Dali City

Coordinates: 25°40′52″N 100°18′1″E / 25.68111°N 100.30028°E / 25.68111; 100.30028
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Not to be confused with Daly City, California.
This article is about the county-level city in Yunnan (Dali Shi). For the old town (Dali Gucheng), see
Dali Town. For the seat of the local government, also known as "New Dali", see Xiaguan, Dali City. For the ancient kingdom in the area around Yunnan (937-1253), see Dali Kingdom. For the area in Taichung formerly known as "Dali City" on Taiwan, see Dali District
.
For other uses, see Dali (disambiguation).
Dali
大理市 · Dallit sil
Postal code
671003
Area code0872
ClimateCwb
Websitewww.yndali.gov.cn
Yunnan e-Portal
Dali City
Hanyu Pinyin
Dàlǐ shì

Dali City (

township-level
districts, two of which are also commonly referred to as Dali.

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.

formerly known as Tali,[a] is another division of Dali City, located 10 km (6.2 mi) 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.[3]

Geography

Dali City is located in western Yunnan, approximately 250 km (160 mi) northwest of the provincial capital of Kunming.

Dali is situated in the transition area between the dramatic valleys of the

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.

Climate data for Dali (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1971–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 23.3
(73.9) 		24.7
(76.5) 		27.1
(80.8) 		29.5
(85.1) 		31.4
(88.5) 		31.6
(88.9) 		30.3
(86.5) 		29.9
(85.8) 		28.8
(83.8) 		27.1
(80.8) 		24.4
(75.9) 		24.5
(76.1) 		31.6
(88.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 15.9
(60.6) 		17.8
(64.0) 		20.5
(68.9) 		23.2
(73.8) 		24.8
(76.6) 		25.7
(78.3) 		24.9
(76.8) 		24.9
(76.8) 		23.9
(75.0) 		21.8
(71.2) 		18.9
(66.0) 		16.5
(61.7) 		21.6
(70.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 8.9
(48.0) 		11.0
(51.8) 		13.9
(57.0) 		16.7
(62.1) 		19.0
(66.2) 		20.6
(69.1) 		20.1
(68.2) 		19.6
(67.3) 		18.3
(64.9) 		16.0
(60.8) 		11.9
(53.4) 		8.8
(47.8) 		15.4
(59.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 3.1
(37.6) 		4.9
(40.8) 		7.8
(46.0) 		10.7
(51.3) 		13.9
(57.0) 		16.7
(62.1) 		16.8
(62.2) 		16.3
(61.3) 		14.9
(58.8) 		12.3
(54.1) 		7.1
(44.8) 		3.5
(38.3) 		10.7
(51.2)
Record low °C (°F) −3.7
(25.3) 		−2.6
(27.3) 		−2.4
(27.7) 		1.0
(33.8) 		5.6
(42.1) 		8.5
(47.3) 		11.8
(53.2) 		10.5
(50.9) 		6.1
(43.0) 		4.2
(39.6) 		0.1
(32.2) 		−4.2
(24.4) 		−4.2
(24.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 29.3
(1.15) 		28.2
(1.11) 		34.2
(1.35) 		27.6
(1.09) 		82.5
(3.25) 		131.3
(5.17) 		199.7
(7.86) 		220.4
(8.68) 		157.3
(6.19) 		91.8
(3.61) 		24.6
(0.97) 		11.1
(0.44) 		1,038
(40.87)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 m) 4.2 5.6 8.0 9.0 10.7 14.7 19.4 19.0 17.5 12.9 5.0 2.6 128.6
Average snowy days 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 0.2 1.6
Average
relative humidity
(%) 		55 51 49 53 63 74 82 83 82 77 69 64 67
Mean monthly sunshine hours 230.8 211.7 226.1 211.1 202.1 160.5 123.0 129.0 127.3 155.0 207.2 233.0 2,216.8
Percent possible sunshine 69 66 60 55 49 39 30 32 35 44 64 72 51
Source 1: China Meteorological Administration[4][5]
Source 2: Weather China[6]

Administrative divisions

Dali's "Xiaguan Town", the rural county's large industrial settlement and economic, administrative, and transportation center.
Cityscape of Dali beside Erhai Lake
Night view of the old town
Dali University

Dali City has 3 subdistricts, 9 towns and 1 ethnic township.[7]

3 subdistricts
9 towns
1 ethnic township
Former
Qiliqiao Town (七里桥镇)
Map

History

Dali's Wuhualou in 1918.
Dali Old Town
, with Chongsheng Pagoda and the Cangshan range
South gate of the ancient city of Dali

The Dali area was formerly known as Xiemie (苴咩; Xiémiē). The old town was the medieval capital of both the

Qing from 1856 to 1863. It was severely damaged during a massive earthquake in 1925.[8]

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.

Economy

Much of the local economy now revolves around tourism and services catering to travelers.

Historically, Dali was able to control some of the trade between India and China and independently famed for the woodworkers of the town of Xizhou and for its high-quality marble, used both for construction and decorative objects. It was so prominent in the latter that the modern Chinese word for marble is literally "Dali stone" (大理石; dàlǐshí).

There is also local

tea.[10]

Culture

Transportation

Local transport

Local transport includes buses, taxis, bicycles, and boats on Erhai Lake. Local busses 4 & 8 provide service from Xiaguan to the old town (1 hr).[11] Tourists often rent bicycles from one of the many rental stores in the old town and explore the region by bike, for instance on a special bike trail around the Erhai lake.

Air

Guangzhou, and Guiyuan
.

Road

Dali (i.e.,

Burmese border
.

Long-distance busses run from the old town's west gate to Kunming (about 4½ hrs), Lijiang, and

Shangri-La. Every Monday, service is also available to Shaping
for its market.

Long-distance busses run from Xiaguan's stations on Jianshe Road.

Rail

Dali has

Shangri-La County and Ruili
in the future.

The

standard gauge line from Kunming, China to Kyaukphyu
port opened in 2021, with a station at Dali.

Tourism

The Three Pagodas of Chong Sheng Temple

Dali is one of Yunnan's most popular tourist destinations. Sights include:

  • Dali Municipal Museum (大理市博物馆): This centrally located museum houses permanent exhibitions on archaeological findings from the region, on paintings and on Buddhist sculptures.
  • Three Pagodas and Chongsheng Temple
  • Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils film city
  • Xizhou: a historical town famed for its architecture and woodwork
  • Shuang lang: on the east side of the lake, once a small fishing village, now a rather high-class tourist destination, most buildings and businesses having overtaken the village since 2012. The coast is now completely built up by tourism estates.
  • Cang Mountain, west of the Old City and the Three Pagodas
  • Stele in memory of
    stone tortoise in Sanyue Lane (三月街) at the foot of the Cang Mountain, west of the Old City.[12]
Dali Ancient Town

Notes

  1. ^ The name has also been romanized as Ta-le or Ta-le Foo[2]

References

  1. ^ City Population. "Dàlĭ Shì (County-level City)". Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  2. ^ Baynes, T. S., ed. (1878), "China" , Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. 5 (9th ed.), New York: Charles Scribner's Sons
  3. ^ "Dali Attractions". Travel China Guide. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  4. ^ 中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Archived from the original on 5 September 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  5. ^ "Experience Template" 中国气象数据网 (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  6. ^ 大理 - 气象数据 -中国天气网 (in Chinese). Weather China. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  7. ^ "国家统计局" (in Chinese). National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China. Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  8. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K. Archived
    from the original on 14 March 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Tourism City", China National Tourism Administration, CNTA Information Center, 2007, archived from the original on 2017-01-10, retrieved 2015-10-25
  10. ^ Forbes, Andrew; Henley, David (2011). China's Ancient Tea Horse Road. Chiang Mai: Cognoscenti Books. ASIN: B005DQV7Q2
  11. ^ "Dali Ancient Town" ChinaTour.net Archived 2016-12-29 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 31 March 2014
  12. ^ 元世祖平云南碑. yunnaninfo.com. Archived from the original on 28 December 2009. Retrieved 13 November 2016.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dali City.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Dali.
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