Many people come to Dali Old City and only know about the ancient city, but they don't know that as an ancient country with a history of more than 500 years, there are many ancient towns, such as Weishan, Shaxi, Xizhou
Today, we recommend a thousand year old Xizhou Ancient Town near the sea, which has convenient transportation and is not far from the ancient city. Xizhou is located 18 kilometers north of Dali Old City, east of Erhai Lake, west of Cangshan Mountain. Xizhou is an important town where Bai people live together, and has the most preserved and best Bai people's residential buildings. From a layout perspective, it is a typical Bai ethnic courtyard pattern of "three courtyards and one screen wall" and "four in five courtyards". The colorful decorative arts of carved beams and painted rafters, arch of wooden architecture overlapping, cornices, gatehouses, screen walls and gables in these dwellings are colorful, which fully reflects the architectural talent and artistic creativity of the Bai people
1. Historical Background
Xizhou is the location of an administrative district town government, but historically it has had the scale of a city. Long before the migration of Nanzhao to the area around Erhai Lake, this was the settlement of the Bai ethnic group's ancestors, known as the "He Man". At that time, it was called Dali City, and there were already many residents. Legend has it that Emperor Wen of Sui had a general named Shi Wansui who stationed troops here, so he called it Shi City. The nearby Pingbazi was called "Shi Yun" (meaning the same as Dian). At the end of the Southern Edict, a palace was built here again. The pattern of the city can be traced back to the place names, with village names such as the north, east, and south of the city surrounding it. In the past, archaeologists also excavated tiles with Chinese characters, thick cloth patterns, and lotus patterns from the Nanzhao period in the town
In history, Xizhou Town was a military stronghold of Nanzhao, with a relatively developed culture, and had exported many well-known figures from all walks of life to the country. In the past, Xizhou's industry and commerce were also relatively developed, and it was once one of the commercial centers in Yunnan
2. Cultural customs
- Clothing
Bai ethnic clothing Bai ethnic men and women worship white and regard it as noble. White men often wear white collared jackets, black collar coats, or several leather or silk collar coats, commonly known as "three drops of water". Bai women often wear white tops, red camisoles, or light blue tops, with black velvet collars and jackets, embroidered short waistbands around the waist, blue wide pants, and embroidered "hundred knot shoes" on their feet. Unmarried women wear a single braid on their heads and wrap it around a white headscarf with a bright red headband. The red and white complement each other perfectly. Embroidered short waistband around the waist adds vibrant colors and a beautiful and elegant appearance. Married women change to wearing a bun
- Festivals
The unique festivals of the Bai ethnic group include "Around the Three Spirits", "Main Festival", "Playing in the Sea", as well as the Bai people's own "Torch Festival" and many other festivals
- Three course tea
Three course tea is a hospitality gift for the Bai ethnic group. The Bai people pour half a cup of tea in a boat, and fill a full cup of wine. They believe that 'when the wine is full, respect others; when the tea is full, deceive others'. For the first tea, select coarser and bitter tea leaves and put them into a small clay pot. Bake over low heat and then pour boiling water. This tea, although fragrant, is called the 'bitter tea'. The second tea, added with brown sugar, milk fan, walnut kernels, and sesame seeds, is sweet and delicious, called "sweet tea". The third tea consists of honey and 4 to 6 Sichuan peppercorns mixed together, with a mix of sweetness and bitterness, bitterness and sweetness, and a hint of spiciness, which is called "aftertaste tea"
- Architecture
The basic forms of Bai ethnic dwellings in Xizhou are courtyard houses and quadrangle houses, and the three bay "square" is the basic combination unit of architecture. The courtyard is a typical combination form, consisting of three blocks and a set of screen walls, called "three blocks and one screen wall". There are ear rooms and a leaky corner courtyard between the two blocks' mountain walls. A quadrangle courtyard is a closed courtyard composed of four buildings, with leaky corner courtyards at all four corners. Combined with the courtyard, it is called a "four in five courtyard". This can form a courtyard with two to four or five layers, called a "heavy courtyard". In Xizhou Town, there are more than ten "Six Contract Spring" style buildings with multiple courtyards, represented by the Yan Family Courtyard on Sifang Street in the town. Up to now, there are as many as 99 well preserved residential buildings built between the Ming, Qing, and Republic periods
Xizhou residential buildings pay special attention to the artistic decoration inside the building, such as eaves, wooden doors and windows, exquisite screen walls, colorful paintings, marble paintings, ancient wells, etc., which are very exquisite and beautiful, making Xizhou residential buildings full of artistic charm
3. Recommended check-in locations
[Xizhou Ancient Town]Once popular all over the internet due to the beautiful scenery of wheat waves blown by the wind, as a filming location for the TV drama"Going to a Windy Place"The stunning rural scenery of Xizhou has once again become a poem and distant place that people long for. Follow Liu Yifei to Dali for a healing journey. Strolling along the cobblestone streets, pedestrians and small pointed tile houses form a beautiful picture against the blue sky and white clouds. If you get tired, have a cup of coffee or a bowl of Dali's characteristic rice cold shrimp, eat a crispy and sticky Xizhou Baba, watch people come and go, and immerse yourself in the smoke and fire atmosphere. Corner Tower is Xizhou's earliest website. Red check-in point, this ancient half enclosed building has a Xizhou photo studio inside the corner building. The interior decoration is full of traces of the wind and frost erosion of the last century. You can take a set of retro photos inside, or choose one or two refrigerator stickers with Xizhou characteristics as a souvenir.
[Xilin Garden Yellow Wall]Surrounded by a whole field, the simplicity of the tile yellow wall attracts many tourists to take photos and check in. Here, you can enjoy different scenery throughout the year, affectionately known as the 'cultural dream blooming in the rice fields' by the local residents. Summer is a green rice/wheat field, it can heal your restlessness; Autumn, accompanied by cool autumn winds, is a golden rice field where you can experience the joy of a bountiful harvest; In the winter and spring seasons, this place is filled with rapeseed flowers, and strolling in the sea of flowers is extremely comfortable. Under the blue sky and white clouds, any photo taken is a blockbuster that can satisfy your experience of the fairy tale world in Hayao Miyazaki's manga, making you deeply fall in love with this place.
【 Daqingshu 】In addition to Xilin Garden, when it comes to the symbol of Xizhou, Daqingshu is always indispensable. Daqingshu is a couple tree located at the head of Xizhou Village. These two large banyan trees are lush with branches and leaves, symbolizing the prosperity of the village. Standing here for a hundred years, guarding the Bai people and witnessing the love that comes from all over the world
【 Yan Family Courtyard 】If it is a regret not to go to Xizhou in Dali, then it is the biggest regret not to go to Yan Family Courtyard in Xizhou. If Xizhou is a book that never gets tired of reading, then Yan Family Mansion is the most outstanding chapter in this book. Entering the tall and complex gate with upturned corners and flying eaves, you will find a courtyard with "three courtyards and one screen wall". There are calligraphy and paintings on the screen wall, and the flowers and trees sway, making your eyes shine brightly. Entering the hall is a grand courtyard with "four in five courtyards", with corners and courtyards extending in all directions, like a maze. After the winding path leads to a secluded place, there is another courtyard with a unique "four in five courtyards"
[Sea Tongue Park]Not far from Xizhou Ancient Town, there is a Changxing sandbar facing the water on three sides. It is a small ecological park by the Erhai Lake - Sea Tongue Park. The Sea Tongue Park of Xizhou Ancient Town in Dali combines Bai ethnic customs with natural beauty, making it a good place for travel photography and leisure. Surrounded by the sea on three sides, the scenery is breathtaking, suitable for strolling, taking photos, and experiencing the magnificence and tranquility of nature. The reason why it is called this name is because it is like a tongue, walking to the tip of the tongue and reaching the end
[Butterfly Spring]Butterfly Spring covers an area of more than 50 square meters and has a depth of six meters. It is a type of fissure spring formed on a fault zone exposed on granite rocks. The spring water flows out from the gravel in the upper part of the alluvial fan and gathers in a blue and lush pond. Marble railings are embedded around the spring pool, and the marble on the west wall of Butterfly Spring is engraved with the three characters "Butterfly Spring" written by Guo Moruo. The butterfly trees by the pond lie like a green dragon on the spring pool. Xizhou Baba is a famous snack in the historical city of Xizhou, mainly made of flour. There are two flavors: sweet and salty. During the cooking process, two layers of charcoal fire are used, with the upper layer being over high heat and the lower layer being over low heat. After brushing lard on the prepared dough, it is baked in a pot. During the baking process, the dough is repeatedly brushed with oil until fragrant and crispy. Xizhou Baba has a crispy outer skin and a soft inner texture, which is highly loved by people. It has distinct layers and resembles the 19 peaks and 18 streams of Cangshan, making it a beautiful and delicious dish
[Roast Milk Fan]There are also Yunnan Eighteen Monsters selling "milk made fans" -Roast Milk Fan
5. Travel recommendations
If you want to spend less, Xizhou Ancient Town is a place worth checking in, enjoying a slow life and simple customs
The editor introduces a classic cost-effective route about Yunnan: in just 4 days, connect Dali, Lijiang, and two classic IPs. The itinerary is flexible, with rich landscapes and in-depth experiences, allowing you to experience ethnic minority customs and gain a full harvest, satisfying all your imaginations of flowers, snow, and moon
Day 1: All over the country - Lijiang
Day 2: Lijiang - Lashi Sea Tea Horse Ancient Road - Yulong Snow Mountain Scenic Spot - Blue Moon Valley - Shuhe Ancient Town - "Lishui Jinsha" Performance - the Old Town of Lijiang
Day 3: Lijiang - Dali - Shuanglang Ancient Town - Jinsuo Island Featured Cruise Boat - Erhai Dragon Palace Cave - Featured "Sea Cabbage" Performance - Santorini Idealia
Day 4: Dali Old City - Online Red Jeep Car Tour Photography - Xizhou Ancient City Town Panxi S Bay
PS: friends who need strategies or want to go can leave a message