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Our 18 days adventure trip in Yunnan Chapter 1 - Dali City -Day 2

Here is the Travel Note about me and my friends Willem , Carina from Netherlands ,Aiden and Jerry from American , our self-guide adventure in Yunnan . 

We spent about 18 days to deep explored the north west of Yunnan . in order to let them experience a real Yunnan , fell the diversity of minority culture in China , and learn more about mysterious Tibetan culture.   We tailored this special route for them . from Dali - Lijiang - Lugu lake - Shangri-la - Meili mountain 

We will take them to places that ordinary traveling agent won’t take them to.and we will live with our local friend as well so that we will have chance to get to know more about what local people’s life and understand more of their culture . It is will be the completely new experience to them for traveling in China . 

                                YUNNAN - DALI - DAY 2

After taking a good rest of last night . Today we are going to explore the west side of the Erhai Lake  

our destination is a small village called Taoyuan village built along side the Erhai lake , it is about 40 km away from the Dali Ancient city  . 

So after the relaxing morning , we are arriving to the very nice hotel i booked 2 months ago .

The good things about the hotel is , we can simply see the Erhai even from the hotel lobby . or just step outside, and the beautiful terrace and great view is there waiting for you .

Relaxing and beautiful terrace , and it is the best spot to watch the sunrise . 

Once we sit down , the hotel staff bring us the Pu’er tea . which is one of the famous tea original from Yunnan . Everything is just so nice and relax .

Today we will explore by electric motorbike , drive along side of the west side of Erhai lake . 

our self guide route is Taoyuan village – Zhoucheng – Xizhou ancient town –Haishe island .

our vehicle today .

There is a saying that if want to see the most beautiful scenery of Erhai that you have to go and see it by yourself . cause all the amazing view is on your way .

This West Road we are going today is along side the Erhai lake , and it is also next to the great Cang mountain . so while we driving on the road , there is Erhai lake at one side , while the beautiful pastoral scenery at the other side . 

So all we need to do is relax and take our time , go wherever we want to , and stop by whenever we like .

The typical white house of Bai Minority looks especially elegant and peace here. 

About 20 mins drive , we arrive the typical Bai minority village , called Zhou Cheng . Which is famous for its Tie dye 

In Zhou Cheng , lives mainly the Bai minority .And it is known as the home for the Tie dye . because in here from 10 years old little girl to 70 years old granny are know very well how to make beautiful Tie dye .

 Every family got the tie dye master . And they will pass her skill to the next generation too . 

They are just so focus on their works . Via their magical hands , the plain white cloth will turn out to be the great work of art .

We were just so impressed by all this amazing Tie dye works . And my friends asked if they can try and make one by their own ? The answer is a big YES , because that’s why Tutu outdoor born, to do self guide and deep explore trip. We are no rush to catch up the bus or to the next stop . We are more like let our friends to experienced anything they are interested in during the trip . And that’s what travelling really about . 

Some of the Tie dye house are as the tourist attractions for visitor . And normal travel agent will bring visitors there and spend 1 or 2 hours . and then to the next destination . So visitors are just miss the other great things of the Zhou cheng village . Because when you walk around here , you will naturally get to know more about the culture here . 

Drying the Tie dye 

An old house in the village 

Nice painting on the wall 

Leaving the Zhou Cheng , we keep heading to the Xizhou Ancient town , which is about 10 km away from here . 

Looking back to the Zhou Chen village , the white house are just so beautiful under the blue sky and green field .

Suddenly Aiden and Jerry stopped and cheering . when we catch up . And we find out they are pointing at the scarecrow in the field and laugh. Because there is nothing like normal scarecrow , they are straw horse and crow . What a smart people here .

Here is another one , its like eating its meal . 

A lovely doggie is running along the motorbike

And we arrive the Xizhou ancient town ,it took us about 45 mins to get here from Zhoucheng , and we arrive here by noon . 

The ancient town of Xizhou has a history of more than 1000 years. and more than 90 houses was built 100 to 450 years ago. Including the 3 of China's national key cultural relics protection units .

When you look detail into the house , you will find every house is the work of art . Cause the Xizhou people are good at making great work at eaves, wood doors and windows, exquisite wall, color painting, marble painting . That’s make their house is so different to the house in modern China .

In the center of the ancient town , there are service station for us to recharge the electric motorbike . so we left it here and explore the ancient town on foot .

After taking the special local food “ Baba “ it is like Piza , with meat inside . 

we start to hang around the ancient town 

The old house in the town 

The local market , we get more close the life of local people

Visitor can travel around the ancient city by carriage too . 

it is the amazing front door of the Yan’ s house

This building is very special building style here , even in other place in China now it is hard to find . It is built with bricks wall and wooden loft . All these different old style building makes Xizhou so special from the other place in China .

he Linden Centre (喜林苑) is a boutique hotel and center for cultural exchange located in Xizhou, Yunnan in Southwest China.[1] The original location is in a renovated Bai style courtyard home, one of Xizhou's heritage sites protected at the national level. The site itself was first constructed in 1948 and has changed hands several times until Brian and Jeanee Linden began renovations in 2007.

Since the first group of oil painters from United state lived and stay for almost a month in Linden Centre . During their time here , they deeply experienced the local traditional artistic atmosphere and got many inspiration . Now Linden centre is not just a 5 start hotel but it is a cultural exchange platform. And it has been list to the world famous tourism culture magazine 

The hotel has one courtyard with facilities for public use like a library with a large collection of Chinese and English books and two private courtyards housing 14 guest rooms.

View from the backyard of the Linden Centre

After the deep explore in the Ancient town , we took the bike and keep heading to the Haishe Island 

Looking back to the Xizhou village and see the great Cang mountain on its back 

The tourists riding on the way to Haishe Island 

Via this stone trail we get to our destination . Because Haishe Island is not allow any of the vehicle to get in

The trees called “ Lover trees “ as they really looks like a loved couple��� grow and stick to each other. people see everlasting love from them .That’s why many young couples from all over China come here to shoot wedding photographs with the wish of their love will long lasting like these lover trees .

The lover trees also get attention from many artists as well 

We stop by the café by the sea , Willem , Carina and Aiden , Jerry order a cup of coffee while I order tea .We just sit down relax and enjoy the this wonderful moment .

The cafe is small but very nice and comfortable 

The cat is lying in front of the cafe and enjoying the sunshine

 doggies are playing outside the cafe 

Dali's weather is like a baby face, 20 minutes ago was big sunshine and blue sky but suddenly it comes heavy rain 

But also thanks to that ,  we can see this amazing rainbow 

After the rainbow faded , it is about 5:00 PM . we are getting reading to go back to Hotel and finish today’s adventure . 

To be continue >>

#Tutu outdoor club , the new traveling experience you should have in China .   Only in small group and we tailor unique special route according to your days , budget and places you are interested in .                                            For more traveling information please email us at tutuchina@outlook.com

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Tie-Dye art in Zhoucheng village . It is art of the Bai Minorities .

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Our adventure trip in Yunnan Chapter 1 - Dali City -Day 1

Here is the Travel Note about me and my friends Willem , Carina from Netherlands ,Aiden and Jerry from American , our self-guide adventure in Yunnan . 

We spent about 18 days to deep explored the north west of Yunnan . in order to let them experience a real Yunnan , fell the diversity of minority culture in China , and learn more about mysterious Tibetan culture.   We tailored this special route for them . from Dali - Lijiang - Lugu lake - Shangri-la - Meili mountain 

We will take them to places that ordinary traveling agent won’t take them to.and we will live with our local friend as well so that we will have chance to get to know more about what local people’s life and understand more of their culture . It is will be the completely new experience to them for traveling in China . 

From the airport about 20km , we arrived in this nice house which is only 5km away from the Dali Ancient city . And here is where we’ll stay tonight . 

The patio of the BnB . Actually in the Dali Ancient city there are lots of this kind of BnB available for travelers . But the problem is when night falls , there are loud music comes from all the bars and will not end until midnight .  So i suggest our members to stay here . not only because it is cheaper , but also it is quite and very Chinese style. So everyone is very happy .

The chair in the patio . William said he can just sit here and reading books , and spend hours .

Tea table in the second floor . Yunnan is very well known by its tea .many tea type are popular all over China.Tea is the important parts of the local people’s life . 

After taking a break , our adventure began . We are heading to the Dali Ancient city.

Dali ancient city was built in 1382 years, so it has been 700 years old now .

It covers an area of ​​3 square kilometers. In the old time, here was the political, economic and cultural center of Yunnan . Thus there are over 14 important cultural relics protection units built in here. And now it become the Dali tourism core area, to show the people from around the world the special Dali historical and cultural, religious culture, national culture .

Here is the Wuhua building ,which is one of the landmark of the Dali Ancient city . In the ancient time is this place only for officer and their VIP. Common people are not allowed to get it. It is total 5 floors and big enough for 1000 peoples at a time .

But during the long history , it had been burned several times to rebuild. The lasted rebuilt was in 1998 . and it is what exactly in front of us . So that we can still see and fell the Stunning and great architectural art of old China.

Ancient city see from the top of the Wuhua building 

The SOUTH GATE of The Ancient City 

The NORTH GATE of The Ancient City

We are just enjoying our time and walk around in the Ancient city . And come across some beef jerky shops , they just look so yummy and we brought some to try . Jerry is thumb up right after he taking the first bite.

You will see all kind of Artist on the street 

Dali is really a place that make times slow down . All we need to do is just be relax, take our time , hang around . And enjoy the great Dali .

all these Tea pub or coffee shop will full of people at night . You will feel their energy by then . 

Artistic atmosphere is everywhere here 

This is the very famous book store in Dali . Because all of the books here are donated by the people around the world . 

Inside the book store , there is small attic for you to read and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee .

And here is the creek go though the whole ancient city . The water come from the Cang mountain . That’s why the water temperature is only about 13 degree .

So you will see many tourist put their drink into the water to make it cool during summer time . 

On the top of the Ancient City Wall . It is the city wall over 600 years . Even it is not as magnificent as Great wall in Beijing . But when you stand on it , you can still feel the ups and downs of the China history . 

We all know there are China town in many other places , because of Chinese people live and work there and it become a community . While the Foreigner street here is not like that . It is because 20 years ago , the Ancient city is not as business place as nowadays .you can find everything you need no mater where you stay . But in the old time  most of the restaurants , bars and shops were just located here , and foreigners spent their happy hours here , buying stuff here . so later on renamed it as Foreigners Street .

The bars in the Foreigners Street 

The cafes in the Foreigners Street

While we hang around the foreigners Street ,  we are lucky enough to find this Catholic Church which is hidden in the city .The Cross on the top remind us its a Catholic Church , otherwise we’ll keep thinking what is this amazing building for .

 Actually the Church was built in 1927 , it is the classic building that perfectly combined the China and Western architectural elements and also with the distinguishing feature of the Bai Nationality. And from it , we can see love and peace is the wish for all the people in our planet ,no matter it is in the old time , nowadays or in the future .

It is very style salon on the corner . Listening to the old melody out from it , it likely we were back to the old time . 

The local people carrying stuff in their ways . In Dali live many minorities , including Bai Minority , most of they still keep the traditional life style .

As night fall , more and more people go out on street to have fun . 

And you will see a different Dali from the day time . 

More Artists on the street . 

As for the very first day , we all felt a little tired after a long time walking . so we decide to get back to our BnB and take a good rest and getting ready for tomorrow .  While we reach to the parking lot , Carina took this beautiful picture as the perfect ending of our first day .

To be continue  

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The Amazing Yunnan

 She is located in the south-west of China , next to the Himalayas

In the south there are tropical forest , while in the north . there is cold plateau.

The altitude of the city in south is just about 150m , white there is 3200m in the North city . 

Those big different altitude makes the big different in temperature as well .

there is amost 25 degree different from south to north .

All these makes Yunnan so special than any other places in the world . 

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Explore Shangri-la

Mysterious Tibetan culture

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Explore Shangri-la

Mysterious Tibetan culture