Dali

Dali (Chinese: 大ç?†; Hanyu Pinyin: DàlÄ­; Bai: Darl•lit) is a city in Yunnan province in the south of the People's Republic of China, located on a fertile plateau between the Cangshan mountains to the west and Erhai lake to the east. It has traditionally been settled by Bai and Yi minority. It is also the capital of the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture (Chinese: DàlÇ? Báizú zìzhìzhÅ?u 大ç?†ç™½æ—?自治州; Bai: Darl•lit Baif•cuf zirl•zirl•zox).

Dali is the ancient capital of both the Bai kingdom Nanzhao, which flourished in the area during the 8th and 9th centuries, and the Kingdom of Dali, which reigned from 937-1253. Dali was also the center of the Panthay Rebellion from 1856 - 1863.

Dali is also famous for the many types of marble it produces, which are used primarily in construction and for decorative objects. In fact, Dali is so famous for the stone that the name of marble in Chinese is literally "Dali Stone" (Chinese 大�石 pinyin dali shi).

Dali is one of Yunnan's most popular tourist destinations, both for its historic sites and the "Foreigners' Street" that features western-style food, music, and English-speaking business owners, making it popular among western and Chinese tourists, who come to gawk at the foreigners.

Dali museum
Chong Sheng Temple
Guanyin Palace of Copper Rain (rebuilt in 1999)
Jianji Great Bell of Nanzhao (recast in 1997)
Three Pagodas
Surrealist Group