DALI
Dali is a city in China’s southwestern Yunnan province, on the shores of Erhai Lake. Its history stretches back to the kingdom of Nanzhao (8th century). The walled old city, from the Ming dynasty, contains traditional homes and towers from the Bai ethnic minority. Beyond the old city rise the Three Pagodas of Chong Sheng Temple, dating to the 9th century. The city has traditionally been an important centre on the routes westward from Kunming (the provincial capital) to the Tibet Autonomous Region and northern Myanmar (Burma); Dali also has routes leading south into the wild southwestern region of Yunnan.
Erhai Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in China, and it is the second largest freshwater lake in Yunnan Province. The people of Dali consider Erhai Lake to be their "mother lake". Erhai Lake is important to their lives. Erhai Lake is in the shape of an ear, hence its name Erhai ('Ear Sea').
We reached Dali by traveling part of the narrow, dangerous and twisting Burma Road. Dali itself was delightful.
