View source for Dali City

{{short description|City in Yunnan, China}}
{{about|the county-level city in China||Dali (disambiguation)#Places}}
{{stack begin}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Dali<!--not simply Dali-->
| official_name            = 
| native_name              = {{lang|zh-hans|大理市}} · {{lang|bfs|Dallit sil}}
| other_name               = 
| settlement_type          = [[County-level city]]
| motto                    = 
| image_skyline            = {{multiple image
  | border      = infobox
  | total_width = 290
  | image_style = border:1;
  | perrow      = 1/2/2
  | image1      = 太和街道全景图.jpg
  | caption1    = View of Dali City
  | image2 = Chongsheng Temple (11050634113).jpg
  | caption2= [[Three Pagodas]]
  | image3 = 大理古镇.jpg
  | caption3= [[Dali Town, Yunnan|Dali Town]]
  | image4 = 大理双廊-2489796.jpg
  | caption4= [[Erhai Lake]] in Shuanglang
  | image5 = 大理市-云岭大道.jpg
  | caption5= Yunling Avenue
  | image6 = 西洱河黑龙桥上向西拍摄.jpg
  | caption6= Xi'er River
  }}
| image_seal               = 
| seal_size                = 
| image_map                = 大理市位置图.svg
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Locations of Dali City (red) and [[Dali Prefecture]] (pink) within [[Yunnan]] and China
| image_map1               = 
| mapsize1                 = 
| map_caption1             = 
| image_dot_map            = 
| dot_mapsize              = 
| dot_map_caption          = 
| dot_x                    = 
| dot_y                    = 
| pushpin_map              = Yunnan#China
| pushpin_label_position   = 
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location in Yunnan
| pushpin_mapsize          = 250
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = [[China]]
| subdivision_type1        = [[Province (China)|Province]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Yunnan]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[Autonomous prefecture]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture|Dali]]
| seat_type                = Municipal seat
| seat                     = [[Haidong, Dali|Haidong]]
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = 
| leader_name              = 
| leader_title1            = 
| leader_name1             = 
| leader_title2            = 
| leader_name2             = 
| leader_title3            = 
| leader_name3             = 
| leader_title4            = 
| leader_name4             = 
| established_title        = 
| established_date         = 
| established_title2       = 
| established_date2        = 
| established_title3       = 
| established_date3        = 
| area_magnitude           = 
| unit_pref                = 
| area_footnotes           = 
| area_total_km2           = 1,738.63
| area_land_km2            = 
| population_as_of         = 2021
| population_footnotes     = <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yndali.gov.cn/dlszf/c106688/202203/5beb1aa0c6e84ddf8ddbd8ae9f977232.shtml |title=Dàlĭ Shì (County-level City) |last=City Population |access-date=19 December 2022 |archive-date=18 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818050731/http://www.yndali.gov.cn/dlszf/c106688/202203/5beb1aa0c6e84ddf8ddbd8ae9f977232.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>
| population_note          = 
| population_total         = 771,128
| population_density_km2   = 443.5
| population_blank1_title  = 
| population_blank1        = 
| population_density_blank1_km2 = 
| population_blank2_title  = 
| population_blank2        = 
| timezone                 = [[China Standard Time|China Standard]]
| utc_offset               = +8
| coordinates              = {{Wikidatacoord|Q855228|type:adm3rd_region:CN-53|display=it}}
| coor_pinpoint            = Dali Prefecture government
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_m              = 1975
| postal_code_type         = [[Postal code of China|Postal code]]
| postal_code              = 671003
| area_code                = [[Telephone numbers in China|0872]]
| blank_name               = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info               = [[Oceanic climate#Subtropical highland variety (Cfb, Cwb)|Cwb]]
| blank1_name              = 
| blank1_info              = 
| footnotes                = [http://www.yn.gov.cn/ Yunnan e-Portal]
| website                  = {{URL|http://www.yndali.gov.cn/}}
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| c = {{linktext|lang=zh|大理|市}}
| l = "Great reason"
| p = Dàlǐ shì
}}
{{stack end}}
'''Dali City'''<!--Chinese in infobox per WP:MOS-ZH--> ({{zh|c=大理市}}, [[Bai language|Bai]]: {{lang|bfs|Dallit sil}} or {{lang|bfs|Guiphet}}) is the [[county-level city|county-level]] [[county seat|seat]] of the [[Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture]] in northwestern [[Yunnan]], China. Dali City is administered through 12 [[Townships of the People's Republic of China|township-level]] districts, two of which are also commonly referred to as Dali.

[[Xiaguan, Dali City|Xiaguan]] ({{lang|zh-hans|下关}}) is the modern city centre and usually conflated with Dali City by virtue of being its seat. This [[Towns of the People's Republic of China|town]] is the destination of most long-distance transportation heading to Dali and is sometimes referred to as Dali New Town ({{lang|zh-hans|大理新镇}}) to avoid confusion.

[[Dali Town, Yunnan|Dali Town]] ({{lang|zh-hans|大理镇}}), [[Postal romanization|formerly known]] as '''Tali''',{{efn|The name has also been [[romanization of Chinese|romanized]] as '''Ta-le''' or '''Ta-le Foo'''<ref>{{cite EB9|mode=cs2|wstitle=China|ref={{harvid|''EB''|1878}}|volume=5}}</ref>}} is another division of Dali City, located {{convert|10|km|abbr=on}} north of Xiaguan. This town, commonly referred to as Dali Old Town ({{lang|zh|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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dali Attractions |url=http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/yunnan/dali/ |website=Travel China Guide |access-date=17 December 2014 |archive-date=20 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120073027/http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/yunnan/dali/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Geography==
Dali City is located in western [[Yunnan]], approximately {{convert|250|km|abbr=on}} northwest of the provincial capital of [[Kunming]].

Dali is situated in the transition area between the dramatic valleys of the [[Hengduan Mountains|Hengduan ranges]] on the eastern edge of the [[Tibetan Plateau]] and the distinctive mountains of the western [[Yungui Plateau]]. The county-level city surrounds [[Erhai]] Lake between the [[Cang Mountain]]s 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 people|Bai]] and [[Yi people|Yi]] minorities.

Dali City borders [[Binchuan County]], [[Xiangyun County]] and [[Heqing County]] to the east, [[Weishan Yi and Hui Autonomous County|Weishan County]] and [[Midu County]] to the south, [[Yangbi County]] to the west, and [[Eryuan County]] to the north.

==Climate==
Its low latitude tempered by its high elevation, Dali has a mild [[subtropical highland climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Cwb'') with short, mild, dry winters and warm, rainy summers. Frost may occur in winter but the days still generally warm up to {{convert|16|°C}} or more. During summer, a majority of the days features some rainfall and daytime temperatures rise to {{convert|25|°C}}. A great majority of the year's rainfall occurs from June to October. December 2013 was particularly marked for its high snowfall.

{{Weather box
| width = auto
| metric first = y
| single line = y
| collapsed = Y
| location = Dali, elevation {{convert|1978|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1971–2020)
| Jan high C = 15.9
| Feb high C = 17.8
| Mar high C = 20.5
| Apr high C = 23.2
| May high C = 24.8
| Jun high C = 25.7
| Jul high C = 24.9
| Aug high C = 24.9
| Sep high C = 23.9
| Oct high C = 21.8
| Nov high C = 18.9
| Dec high C = 16.5
| Jan mean C = 8.9
| Feb mean C = 11.0
| Mar mean C = 13.9
| Apr mean C = 16.7
| May mean C = 19.0
| Jun mean C = 20.6
| Jul mean C = 20.1
| Aug mean C = 19.6
| Sep mean C = 18.3
| Oct mean C = 16.0
| Nov mean C = 11.9
| Dec mean C = 8.8
| Jan low C = 3.1
| Feb low C = 4.9
| Mar low C = 7.8
| Apr low C = 10.7
| May low C = 13.9
| Jun low C = 16.7
| Jul low C = 16.8
| Aug low C = 16.3
| Sep low C = 14.9
| Oct low C = 12.3
| Nov low C = 7.1
| Dec low C = 3.5
| Jan record high C = 23.3
| Jan record low C = −3.7
| Feb record high C = 25.5
| Feb record low C = −2.6
| Mar record high C = 27.1
| Mar record low C = −2.4
| Apr record high C = 29.5
| Apr record low C = 1.0
| May record high C = 31.4
| May record low C = 5.6
| Jun record high C = 32.3
| Jun record low C = 8.5
| Jul record high C = 30.3
| Jul record low C = 11.4
| Aug record high C = 30.8
| Aug record low C = 10.5
| Sep record high C = 28.8
| Sep record low C = 6.1
| Oct record high C = 27.5
| Oct record low C = 4.2
| Nov record high C = 24.4
| Nov record low C = 0.1
| Dec record high C = 24.5
| Dec record low C = −4.3
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 29.3
| Feb precipitation mm = 28.2
| Mar precipitation mm = 34.2
| Apr precipitation mm = 27.6
| May precipitation mm = 82.5
| Jun precipitation mm = 131.3
| Jul precipitation mm = 199.7
| Aug precipitation mm = 220.4
| Sep precipitation mm = 157.3
| Oct precipitation mm = 91.8
| Nov precipitation mm = 24.6
| Dec precipitation mm = 11.1
| Jan humidity = 55
| Feb humidity = 51
| Mar humidity = 49
| Apr humidity = 53
| May humidity = 63
| Jun humidity = 74
| Jul humidity = 82
| Aug humidity = 83
| Sep humidity = 82
| Oct humidity = 77
| Nov humidity = 69
| Dec humidity = 64
| unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 4.2
| Feb precipitation days = 5.6
| Mar precipitation days = 8.0
| Apr precipitation days = 9.0
| May precipitation days = 10.7
| Jun precipitation days = 14.7
| Jul precipitation days = 19.4
| Aug precipitation days = 19.0
| Sep precipitation days = 17.5
| Oct precipitation days = 12.9
| Nov precipitation days = 5.0
| Dec precipitation days = 2.6
| year precipitation days = 
| Jan sun = 230.8
| Feb sun = 211.7
| Mar sun = 226.1
| Apr sun = 211.1
| May sun = 202.1
| Jun sun = 160.5
| Jul sun = 123.0
| Aug sun = 129.0
| Sep sun = 127.3
| Oct sun = 155.0
| Nov sun = 207.2
| Dec sun = 233.0
| year sun = 
| Jan percentsun = 69
| Feb percentsun = 66
| Mar percentsun = 60
| Apr percentsun = 55
| May percentsun = 49
| Jun percentsun = 39
| Jul percentsun = 30
| Aug percentsun = 32
| Sep percentsun = 35
| Oct percentsun = 44
| Nov percentsun = 64
| Dec percentsun = 72
| year percentsun = 
| Jan snow days = 0.5
| Feb snow days = 0.4
| Mar snow days = 0.3
| Apr snow days = 0.1
| May snow days = 0
| Jun snow days = 0
| Jul snow days = 0
| Aug snow days = 0
| Sep snow days = 0
| Oct snow days = 0
| Nov snow days = 0.1
| Dec snow days = 0.2
| year snow days = 
| source 1 = [[China Meteorological Administration]]<ref name="cma graphical">{{cite web |url=http://data.cma.cn/data/weatherBk.html |script-title=zh:中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data |publisher=[[China Meteorological Administration]] |language=zh-hans |access-date=10 April 2023 |archive-date=5 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905194950/http://data.cma.cn/data/weatherBk.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://experience.arcgis.com/template/e724038fda394e9d9b7921f10fd1aa55/page/%E7%BA%AF%E8%A1%A8%E6%A0%BC%E7%BB%9F%E8%AE%A1-(%E5%AF%B9%E6%AF%948110%E5%8F%98%E5%8C%96)/?org=UQmaps |script-title=zh:中国气象数据网 |publisher=[[China Meteorological Administration]] |language=zh-hans |access-date=10 April 2023 |title=Experience Template |archive-date=4 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404092524/https://experience.arcgis.com/template/e724038fda394e9d9b7921f10fd1aa55/page/%E7%BA%AF%E8%A1%A8%E6%A0%BC%E7%BB%9F%E8%AE%A1-(%E5%AF%B9%E6%AF%948110%E5%8F%98%E5%8C%96)/?org=UQmaps |url-status=live }}</ref>[[NOAA]]<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/oceans/archive/arc0216/0253808/5.5/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/China/CSV/DALI_56751.csv
|title = Dali Climate Normals 1991-2020
|publisher = [[NOAA]]
|language = en-us
}}</ref>
| source 2 = Weather China<ref name = Clim>{{cite web |url=http://www.weather.com.cn/cityintro/101290201.shtml? |script-title=zh:大理 - 气象数据 -中国天气网 |publisher=Weather China |language=zh |access-date=21 November 2022 |archive-date=4 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704115935/http://www.weather.com.cn/cityintro/101290201.shtml? |url-status=live }}</ref>
| source = 
}}

==Administrative divisions==
[[File:Dali Xiaguan 01.JPG|thumb|Dali's "[[Xiaguan, Dali City|Xiaguan Town]]", the rural county's large industrial settlement and economic, administrative, and transportation center.]]
[[File:Cityscape of Dali.jpg|thumb|Cityscape of Dali beside Erhai Lake]]
[[File:1 dali old town yunnan 2012b.jpg|thumb|Night view of the old town]]
[[File:Dali University.jpg|thumb|[[Dali University]]]]
Dali City has 3 subdistricts, 9 towns and 1 ethnic township.<ref>{{cite web |title=国家统计局 |url=http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/tjbz/tjyqhdmhcxhfdm/2021/53/29/532901.html |access-date=14 June 2022 |publisher=National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China |language=zh |archive-date=14 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714224144/http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/tjbz/tjyqhdmhcxhfdm/2021/53/29/532901.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
;3 subdistricts
* [[Xiaguan, Dali City|Xiaguan]] ({{lang|zh-Hans|下关街道}})
* [[Taihe, Dali City|Taihe]] ({{lang|zh-Hans|太和街道}})
* [[Manjiang]] ({{lang|zh-Hans|满江街道}})
;9 towns
{|
|valign="top"|
*[[Dali Town]] ({{lang|zh-hans|大理镇}})
*[[Fengyi, Dali|Fengyi Town]] ({{lang|zh-hans|凤仪镇}})
*[[Xizhou, Dali|Xizhou Town]] ({{lang|zh-hans|喜洲镇}})
*[[Haidong, Dali|Haidong Town]] ({{lang|zh-hans|海东镇}})
|valign="top"|
*[[Wase, Dali|Wase Town]] ({{lang|zh-hans|挖色镇}})
*[[Wanqiao, Dali|Wanqiao Town]] ({{lang|zh-hans|湾桥镇}})
*[[Yinqiao, Dali|Yinqiao Town]] ({{lang|zh-hans|银桥镇}})
*[[Shuanglang, Dali|Shuanglang Town]] ({{lang|zh-hans|双廊镇}})
*[[Shangguan, Dali|Shangguan Town]] ({{lang|zh-hans|上关镇}})
|}
;1 ethnic township
*[[Taiyi, Dali|Taiyi Yi Ethnic Township]] ({{lang|zh-hans|太邑彝族乡}})
;Former : Qiliqiao Town ({{lang|zh-hans|七里桥镇}})

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"
! Map
|-
| {{Image label begin|image=大理市行政区划图.svg|width=400|link=}}
{{Image label|x=720|y=1300|scale=400/1840|text=[[Erhai Lake|<span style="color: Dodger Blue;">'''''Erhai<br><br>　　Lake'''''</span>]]}}
{{Image label|x=600|y=420|scale=400/1840|text='''Shangguan'''}}
{{Image label|x=300|y=900|scale=400/1840|text=[[Xizhou, Dali|<span style="color: black;">'''Xizhou'''</span>]]}}
{{Image label|x=350|y=1280|scale=400/1840|text='''Wanqiao'''}}
{{Image label|x=480|y=1500|scale=400/1840|text='''Yinqiao'''}}
{{Image label|x=600|y=1760|scale=400/1840|text=[[Dali Town, Yunnan|<span style="color: black;">'''Dali Town'''</span>]]}}
{{Image label|x=730|y=2100|scale=400/1840|text='''Taihe'''}}
{{Image label|x=940|y=2350|scale=400/1840|text=[[Xiaguan, Dali City|<span style="color: black;">'''Xiaguan'''</span>]]}}
{{Image label|x=340|y=2380|scale=400/1840|text='''Taiyi Yi'''}}
{{Image label|x=1070|y=2100|scale=400/1840|text='''Manjiang'''}}
{{Image label|x=950|y=550|scale=400/1840|text='''Shuanglang'''}}
{{Image label|x=1080|y=1050|scale=400/1840|text='''Wase'''}}
{{Image label|x=1180|y=1600|scale=400/1840|text='''Haidong'''}}
{{Image label|x=1420|y=2300|scale=400/1840|text='''Fengyi'''}}
{{Image label end}}
|}

==History==
[[Image:The American Museum journal (c1900-(1918)) (18162196821).jpg|left|thumb|Dali's Wuhualou in 1918.]]
[[Image:The old town of Dali.JPG|thumb|left|[[Dali Old Town]], with Chongsheng Pagoda and the Cangshan range]]
[[Image:Dali-puerta-sur-c02.jpg|thumb|left|South gate of the ancient city of Dali]]
The Dali area was formerly known as '''Xiemie''' ({{zh|labels=no|c=苴咩 |p=Xiémiē}}). The old town was the medieval capital of both the [[Bai people|Bai]] kingdom [[Kingdom of Nanzhao|Nanzhao]] (779–902) and the [[Kingdom of Dali]] (937–1253). That city was razed and its records burnt during its conquest by [[History of China|China]]'s [[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 [[Islam in China|Muslim]] ([[Hui people|Hui]]) under the Yuan and Ming and was the center of the [[Panthay Rebellion]] against the [[Qing Empire|Qing]] from 1856 to 1863. It was severely damaged during a [[1925 Dali earthquake|massive earthquake in 1925]].<ref name="NGDC">{{cite web |url=https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazel/view/hazards/earthquake/event-more-info/3261 |title=Significant Earthquake Information |last=National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS): NCEI/WDS Global Significant Earthquake Database. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information |date=1972 |publisher=NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information |access-date=14 March 2024 |doi=10.7289/V5TD9V7K |archive-date=14 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314172029/https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazel/view/hazards/earthquake/event-more-info/3261 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[History of rail transport in China|Rail]] and then [[air transport in China|air transport]] have permitted the area (particularly Dali Old Town) to become accessible to [[tourism in China|tourists]] in the 20th century. It is now one of China's official tourist cities<ref>{{citation |contribution-url=http://en.cnta.gov.cn/travelinchina/recommendedproducts/TourismCity/ |contribution=Tourism City |title=China National Tourism Administration |publisher=[[China National Tourism Administration|CNTA]] Information Center |date=2007 |access-date=2015-10-25 |archive-date=2017-01-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110202731/http://en.cnta.gov.cn/travelinchina/recommendedproducts/TourismCity/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and, along with nearby [[Lijiang, Yunnan|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, Dali City|Xiaguan]]. Building codes mandate that new construction in the old town and surrounding countryside must conform to the [[Chinese architecture|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 [[History of India|India]] and [[History of China|China]] and independently famed for the woodworkers of the [[Xizhou, Dali|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 [[Standard Chinese|modern Chinese]] word for marble is literally "Dali stone" ({{zh|labels=no|c={{linktext|大理石}} |p=dàlǐshí}}).

There is also local [[tea in China|tea]].<ref>Forbes, Andrew; Henley, David (2011). ''China's Ancient Tea Horse Road''. Chiang Mai: Cognoscenti Books. ASIN: B005DQV7Q2</ref>

==Culture==
* [[Third Month Fair]] (Sanyue Jie)

==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).<ref name="Dali Travel Guide">[http://chinatour.net/yunnan/dali/dali-ancient-town/"Dali Ancient Town" ChinaTour.net] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229202431/http://chinatour.net/yunnan/dali/dali-ancient-town/ |date=2016-12-29 }} Accessed 31 March 2014</ref> 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===
[[Dali Fengyi Airport]] (DLU) is a domestic airport about {{convert|13|km|abbr=on}} east of [[Xiaguan, Dali City|Xiaguan]] on Weishan or Airport Rd. Taxis run about 60&nbsp;[[RMB]] to Xiaguan or 90&nbsp;[[RMB]] to the old town.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} It services (as of 2014) [[Kunming Airport|Kunming]] (20 min), [[Xishuangbanna Gasa Airport|Xishuangbanna]] (25 min), [[Chongqing Airport|Chongqing]] (70 min), [[Chengdu Shuangliu Airport|Chengdu Shuangliu]]<!--Tianfu Airport was not yet open in 2014--> (80 min), [[Hongqiao Airport|Shanghai]], [[Beijing Capital International Airport|Beijing]], [[Shenzhen Airport|Shenzhen]], [[Guangzhou Airport|Guangzhou]], and [[Guiyuan Airport|Guiyuan]].

===Road===
Dali (i.e., [[Xiaguan, Dali City|Xiaguan]]) is connected to [[Kunming]] and points east by the [[G56 Hangzhou–Ruili Expressway|Hangrui Expressway]] (G56), which also runs west to [[Ruili, Yunnan|Ruili]] on the [[Burma|Burmese]] border. The [[G5611 Dali–Lijiang Expressway|Dali Expressway]] (G56₁₁) is a spur connecting it with [[Lijiang, Yunnan|Lijiang]]. The road to the old town is [[China National Highway 214]], which connects to the expressway to Lijiang north of the lake. It also runs south from Xiaguan to [[Menghai]] near the [[Burma|Burmese border]].

Long-distance busses run from the old town's west gate to Kunming (about 4½ hrs), Lijiang, and [[Shangri-La County|Shangri-La]]. Every Monday, service is also available to [[Shaping Village|Shaping]] for its market.

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

===Rail===
Dali has [[Dali railway station (Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture)|its own railway station]] with daily services to Kunming and [[Lijiang, Yunnan|Lijiang]]. Service to Kunming used to consist of one train during the day and two trains running overnight, with sleeper cars. Per July 2018 Dali is connected to Kunming with a modern high-speed train link with a frequency of one train per hour. As the railway network expands in Yunnan, train service will become available to [[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==
[[Image:3 pagodes de Dali.jpg|thumb|The [[Three Pagodas]] of Chong Sheng Temple]]
Dali is one of Yunnan's most popular tourist destinations. Sights include:

* Dali Municipal Museum ({{zh|labels=no|s=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|Three Pagodas and Chongsheng Temple]]
* [[Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils film city]]
* [[Xizhou, Dali|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 [[Kublai Khan]]'s conquest of Yunnan ({{zh|labels=no|s=[[:zh:元世祖平云南碑|元世祖平云南碑]]}}), erected on top of a large [[Bixi (mythology)|stone tortoise]] in Sanyue Lane ({{zh|labels=no|c=三月街}}) at the foot of the Cang Mountain, west of the Old City.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yunnaninfo.com/yunnan/dali/scenery_yuanshizhu.htm |script-title=zh:元世祖平云南碑 |website=yunnaninfo.com |access-date=13 November 2016 |archive-date=28 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091228060515/http://www.yunnaninfo.com/yunnan/dali/scenery_yuanshizhu.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{Wide image|大理的暮色.jpg|1150px|align-cap=center|Dali Ancient Town}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Dali City}}
{{Wikivoyage|Dali}}
*[http://www.yndali.gov.cn/ Dali City Official Website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051030185048/http://www.yndl.gov.cn/ Dali News and Information Network]

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[[Category:County-level divisions of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture]]
[[Category:Tourism in Yunnan]]
[[Category:Cities in Yunnan]]
[[Category:National Famous Historical and Cultural City]]