Top Menu

Tag Archives | Dali

Disappointing Dali

One of the four big gates surrounding Dali, Yunnan, China

One of the four big gates surrounding Dali, Yunnan, China

Dali’s Old Town is surrounded by high walls, its four big gates leading to the city center at the “Point of the four directions of the wind”. Different to Lijiang, “real” people live here, but the architecture is nowhere as remarkable. Basically, there is a main drag with souvenir shops where Chinese tourists are shown around by local tour guides dressed in Bai costumes. Our lack of enthusiasm for this place may also have to do with the fact that it rained, rained, rained… Continue Reading →

A So Very Chinese Travel Experience

 

In the streets of Dali, Yunnan, China

In the streets of Dali, Yunnan, China

Another entertaining bus ride took us from Lijiang to Dali. Of course, as usually we were the only foreigners on the bus. We left Lijiang in the morning and for the next three hours passed little communities or rural areas with people working in rice fields. Our Chinese co-travelers always found a reason to loudly, repeat loudly, discuss various issues. The card games going on around us repeatedly seemed to turn into a veritable fight, but when we turned our heads, everybody was smiling at us. Continue Reading →