Mansion of Du Wenxiu

The mansion of Du Wenxiu is also known as the Forbidden City. It is inside the South Gate of ancient city of Dali. The mansion was built on the site of the former residence of the provincial military commander of the Qing Dynasty. The thick-walled mansion has carved eaves and yellow tiles. It has an earthen fortification, and this is why the mansion is also called the Forbidden City. It occupies an area of 55,000 square meters and is one kilometer in circumference. It is composed of the Wumen Gate, Front Hall, Main Hall, Tianzi Terrace, Main Palace, Side Halls, Rear Palace and Flower Hall. All the halls are magnificent, with painted and carved beams and eaves.

Tomb of Du Wenxiu

The Tomb of Du Wenxiu is located in the eastern part of Xiadui Village, five kilometers southeast of Dali. Du Wenxiu was born in 1823, and died at the age of 49 in 1872. Du was a commander of a peasant uprising during the late Qing Dynasty, and established his power in Dali in September 1856. The uprising failed in November 1872, and Du was killed on December 26, 1872. His tomb was built in the sixth year of the Republic and was rebuilt in 1985. The tomb is 5.7 meters high and occupies an area of 4,340 square meters.

The Dragon-tail City

The Dragon-tail City was the southern gateway to the states of Nanzhao and Dali, on the northern reaches of the Erhe River in Xiaguan, Dali. According to the book history of Yunnan Province, "Dragon-tail City was built by Ge Luofeng, and extends several kilometers along the southern slopes of Cangshan Mountains. The city gate faces the Erhe River and a bridge over the river is 100 feet long." With Cangshan Mountains and Erhai Lake as natural barriers, the earthen city wall was built along Xieyang Peak and along the northern bank of the Erhe River as far as New Bridge. The city was a fortress protecting the capital of the states of Nanzhao and Dali.

The Grotto of the General

The Grotto of the General, or the Temple of the General, is two kilometers northwest of Xiaguan, near Dali. It was built during the Ming Dynasty and occupies 0.67 hectare. It is composed of the Gate Tower, the Bazi Building and the Main Hall. The temple is now part of the Cangshan Park. It was built for the Tang Dynasty General Li Mi, who was sent to occupy Nanzhao in 754, or the 13th year of the reign of Tang Emperor Tianbao. The General drowned himself in a nearby river after his army was destroyed. A legend says that the local people built this temple to worship his stature.

The Cultural City of Nanzhao

The Cultural City of Nanzhao is one kilometer to the southwest of the ancient city of Dali. This is a replica of a typical historical and cultural scene. Based on historical data and local history, some historical and cultural sites have been selected to represent the State of Nanzhao. The city is mainly composed of the Golden Hall, A Site for Sacred Music, Wax Statues, Nanzhao Cultural Street, Gardens, all reflecting the brilliant history and culture of the State of Nanzhao, including famous celebrities and the influence of Buddhism.

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