Three Towers in Dali
(xinhuanet)With a 1,000-year history of flower
growing, Yunnan is known as the Kingdom of Flowers. Although the scale of
flowers in Dali is not as magnificent as that in Kunming, the flowers in Dali
are more interesting.
Dali is one of the cultural cradles within China's southwest border and, as early as more than 3,000 years ago, ancestors of the Bai ethnic group inhabited the area around Erhai Lake. Since that ancient time, Dali people, either wealthy merchants, literati or ordinary residents, have loved flowers.
Various flowers are in bloom in every family's courtyard year round: peach and plum blossoms in spring, lotus in summer, chrysanthemums and sweet-scented osmanthus in autumn and winter sweets in winter.
If a neighbor's broad-leaved epiphyllum suddenly blooms one night, others are sure to spread the news and go to watch it holding candles in hand. The host will get tea and light refreshments ready to treat the visitors.
There are no large flower markets in Dali City but a middle-sized flower and bird market beside Erhai Lake, where one will see the most bright and colorful orchids, camellias and azaleas. Walking in the streets, one will also meet flower vendors, selling flowers at an incredibly low price.
And amazingly low price of - 0.2 yuan for a bouquet of carnations in the spring is common and, as honest as these vendors are, they will not ask the maximum price from a visitor.The wind at Xiaguan, flowers at Shangguan, snow on Cangshan Mountain and the moon over the Erhai Lake are the four famous scenes in Dali. Moreover, in the old city of Dali, Butterfly Pool, Three Pagodas, Jizu Mountain and Webao Mountain are also the places one must go.
It is convenient nowadays to reach Dali. There are three-hour flights every day from Beijing to Kunming, and one can either take a 35-minute flight to Dali or a coach to have a wonderful view of the landscape along the way. The transportation in Dali is even more convenient. With a one yuan bus ride, one can reach many places and a visitor can also hire a bike by the Erhai and enjoy a sightseeing tour around the city.
Spending the night in Dali is also delightful. The residences of the local Bai people are of unique style with upturned eaves and colorful paint. The price for a night's lodging in a local resident's home is from 20 to 50 yuan and there are a variety of snacks. If coming between March 10 and 21, a visitor may come across the Sanyuejie, the grand traditional festival of the Bai ethnic group.
(Source: Women of China English Monthly April 2004)
