Dali Old City

Dali Old City is located the west of Yunnan Province. Its history dates back to Tang Dynasty. Its area is about 3 square kilometers. Dali Old City is the center of policy, economy and culture of Yunnan Province during Tang and Song Dynasty.

Dali Old City covers over 1000 meters from the east to west, and over 2000 meters from south to north. There are 3 north-south streets and 5 to 6 west-east alleys. The housed in the old city are civil structures and the roof are installed by grey Chinese roof tiles. The street are paved by bluestone. Moreover, there are the spring from Cang Mountain flowing in the most of streets.

There are four city gates and four turrets of the old city. The four city gates are the east gate Erhai Gate, the south gate Shuanghe Gate, the west gate Cangshan Gate, the north gate Santa Gate. There is one river out of the city. The houses in the city are ranged as the checker.

The buildings in the old city are unified style, antique and simple. The old city still keeps lots of buildings in Ming and Qing Dynasty and Republican period, like temples, academies, churches, etc.

                                                                                                           ------  reprint news from China Royal Gardens