PEED2025

Dali is a national historical and cultural city and outstanding tourist city in China, a national garden city, and a national all region tourism demonstration area. It is one of the earliest developed areas in Yunnan Province and has been the political, economic and cultural center of Yunnan for more than 500 years. Dali is one of the first batch of 24 national historical and cultural cities in China, with more than 130 scenic spots and tourist spots. The old town is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Yunnan, known for its natural scenery, historical and cultural heritage, and vibrant nightlife.

Erhai or Er Lake, is an alpine fault lake in Dali City, China. Erhai was also known as Yeyuze or Kunming Lake in ancient times. The lakeshore can be explored by hiking. Highlights include Erhai Park and the Butterfly Springs on the Western bank. Islands on the lake – including Guanyin Ge, Jinsuo Island, Nanzhao Folklore Island and Xiaoputuo Island – are also available for visits. The lake is an important food source for the local people (Bais), who are famous for their fishing method: their trained cormorants catch fish and return them to fishmongers. The birds are prevented from swallowing their fish by rings fixed around their neck.

Shaxi is a historic market town in Dali. It is located roughly halfway between Dali and Lijiang. The Sideng market square of Shaxi was added to the World Monuments Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites in 2001. Shaxi started as a trading point for tea and horses during the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907). The prosperity of the town was at its height during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1912). Nearby Shibao mountain contains Buddhist rock carvings and temples of over 1300 years old with, amongst others, images of the bodhisattva Guanyin.

The Three Pagodas of the Chongsheng Temple are an ensemble of three independent pagodas arranged on the corners of an equilateral triangle, near the old town of Dali, dating from the time of the Kingdom of Nanzhao and Kingdom of Dali in the 9th and 10th centuries. The Three Pagodas are located about 1.5 km (0.93 mi) north of Dali old town. They are at the east foot of the tenth peak of the massive Cangshan Mountains and face the west shore of the Erhai Lake of ancient Dali.