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UNIVERSITY OF DALI
SCHOOLS OF MEDICINE AND EDUCATION.
The Pingyunnan Stele of Emperor Yuanshizu  The Pingyunnan Stele of the Emperor
Yuanshizu is in the center of March Street Square in the western part of the
ancient City of Dayushi, at the foot of Zhonghe Peak in Cangshan Mountains. The
stele was built in 1307, the 11th year of the reign of Yuan Dynasty Emperor
Chengzhong. It is 4.44 meters high and 1.65 meters wide. It is made of two huge
pieces of granite standing on the back of a stone turtle, hence its other name
of Turtle Stele. It records how Yuan Emperor Khublai Khan pacified Yunnan and
divided it into counties. Also it explains how Yunnan Province was established.
Mansion of Du Wenxiu
The Dehua Stele in Nanzhao  The Dehua Stele in Nanzhao
is at the foot of Fading Peak of Cangshan Mountains in the middle of Dali and
Xiaguan and is six kilometers from Xiaguan City proper. It faces Erhai Lake,
with its back to the Cangshan Mountains. The stele was built in 766, the first
year of the reign of Tang Emperor Dehua. It is 3.02 meters high, 2.27 meters
wide and 0.58 meter thick. Made of sandstone, the stele records the political
and military affairs of Nanzhao State and the cause of the Tianbao Battle
between Nanzhao and Tang forces. Most important is the fact that the stele
records Yunnan Province and the relations between these groups.Tomb of Du Wenxiu  The Tomb of Du Wenxiu is located in
the eastern part of Xiadui Village, five kilometers southeast of Dali. Du Wenxiu
was born in 1823, and died at the age of 49 in 1872. Du was a commander of a
peasant uprising during the late Qing Dynasty, and established his power in Dali
in September 1856. The uprising failed in November 1872, and Du was killed on
December 26, 1872. His tomb was built in the sixth year of the Republic and was
rebuilt in 1985. The tomb is 5.7 meters high and occupies an area of 4,340
square meters.
The Grotto of the General  The Grotto of the General, or the
Temple of the General, is two kilometers northwest of Xiaguan, near Dali. It was
built during the Ming Dynasty and occupies 0.67 hectare. It is composed of the
Gate Tower, the Bazi Building and the Main Hall. The temple is now part of the
Cangshan Park. It was built for the Tang Dynasty General Li Mi, who was sent to
occupy Nanzhao in 754, or the 13th year of the reign of Tang Emperor Tianbao.
The General drowned himself in a nearby river after his army was destroyed. A
legend says that the local people built this temple to worship his stature.The Dragon-tail City  The Dragon-tail City was the
southern gateway to the states of Nanzhao and Dali, on the northern reaches of
the Erhe River in Xiaguan, Dali. According to the book history of Yunnan
Province, "Dragon-tail City was built by Ge Luofeng, and extends several
kilometers along the southern slopes of Cangshan Mountains. The city gate faces
the Erhe River and a bridge over the river is 100 feet long." With Cangshan
Mountains and Erhai Lake as natural barriers, the earthen city wall was built
along Xieyang Peak and along the northern bank of the Erhe River as far as New
Bridge. The city was a fortress protecting the capital of the states of Nanzhao
and Dali.
The Mirror Pavilion  The Mirror Pavilion is at the
southern end of Mount Yu'an on the east bank of Erhai Lake. It borders the
ancient Luoquan Temple. The pavilion faces water on three sides and faces Jinsuo
(Golden Shuttle) Island across the lake in the south. At the foot of the
pavilion is the mirror-like water surface, reflecting the Cangshan Mountains,
hence the name of the pavilion. The magnificent pavilion has been rebuilt, and
is a famous scenic spot by Erhai Lake.
The Qingbi Stream in the Cang Mountains  The Qingbi Stream is also named as
the Green basin Water. The Qingbi Stream is located between the Shenying Peak
and the Malong Peak of the Cang Mountains, which are located in the southwest of
the ancient city of Dali, Yunnan Province. The mountain spring wells up just
from the root of the rocks. It looks like gushing pearls and pouring jades in a
shape of a big basin. There are 3 levels of the basin, where the water is very
clear and the stones are beautiful, making a unique combination of green and
blue, so it was called Qingbi Stream. The Qingbi Stream is one of the top 18
streams in the Cang Mountains. The 3 pools of the Qingbi Stream are attracting
innumerable tourists with its unique fascinations.Ming's Xu Xiake climbed up the real world of the mountains in spite of all the dangers and sufferings and left behind him excellent diaries of his tour and poems for us. What the great painter Xu Beihong praised of the stream is that "No one of the peaks, gorges, forests and springs can's be expressed in the paintings", and regarded the appreciation of the scenes here as the utmost enjoyments of "the satisfaction of soul".
The Horse-washing Pond in the Cangshan Mountains
The Dragon-eye Cave  The Dragon-eye Cave is on Piyu
Cliff, located on the southern slope of Longquan Peak in the Cangshan Mountains,
to the west of the ancient city of Dali. The towering cliff is like a rampant
blue dragon. A path along the cliff leads to the Dragon-eye Cave at the top. By
the mouth of the cave, there is a stone bridge called the Immortal Bridge.
Across the bridge comes the Mouse Road, which leads to the Xuandi, Wendi and
Yuhuang pavilions.
The Cultural City of Nanzhao  The Cultural City of Nanzhao is
one kilometer to the southwest of the ancient city of Dali. This is a replica of
a typical historical and cultural scene. Based on historical data and local
history, some historical and cultural sites have been selected to represent the
State of Nanzhao. The city is mainly composed of the Golden Hall, A Site for
Sacred Music, Wax Statues, Nanzhao Cultural Street, Gardens, all reflecting the
brilliant history and culture of the State of Nanzhao, including famous
celebrities and the influence of Buddhism.
Houses of Bai Ethnic Group  Houses of Bai Ethnic Group are made
of earth and timber. The rooms are arranged along the east-west axis, and the
front and rear yards are built along the south-north axis. The main gate is at
the northeast corner. The main building stands in the west and faces east or
stands in the east and faces west. The main building and the side buildings, a
sitting room and a screen wall behind the gate constitute a closed courtyard.
This is a typical residential house of the Bai ethnic group. A corridor leads to
the main building, or there are buildings on three sides with a screen wall
behind the gate or four groups of buildings with five courtyards.There are two kinds of gate tower. The residential houses of the Bai minority people demonstrate their long history and culture, and sophisticated architecture.
Snake-bone Tower
 Snake-bone Tower or Buddhist
Picture Tower is on the east slope of Xieyang Peak of Cangshan Mountains, 11
kilometers south of ancient city of Dali, 800 meters right of the highway and
three kilometers from Dali Citys proper. This hollow brick square tower is 30.7
meters high and has 13 eaves. Its architectural style is similar to that of the
largest pagoda at Chongsheng Temple and was built in 836, the first year of the
reign of the Tang Dynasty Emperor Kaicheng.
The Three Capitals Tour  The three Capitals
Tour was developed during the State of Nanzhao. At first, it was a Buddhist rite
of the Bai ethnic group. Later, it developed into a spring outing. The
"Three Capitals" refers to the Capital of Buddhism, the Capital of the
Gods and the Capital of the Immortals. The Capital of Buddhism is the Chongsheng
Temple, which is dedicated to Master Duan of the "Eight Classes of Brave
Divine Beings". The Capital of the Gods is the Shengyuan Temple at the foot
of the Cangshan Mountains, which houses a statue of Duan Zongbang, the highest
patron god. The Capital of the Immortals is the Jingui Temple in He'ai City to
the east of Xizhou, in the garden of which Duan Zongbang used to play.
Dragon Boat Racing is one of the favorite sports of the Bai minority people living around Erhai Lake. Initiated in the time of the State of Nanzhao, during the Tang Dynasty, the races are held at the Torch Festival, on the 15th day of the sixth lunar month, each year. The races commemorate the sacrifice of the loyal wife of an ancient chieftain, who drowned herself in the lake. The 7-dragon-girl Pool in the Cang Mountains of Dali  The 7-Dragon-Girl Pool is located
on the Black Dragon Stream between the Dragon Spring and the Yuju Peak in the
Cang Mountains of Dali, Yunnan Province. It become a rare scenic spot in the
Cang Er Scenic Zone, due to its hanging rocks covering one on the another, its
streams flowing into a waterfall and falling down into a pool. Going up along
the streams, you can see the 7 Dragon-Girl Pools of the different natures lined
one by one. The lowest one the No.1 Dragon-Girl Pool and the top one is the No.7
Dragon-Girl Pool. They are separated with an average distance between them of
about 500 meters. While you are looking down from the top, you can hear the
sound of the gushing springs which sounds like thunder, and you can enjoy a
unique pleasure.
Butterfly Spring Park
Cangshan Mountains Scenic Area  The Cangshan Mountains or Diancang
Mountains are in the western part of Dali. They stretch 50 kilometers from south
to north. The mountains have 19 towering peaks. The highest peak is 4,092 meters
above sea level. The top of the mountains is covered with snow all year round.
The melting snow flows down the mountainsides in 18 streams, and finally empties
into Erhai Lake. On the Cangshan Mountains there are many natural scenes such as
the Dragon-eye Cave, the Phoenix-eye Cave, Seven Dragon Girls Pond, Qingbi
Stream and Taoxi Stream. A special road for viewing Jade Belt Cloud is 16
kilometers long.
Erhai Park  Erhai Park or Tuanshan Hill Park
is one kilometer east of Xiaguan, Dali City. It borders mirror-like Erhai Lake
in the north and is located at the foot of the Cangshan Mountains. It is a good
place for viewing the Cangshan Mountains and Erhai Lake. In ancient times, Erhai
Lake had a high water level and the park was just an island in the water, like a
dragon lying in the lake. So the mountains were called Dragon-resting Mountains
in olden times. Erhai Park was built in 1975, and covers an area of 113
Hectares. In the park, pine trees and flowers are every-where. Also there is an
azalea garden and a bamboo grove. The pavilions, towers and halls are good
places for tourists to relax in.
Erhai Lake Scenic Area  Erhai Lake, known as Yeyu Lake in
ancient times, is situated to the east of Dali. A plateau lake, it is 42
kilometers long and 3.5-7.5 kilometers wide. It is 150 kilometers in
circumference and covers an area of 252 square kilometers. The deepest spot is
21 meters. In spring, the water twinkles in the sunlight. In summer, the lake is
surrounded by green-trees, the branches of which stretch over the water. In
autumn, the lake is tranquil and charming. In winter, the twinkling water and
the snow-covered Cangshan Mountains form a charming contrast. In this scenic
area, there are three islets, four islands, five lakes, nine streams, eight
special views and four pavilions.
The Wuwei Temple The Bodhisattva Nunnery  The Bodhisattva Nunnery, or Dashi
Nunnery, is to the north of Qiliqiao Township. It is nine kilometers from
Xiaguan. It was built during the Ming Dynasty as a grand Buddhist temple. The
buildings in the temple are of different heights and are interspersed with
luxuriant trees. The imposing halls are filled with the scent of incense and the
sounds of wooden prayer clappers. This placid spot attracts numerous tourists
and devout Buddhists.
The Lesser Putuo  The Lesser Putuo is located on an
islet in Erhai Lake. It was built during the Ming Dynasty, and rebuilt in 1982.
Its pavilion structure has two stories. On the first story stands a statue of
Tathagata and on the second a statue of Avalokitesvara. From the second story,
there is a superb panorama: the Dali City proper and 10 of the peaks of the
Cangshan Mountains to the west, Haiyin, Wase, Lianhuaping and Yu'an mountains to
the east, the blue-walled and tiled houses of Jiangweiba in the shadow of trees
to the north and the expansive Erhai Lake with sailing boats on it to the south.
The Gantong Temple The Gantong Temple, or Tangshan Temple, is on the southern slope of Shengying Peak in the Cangshan Mountains, five kilometers south of the ancient city of Dali. The temple faces Erhai Lake, with its back to the snow-covered Cangshan Mountains in the south. It was built in the early years of the State of Nanzhao (early ninth century). It is composed of the Main Court and the Great Hall to the west of the Court. To the left of the front of the Hall is a bronze bell weighing hundreds of kilograms and to the right there was originally a big drum with a diameter of nearly two meters. But the drum no longer survives. The temple is appreciated as the foremost in Southwest China for its quiet environment, imposing halls and numerous ceremonies.
The Luosha Pavilion  The Luosha Pavilion is 15
kilometers south of the ancient city of Dali, and two kilometers west of Lianhua
Peak in the Cangshan Mountains. On a sacred platform inside the pavilion, there
is a seated statue of Avalokitesvara. The pavilion was built on a huge rock on a
mountain slope of the south bank of the Yangxi Stream. The rock is 16 meters
wide and 6 meters high. There is a crack in the middle, which is said to have
been made by a divine being with an axe.
The Hongsheng Temple Pagoda The Hongsheng Temple is 500 meters southwest of the ancient city of Dali. Built in the State of Dali, it is a hollow square pagoda made of bricks. The 16-story pagoda is 43.87 meters high. Above the gateway there is a marble relief sculpture of Buddha, and on the other three sides of the gateway there are niches for sacred statues. The eaves are built of brick in six layers and extend out for 0.67 of a meter. The body of the pagoda tapers towards the eaves. On each side of the pagoda there is a smaller pavilion-like pagoda.The Divine Temple  The Divine Temple is located on
Zhonghe Peak in the Cangshan Mountains to the west of Dali. It was where the
Tang envoy Cui Zuoshi discussed forming an alliance with the King of Nanzhao, Yi
Maoxun, in 794, the 10th year of the reign of the Tang Dynasty Emperor Zhengyuan
after the Battle of Tianbao. The environment here is charming and beautiful. The
main hall of the temple has a magnificent system of brackets and flying eaves.
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The mansion of Du Wenxiu is also
known as the Forbidden City. It is inside the South Gate of ancient city of Dali.
The mansion was built on the site of the former residence of the provincial
military commander of the Qing Dynasty. The thick-walled mansion has carved
eaves and yellow tiles. It has an earthen fortification, and this is why the
mansion is also called the Forbidden City. It occupies an area of 55,000 square
meters and is one kilometer in circumference. It is composed of the Wumen Gate,
Front Hall, Main Hall, Tianzi Terrace, Main Palace, Side Halls, Rear Palace and
Flower Hall. All the halls are magnificent, with painted and carved beams and
eaves.
The Horse-washing Pond lies
between the Yuju and Zhonghe peaks in the Cangshan Mountains. It is 4,000 meters
above sea level and is a high-latitude drift pond of the Quaternary Period. A
legend says when Khublai Khan made an expedition to Dali, he crossed the
Cangshan Mountains and washed his horses here. In late spring and early autumn,
the weather is clear, the snow has melted and the flowers are blossoming. So
both late spring and early autumn are the best seasons to visit the
Horse-washing Pond.
Dragon
Boat Racing
Butterfly Spring is at the foot
of Yunlong Peak in Cangshan Mountains, 30 kilometers north of the ancient city
of Dali. The clean spring water squeezes its way out of sand and pebbles at the
bottom of a 50-square-meter pond. The pond is circled by marble rails. Above the
rail, there are three marble rocks. On them are three Chinese characters reading
"Butterfly Spring" in famous modern writer Guo Moruo's calligraphy.
Around the pond are tall trees. In summer, these trees blossom and attract
flocks of butter flies, and hence are called "Butterfly Trees." In the
middle of the fourth lunar month, the scene is particularly attractive, and the
Butterfly Spring Festival is held on the 15th day of the fourth lunar month each
year Butterfly Spring is a famous tourist attraction.
The Wuwei Temple, which
is located at the Yangxiang Village in the city of Dali, Yunnan Province and is
25kms from the Lan Peak of the Cangshan Mountains, was built up in the Yuan
Dynasty and was rebuilt late in the Qing Dynasty. From east to west, the Wuwei
Temple has a great hall, passage hall, big palace and 5 wings up the north and
the south each. There kept a bronze bell, which was built with the silver money
that was collected by the Host of the temple Wu Ai and his apprentice Fa Hai in
the 10th year of Ming's Zhengtong (1445). This Bronze Bell is 12 meters high and
with a diameter of 1 meter. The sound it gives out when hit is loud and thick
and it can spread out far away to the distant mountains and fields, together
with sound of the wave of pine trees. Taking a broad view of the Er Sea, you
shall get what the colors of the water and the light of the sky combine into one
space of blue and white. It is very outstanding and imposing.