The sights of Dali, in Yunnan Province Pictures Courtesy of Travel China Guide

Dali is surrounded by a collage of ethnic minorities. The Bai are among the most numerous. There are also ethnic Naxi and Miao. The minorities give the city a colorful flavor and allow visitors a taste of the tribal cultures that inhabit inland Asia from Tibet all the way to Vietnam and Thailand.

Dali has a rich history. As early as the second century B.C. the city had achieved county status in China and served as a commercial link between China and the kingdoms of Southeast Asia. It was most prosperous during the European Middle Ages - from the 7th to the 13th centuries.

The sights of Dali, in Yunnan Province Pictures Courtesy of Travel China Guide