Dali Ancient City, Yunnan Province China

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Dali Ancient City

Ancient City Dali lies inside the old town area of Dali City; a city that is famous for its literature, historical records, cultural of heritage and richest relic in Yunnan Province.

Historical records shows human resided here dated back as early as the New Stone Age. Therefore, large numbers of historic sites, cultural heritage records are far more than other areas. This ancient city not only attracts historian it is also an important tourist location.

Visiting this ancient city is to visit altogether three old cities, Taihe, Yanagjumie and Dalee. First Taihe City, in the city an ancient stone tablet "Dehua Tablet" is the object that was passed down from the Nanzhao Country (479 ~ 501A.D.).

Yangjumie City is the next town, because there were abound sheep, "Yang City" people call it, it means "City of Lamb". There is a tall gate in the city, if you take 300 steps from this tall gate, you will arrive at the second gate. At the second gate there are two doors standing face to face. Inside those two doors are the residences of the war hero Qingping, and other generals.

After the second door, take another 200 steps, you will be at the third door. Moreover, take another 100 steps you will come to a huge hall. The rooms in this hall are builded like layers one on top of another folds like a big spider net. It is very rare that there are no pillars in this entire building. Cross the huge hall there is a smaller hall, that is the palace for the old Nanzhao king.

Today Dali Ancient City is one of the most important historical, cultural heritage sites in China, it is one of the first group of historical site declared protected by the State Department of China.

History:

In West Han Dynasty (206B.C. ~ 24A.D.) a king developed this area and set up a county called "Yizhou" which is the earliest Dali County. Many small towns in this area later developed in to this entire section of the old ancient city.

Taihe city is surround by steep mountain, and there is no need to build the city walls all around because of it natural surroundings. The building materials used to construct the buildings are all from local mountains. Evidence shows the buildings in Taihe City received influence from Tang Dynasty (618 ~ 907A.D.). Historian discovered that the tiles with water lily pattern was used in Taihe City, were the same with those tiles used in Xongqing Palace in Chang An, then the Capital city of Tang Dynasty.

Yangjumie City is the same as Taihe City, there is only the south and north walls. Part of the city still leans against the steep mountain on one side and another faces Erhai Sea.

Tang Dynasty (618 ~ 907A.D.), near Yangjumie City people build a large complex named "Wuhua Building". The circuit length of this building is over 2.5 kilometers and its height is more then 33 meters. At its upper level, it can house 10,000 guests, at the lower lever flagpole higher than 17 meters can fit in it. People of Nanzhao used this building to entertain the chiefs from the southwest tribes.

Yuan Dynasty (1277 ~ 1367A.D.) once had established their Yunnan administrative area here. Makeboluo visited the old Dali City in late 13th century as an official of Yuan Dynasty. A large portion of the old city Dali City was rebuilt in Ming Dynasty (1386 ~ 1644 A.D.).