TRAVELLING & TREKKING

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Dali and Shaba

Yunnan, China 2004
A three and a half weeks' journey through Yunnan in south west China:
Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Zhongdian, Deqin

Dali

Dali lies at an altitude of about 1,900 meters. For many centuries, Dali was the principal city of Yunnan, far more important than Kunming. Dali was the capital of the Nanchao Kingdom, which made its power felt deep into China. Much later, in the mid-19^th century, Dali was a Muslim stronghold from were the Yunnan capital of Kunming was raided several times.
Dali is predominantly inhabited by Bai people, one of the strongest ethnic minorities in Yunnan province. - The Bai ethnic minority.
The main attraction of Dali is probably the surrounding countryside. To the west lies the Cangshan Mountain Range with peaks well above 4,000 meters and a large number of picturesque Buddhist temples. Along the east coast of Lake Erhai you find beautiful fishing and farming villages.
Dali is a legendary backpackers' paradise famous for its cafes and guesthouses where the traveller can relax with a cold beer and cheap lodging.

Dali is developing fast. Many of the traditional two-storeyed houses along the main street are being pulled down and replaced by concrete structures, and along the mountains and the lake urban development is taking place. However, Dali has not turned into a theme park like Lijiang. It is still a fine place to relax. To see old-style farming and fishing villages go across the lake to Haidong. The old ferry doesn’t run any more, so you have to get on one of the excessively priced government run tourist boats. Find a bus or mini bus to Shuanglang and walk around this beautiful little village.  On the way back to Dali stop at Zhoucheng, watch the afternoon market and explore this interesting old town.
 

Nogle af de gamle byhuse i Dali som endnu ikke er blevet ofret på moderniseringens alter   Jeg har lidt svært ved at genkende det Dali jeg husker fra 1984. Mange af de gamle huse i hovedgaden er blevet revet ned, gaden er udvidet og belagt med betonfliser, og i stedet er der bygget treetagers huse med supermarkeder i stueetagen. Markederne omkring byen er heller ikke helt så farverige mere. De unge piger foretrækker jeans for nationaldragter.
Gaderestaurant	Opholdsstuen i vores pension	Restaurationskøkken
	Michael Yang, 68 Boai Lu, surely the fastest talking, most trustworthy and conscientious travel agent in Dali. Highly recommended. Michael Yang ændrede vores flybilletter og ordnede taxa til markedet i Shaba og til lufthavnen - alt med den største omhu og grundighed. Mødte selv op med taxaen kl. halv seks om morgenen for at sikre at vi kom afsted.
NB: Klik på billedet for forstørrelse / Click on photos to enlarge Shaba Market - near Shaping north of Dali every Wednesday   På onsdags-markedet i Shaba (nær Shaping) nord for Dali kan man se mange kvinder i Bai-nationaldragter.
	Denne kvinde er næppe Bai
NB: Klik på billedet for forstørrelse / Click on photos to enlarge
På billedet til højre bliver chili-kværnen drevet af traktormotoren

Page 8   Erhai Lake, Dali

                                                            Last update December 05

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