Dali
　　Located between Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake, Dali is a legendary backpackers paradise  famous for its cafes and guesthouses where the China traveler can relax with a cold beer, great tunes, and a cheap lodging. Aside from being a backpacker paradise,   the city has a long history dating back some 1000 years, during which it was the capital of Nanzhao Kingdom during the Tang Dynasty. The area is famous for its natural beauty and the ethnic culture of the Bai people.

　　One thing to bear in mind when traveling here,  is that the Dali travelers arrive in from Kunming is not the same Dali renowned as a backpakers getaway. In fact, the bus from Kunming arrives in a town known as Dali City, a local administrative municipality that is officially known as Xiaguan. Therefore, our coverage of Dali includes both Xiaguan and the ancient city of Dali (known as Dali Gucheng), where most travelers head straight for.

Bai Nationality

　　The Bai ethnic minority (or Nationality as Chinese like to say), is one if the largest and most well known minority groups in China. For more than 4000 years, the Bai people have been based in the Dali area centered around Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake. During the Tang Dynasty, the Bai banded together and defeated the Han Chinese to create the Bai Nanzhao Kingdom centered in the ancient city of Dali. This kingdom lasted for several centuries and could be regarded as one of Dali's golden ages. In modern times, the Bai and Han coexist peacefully, as shown by the partial integration of the Bai people in today's Dali.

　　Generally speaking, the villages of the Bai are scattered on the flatlands along lakes or rivers that  provide convenient transportation links. Each village is laid out in an orderly style with courtyards of earth and  wood that usually consist of rooms on three sides and a decorative wall on the southern side.

　　Bai ethnic clothing is beautiful without losing its practicality.  Bai men always dress in a white buttoned shirt,  black overcoat and blue trousers with a long piece of white cloth wrapped around around their head. Bai  ladies prefer to decorate their hair with embroidery,  and wear white blouses,  red overcoats, embroidered aprons, white trousers and embroidered shoes.

　　The Bai nationality excels at dancing and singing and they often express themselves through performance. As a result of a  history of interaction with other ethnic groups, this group have been deeply affected by Buddhism and Daoism, which has shaped their culture into its current Buddhist form.

The Old City of Dali

In historical terms, Dali is the political, economic, and cultural center of Yunnan province. During the Nanzhao Kingdom period, the Bai people of the region banded together to defeat the Han army of the Tang Dynasty and establish complete control over Yunnan. That period lasted five hundred years and marks one of Dali's highest periods of prominence.

　　As a result, Dali is the cradle of traditional culture in Yunnan,  best represented by the Three Pagodas, the Grottoes at Shibao Mountain and the sacred Buddhist Jizu Mountain.

Dali Climate

　　Although affected by seasonal monsoons, temperatures in Dali are generally moderate, neither too cold nor too hot. However, you should take some warm clothes in case the weather turns unexpectedly cool after a rain. The monthly average temperature in Dali is as follows: