21 kilometers from Dali Ancient City; Xizhou Ancient Town is a historic Bai ethnic town, boasting over 15,000 well-preserved Bai residences from different dynasties and periods; Enjoys the nickname of “Museum of Bai Architecture”.
- Zhoucheng Village: About 25 kilometers from Dali Old Town; Zhoucheng is a historic Bai village that is especially famous for its unique tie-dye techniques.
