Zhaotong: China's City of Unique Charm Seg. 3
Discover Zhaotong, a rising travel destination located in Yunnan, China. Majestic landscapes, diverse ethnic groups, and delicious eats are just some of the highlights this hidden gem of China has to offer.
Bird's Eye View of Zhaotong City, Yunnan China
Best places to visit
Best places to visit - Duyun (China) Best places to visit - Slideshows from all over the world - City trips, nature pictures, etc.
Best places to visit
Best places to visit - Bijie (China) Best places to visit - Slideshows from all over the world - City trips, nature pictures, etc.
Dali City, Yunnan, China - Part 4 - New Town -大理新镇
Dali City
Dali City, formerly known as Tali, is the county-level seat of the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture in northwestern Yunnan. Dali City is administered through 12 township-level districts, two of which are also commonly referred to as Dali.
Xiaguan (下关镇) is the modern city centre and usually conflated with Dali City by virtue of being its seat. This town is the destination of most long-distance transportation heading to Dali and is sometimes referred to as Dali New Town (大理新镇) to avoid confusion.
Dali Town (大理镇) is another division of Dali City, located 10 km to the north of Xiaguan. This town, commonly referred to as Dali Old Town (大理古城) to distinguish it from the city seat in Xiaguan, is usually the Dali referred to in tourist publications. 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.
History
The Dali area was formerly known as Jumie (苴咩, Jūmiē). The old town was the medieval capital of both the Bai kingdom Nanzhao (fl. 8th and 9th centuries) and the Kingdom of Dali (937–1253). That city was razed and its records burnt during its conquest by China's Mongolian Yuan Dynasty. The present old town was organized in the late 14th century under the Hongwu Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. The area became significantly Muslim (Hui) under the Yuan and Ming and was the center of the Panthay Rebellion against the Qing from 1856–1863. It was severely damaged during a massive earthquake in 1925.
Rail and then air transport have permitted the area (particularly Dali Old Town) to become accessible to tourists in the 20th century. It is now one of China's official tourist cities and, along with nearby Lijiang, one of the most popular towns. In order to preserve the appeal of the old town, industrial development is restricted to newer townships such as Xiaguan. Building codes mandate that new construction in the old town and surrounding countryside must conform to the traditional Chinese style, with tiled roofs and bricks, plaster, or white-washed walls.
Geography
Dali City is located in western Yunnan, approximately 250 km northwest of the provincial capital of Kunming.
Dali is situated in the transition area between the dramatic valleys of the eastern Tibetan Plateau and the distinctive mountains of the western Yungui Plateau. The county-level city surrounds Erhai Lake between the Cang Mountains to the west and Mount Jizu to the east. The county seat at Xiaguan is located at the outlet of the lake into the Yangbi River. Dali Old Town is situated on a fertile plain between the Cang Range and Erhai. This plain has traditionally been settled by the Bai and Yi minorities.
Climate
Its low latitude tempered by its high elevation, Dali has a mild subtropical highland climate (Köppen Cwb) with short, mild, dry winters and warm, rainy summers. Frost may occur in winter but the days still generally warm up to 16 °C (61 °F) or more. During summer, a majority of the days features some rainfall and daytime temperatures rise to 25 °C (77 °F). A great majority of the year's rainfall occurs from June to October. December 2013 was particularly marked for its high snowfall.
Source: Wikipedia
2 weeks volunteering in Zigong, China
In the Summer of 2017 I volunteered for 2 weeks with the Jackson Family Christian Care Centre in Sichuan. Thank you for filling my heart with so much love and joy. I love you all~
The Hidden Valley Resort - Shangri-La (Yunnan) Hidden Gem
Amazing moments at The Hidden Valley Resort in Shangr-La , Yunnan Province, China.
China, Dali - Shilin (Stone Forest) - Kunming 2017
Dali Town (Chinese: 大理镇; pinyin: Dàlǐ Zhèn) is a township-level division in Dali City, Yunnan, China. The town contains the historic centre of the county-level city of Dali and is also commonly known as Dali Old Town (Chinese: 大理古城; pinyin: Dàlǐ Gǔchéng). Dali has long been a regional centre of commerce, being located at a crossroads of trade routes between Tibet, China, Burma, and Southeast Asia. The Bai people first settled the region 3000 years ago. The old town was the medieval capital of both the Bai kingdom Nanzhao (fl. 8th and 9th centuries) and the Kingdom of Dali (937–1253). That city was razed and its records burnt during its conquest by China's Mongolian Yuan Dynasty. The present old town was organized in the late 14th century under the Hongwu Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. The area became significantly Muslim (Hui) under the Yuan and Ming and was the center of the Panthay Rebellion against the Qing from 1856–1863. It was severely damaged during a massive earthquake in 1925.
The Stone Forest or Shilin (Chinese: 石林; pinyin: Shнlнn) is a notable set of limestone formations about 500 km2 located in Shilin Yi Autonomous County, Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China, near Shilin approximately 90 km (56 mi) from the provincial capital Kunming.
The tall rocks seem to arise from the ground in a manner somewhat reminiscent of stalagmites, or with many looking like petrified trees, thereby creating the illusion of a forest made of stone. Since 2007, two parts of the site, the Naigu Stone Forest (乃古石林) and Suogeyi Village (所各邑村), have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites as part of the South China Karst.
Film by Rob Sweitser.
Xijang Miao Village in Guanzhou Province, China
Hidden in the folds of the Leigong Hills, Xijiang is thought to be the largest Miao village. It's a superbly picturesque place, set in a natural basin and bordered by paddy fields drenched in green, with wooden houses rising up the hillside. The village is a site in itself and there are also plenty of pleasant walks you can take around the hillside.
Xijiang has a population of nearly six thousand, making it one of the largest Miao villages, though technically it is comprised of eight smaller villages located close to one another. Like most Miao villages, Xijiang lies in a valley. Situated on two hills in the valley, a small stream bisects the village.
Xijiang contains many examples of Miao architecture, which is known for its harmony with nature. Many of the inhabitants live in a type of house known as diao jiao lou. These are wooden houses with tile roofs and stilt-like supports built on hillsides. Cobblestone paths hiding under the tiled eaves lead the way to each Miao family. Xijiang`s silverwork and batik also rank among the village`s claims to fame.
Senior Miao women wear their long dark hair coiled up in neat buns on the top of their heads while the younger Miao women prefer to adorn them with large colorful plastic or bone combs and pretty flowers. Each woman has her traditional clothing, head dress and other jewelery which is worn at special festivals throughout the year.
The Road from Lijiang to Xianggelila (VID00317).AVI
The stretch of mountain road between Lijiang and Xianggelila (Shangri-La) is even more beautiful than the one between Dali and Lijiang - although it's becoming a more popular tourist destination, Shangri-La is the middle of nowhere in comparison to Lijiang. You can enjoy consistently thrilling scenery along the way, from rural villages, nestled in valleys, that until recently probably had almost no contact with the outside world to mountains, rivers, and forests.