City Scene >> Dali & Lijiang, China

Dali & Lijiang 大理,麗江

Dali is a city located in the western part of Yunnan Province in the south of China with a population of 3.1 million. Ethnic minorities have inhabited Dali for more than 3000 years, with the Bai minority making up the majority of Dali's population. The Dali area was the ancient capital of the Bai Kingdom Nanzhao and Kingdom of Dali from 8th century until the year 1253, when it was destoyed by an invasion of the Mongol Empire.
One famous attraction of the city is the Qianxun Pagoda(one of the Three Pagodas), which is built in 836AD and stands 70 meters tall. It is the oldest standing structure in Southwest China and reflects the typical ancient architecture of the Tang Dynasty. Buddhist statues and scriptures were discovered in the pagoda's underground palace when it was repaired in 1979.

Lijiang is a city located in the northwestern part of Yunnan and home to the Naxi minority. The Old Town of Lijiang, with a history of more than 800 years, has been listed as an UNESCO World Heritage since 1997.

Photos below were taken on July 2004 during my six-day visit to Yunnan province.