Dali is a city whose beauty is worth savoring quietly, a small town brimming with the warmth of everyday life.
Erhai
Those who come to Dali for a stay would never miss cycling around Erhai Lake—where the sky and the lake rhyme in deep blue, and the wind that caresses the winter cherry blossoms also brushes against the passers-by, composing an ode. By the lakeside, there are plenty of tourists holding cameras, as if here, one is supposed to dress up beautifully and be happy and content.
When tired from cycling, one can stop by the roadside, sit on the lawn, and bask in the sun.
Xizhou Ancient Town
The first thing to do upon arriving in Xizhou Ancient Town is to buy a crispy Xizhou Baba (a local pastry). There are two varieties: sweet and savory.
The savory Baba is filled with minced fresh meat, lard, and chopped green onions. The sweet Baba uses red bean paste and rose flower sauce as ingredients, and it is baked with double-sided charcoal fire, resulting in an irresistible aroma.
The fragrance of Xizhou Ancient Town is not only in its Baba pastries. Winter cherry blossoms, roses, and daisies… In Dali, spring is in the air and in one’s dreams.
Xizhou Ancient Town is bustling with activity and tourists, and it is rich in a sense of community. There are many small shops selling handicrafts. The town is characterized by its rustic wooden architecture, topped with black tiles, and inside you can find blue tie-dyed cloth or handwoven straw hats.
Dali Ancient Town
After dark, the Dali Ancient Town comes to life. Around eight o’clock in the evening, people gather in the town to join a bonfire party. Visitors from all corners of the country and different ethnic groups hold hands around the fire, circling and dancing.
From the bars in Dali Ancient Town, folk songs occasionally drift out, stirring up people’s thoughts and carrying them far away. When the clear, yellow moon rises, everyone stops to gaze at it. Some take out their phones to capture the moment and send it to their family, friends, and lovers. I, too, silently pray to the moon in my heart, wishing for the happiness and safety of my loved ones.
