Explore Dali Museum

Leaving Baierpaifang, walk westward along the lakeshore, cross the cruise ship pier, and the Xingsheng Bridge is right in front of you. Xingsheng Bridge is built at the estuary of Xi'er River. Due to its stylish shape and beautiful scenery, it has become a popular check-in spot for internet celebrities. Pass under the Xingsheng Bridge and then cross Erhe South Road to reach the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture Museum. Dali is the birthplace of the Bai nationality. Humans have lived here since the Paleolithic Age more than 10,000 years ago. In 109 BC, Emperor Wu of Han established Yizhou County, and Dali was officially incorporated into the territory of the motherland. During the Tang and Song dynasties, Nanzhao and Dali Kingdoms rose here. During the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, Dali society gradually developed in parallel with the Central Plains and became a "state of literature." In November 1956, Dali Prefecture was officially established, the only Bai Autonomous Prefecture in the country. Some experts believe that the Bai nationality was formed by the "Erbin people" who grew up in the Erhai area, and who continuously merged with the surrounding ethnic groups such as the Bai people, Shu people, Chu people, Qin people, etc. who migrated westwards. Especially during the Ming Dynasty, there was large-scale immigration and farming, and a large number of Han people moved in. Therefore, the Bai nationality is an open ethnic community. Nanzhao and Dali Kingdom were the most glorious eras in Dali’s history. During those 500 years, the southwestern region centered on Erhai Lake had a developed economy, a splendid culture, active foreign exchanges, and rapid social development. In particular, they actively identified with Chinese culture, always followed the orthodox traditions of the Tang and Song dynasties, maintained national unity, and promoted stability and development in the southwestern border. The continuous expansion of the Nanzhao Kingdom caused conflicts with the Tang Dynasty, and eventually the Tianbao War broke out. Due to the two major defeats of the Tang army, the relationship between Nanzhao and the Tang Dynasty reached a low point. After the war, both sides hoped to regain friendship. In 794, the Tang Dynasty sent inspector Cui Zuoshi to Nanzhao. The two sides held a meeting at the Cangshan Temple, and Nanzhao and the Tang Dynasty reconciled. Afterwards, the Tang Dynasty sent Yuan Zi, a Langzhong of the Ministry of Shrines, as a special historian to confer the title on Yi Mouxun. On December 27, a grand ceremony was held in Yangzhumie City to confer the title of "Nanzhao" on Yi Mouxun, and issued a silver-framed gold seal "Zhenyuan Nanzhao Seal", which is historically known as the Zhenyuan Conferment. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the continuous influx of immigrants from the Central Plains, as well as the implementation of the military farming system and the policy of converting natives into officials, promoted the development of Dali culture. Dali also ushered in an unprecedented cultural prosperity and was hailed as a "famous literary state." In 1691, Piantu was appointed governor of Yunnan, and later took charge of the military in Dali for fifteen years. He felt deeply that Dali had profound cultural heritage, so he requested the imperial court to bestow the title of "Famous State of Literature" on it. He personally wrote the four words "Famous State of Literature" in large regular script and made a plaque to hang on the Literature Building to commemorate his centenarian status.