5 April is the start of our last destination trip. We took
5pm train from Lijiang to Dali Ancient Town. The journey spends 2 hours 30
minutes with a sitting seat. We reach Dali railway station at 7.30pm and
directly took public bus Road 8 (number 8) outside of Dali Railway station to
Dali Ancient Town. The journey took us 45 minutes.
Dali is a maternal society. It means the owner in the home
is woman. Woman become the breadwinner and house chores doer. Dali woman are
the pillar of family to generate income and support whole family. Guy is marrying
to and stay at wife house.
Dali is well known for its Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake.
Both are renowned for the given name of “Silver Cangshan Mountain, Jade Erhai
Lake”. The peak of Cangshan Mountain is all year round covered by snow at above
sea level of 4122 meter. Erhai lake is crystal clear for the all year round
like shining jade. Dali latitude is stands at 2000 meter above sea level. In
this height, it is suitable for the plantation of tea. In Dali, sea level
within 2000m to 2500m are used for tea plantation, 2500m to 3000m is full of valuable
dioscorea opposite. Tea produced here in Dali are well known to all over the
world especially tea Pu-er. Sea level above 3000m in Cangshan Mountain contains
rich silver mining. Overall of Cangshan Mountain in Dali Anciend Town and Dali
itself which stretch over 53km are blessed with natural resources and fertile
soil for tea plantation, dioscorea opposite and silver mine.
Bai minority is the main tribal in the Dali. They get the
name of Bai (means white) is because their daily activities and attire closely
related to white color: Stay at building painted with white color and ink and
wash painting, eat rice noodle(which is white color), wear white clothes, and wear silver bracelet and
silver necklace.
Bai minority called their lady as Jin Hua (gold flower in
translation) and guy as Ah Peng. For those Ah Peng who is more fat and white is
more favourable by Jin Hua and enjoys better status. Those who are wear
spectacles also gain popularity within Jin Hua because wearing spectacles are
regarded as scholar and intellectual.
Bai minority still preserve their customs and cultures. Most
of Ah Peng are skillful in inscription and engrave at jade, silver, marble,
wood and plum. Ah Peng also good in dance and sing. The money that Ah Peng earned
will give to their wife to keep and manage. 3 taste tea (三道茶) are
Bai minority sole characteristic in their tea culture. First cup of tea is in
bitter taste, second cup of tea is in sweet taste, and the third cup of tea is
mixed with bitter and sweet taste. It describe the Bai minority livelihood in
their whole life, start with bitter taste when struggle outside during young to
earn money and raise up family, then sweet taste when the children is growing
up and the livelihood are stable without economy burden, and lastly mix taste
to reflect back the past memory of bitter and sweet encounter.
Due to lack of Yunnan government investment to Dali, the
sources of economy growth at Dali depend on tobacco, arts and crafts, and
tourism. Based on tour guide, most of the tobacco tax are taken by government
and not used for development in Dali. Local Dali minority depends on arts and
crafts and tourism as the engine of growth and income generation. The income
and tax generated by tourism and arts and crafts are used to support local society,
family and sustain the growth and development of Dali.
Personal expense:
Lijiang – Dali: RMB36
Dali – Kunming: RMB105
Accommodation: RMB180 x 3 days
1 day tour to Erhai and Cangshan: RMB 100 (not recommended,
actual scenic area tour only 2 hours out of 8 hours)
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