Foreign Tourist Street

» Dali, Yun Nan

Foreign Tourist Street Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information

Foreign Tourist Street is 1000 meters long from the east end to the west. It is seven meters wide, paved with dark gray slates. It starts from Tibetan-Yunnan road from the west side, crisscrossing with Bo Ai Street and Fuxin Street.

What used to be called

Dali Foreign Tourist Street lies in Dali Ancient City. It was used to be called Huguo (means protect the country in Chinese) Street, signifying the event that Yunnan People, uprising with arms, fought against Yuan Shikai who claimed himself emperor.

How it got its name

Dali's name appeared on foreign tourist maps earlier than Kunming, Yunnan's capital city. Ambassadors from 70 countries bring their families to Dali for summer vacation. On being asked their impressions of Dali, the answer is almost the same, "Dali's natural, ecological and living environment and its humane atmosphere coexist in harmony with its economic development. It is an ideal human habitat." This is the commonly held view of Dali's annual five million visitors.

A sweet home in China

Now, Huguo Street already becomes Dali Foreign Tourist Street in foreign tourist map. By this fact, we know that Dali Foreign Tourist Street is famous around the world. It becomes a place longing to be visited by foreign tourists, they usually stay here for at least six months, or until their pockets are empty, and only head back to the West to earn enough money for their next stay. Since a sweet home on their journey in China.

Different purpose coming here

With development of Dali tourism, tourist number has been greatly increased. Some come for having fun, some for enjoying food, some for finding a job, some for looking for beloved one. Everyone has their own purpose.

Famous home and abroad

On the two sides of the streets, one can find restaurants of Chinese or Western food, famous tea houses, jewelry shops, antique shops, tie-dyeing cloth shops, galleries and so on. There are so many products that one is not able to see them all. So the street becomes Dali Foreign Tourist Street famous home and abroad.

What to buy

Marble

Dali marble, quarried mainly in Cangshan Mountain, has an age-old mining history. Dali marble, beautiful in patterns and colours, refined in texture and multiform in variety, has a strong anti-corrosive nature. Among the multiform varieties, there are "yunhui" (grey clouds), "caihua" (coloured flowers), "shuimohua" (wash painting), "cangbaiyu" (white jade), etc.

The reserves of "yunhui" are the richest. "Shuimohua" is the most famous and valuable. It is good for making high-grade building material and handicrafts. A poem depicts the special features of Dali marble thus: "Marble flower patterns are blazing with colours, exquisite, glistening, magnificent.

Dali Snow Pear

Owing to the climate and the soil condition of Dali, the pears which grow here are much sweeter in flavor, and have thinner skins and more tender flesh. The main growing area for Dali snow pears is on the eastern side of Erhai Every August and September in the harvest season, people come from all around to Erhai to pick pears and celebrate the harvest.

Engraved Green Plum

A traditional food of the Bai people is made from dried green plums. These are engraved with various patterns and designs. The fruit can be eaten after months spent soaking in pickling juice made from salt, brown sugar and honey. Having the dual effects of promoting the production of bodily fluids and relieving thirst, as well as displaying artistry, the engraved green plum fruit is both a popular food and a delicate work of art.

The Compressed Tea (Tuo Cha) of Xia Guan

Due to its resemblance to the shape of a fungus, the compressed tea of Xia Guan is called 'Tuo Cha'. It enjoys an excellent reputation for its fragrance and cleansing effects. Xiaguan can promote health by refreshing both body and mind and is also an excellent method used for weight-loss.

Tie-dyed cloth

It is also a traditional product of the Bais in Zhoucheng Village. The process of making this kind of cloth is like this:

• First, fold and tie white cloth by hand in the patterns of the Eight Diagram (Bagua), butterflies, the Three Pagodas with their reflections and plum flowers, etc;
• Second, dye the pieces of cloth for more than 10 times in indigo-blue water (both imported indigo-blue and local made indigo-blue are used);
• Finally, hang them up in the open air to dry and untie the nods and spread them out;
• Now, you'll see the patterns of white and blue prints on the cloth. The characteristic of the tie-dyed cloth is simple in style but the colour sustains;

It is an excellent material for making tourist products such as clothes, window and door curtains, table cloth, wall hangings, souvenir bags and handkerchieves, which are applauded warmly in both domestic and foreign markets.

Dali straw hats

Straw hats are made of wheat straw in plait patterns, by going through bleaching treatment, sewing together into hats and then fitting out with pink coloured ribbons. The Dali straw hats have more than 7o patterns and designs. The best ones are those which require the finest wheat straw with best weaving techniques.

Straw hats are the favourites of young boys and girls of the Bai nationality while they are having outings and visiting friends or relatives. And it is said that straw hats are used as gifts among young people while they are courting or getting married.

Like marble articles, straw hats are another kind of the most important handicrafts of Dali. In recent years, more patterns have been designed and more hats produced. It is not only favoured by the minority people at home, but also welcomed by people abroad.

Where to buy

Besides the preserved fruits of Yunxing County, the Wood Carvings of Jianchuan County and the marble handicrafts of the Cangshan Mountain are all the local foods and souvenirs which display the best of the local Dali flavor.

Shopping markets as follow:

• Sifangjie (Square Street) Supermarket;
• Minsheng Shopping Market;
  
• Zhengyang Department Store;
  
• Dali Jianshe Department Store;
  
• Wholesale Market;
  

Place suggest to go

Visitors could find bazaars in Xingsheng Road and Fuxing Road in Dali City, where small commodities can be found easily.

Attractions around » Dali, Yun Nan

Natural Scene

• Mt. Cangshan
• Butterfly Spring
• Lake Erhai

Historical Site

• Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple
• Dali Ancient City

Nightlife

• Foreign Tourist Street

Shopping & Leisure

• Foreign Tourist Street

Foreign Tourist Street Highlights

Bar in Great China

• Lake Houhai
• Lan Kwai Fong
• Foreign Tourist Street
• Night Club Street on Hengshan Road
• International Beer Town
• Wai Chai
• Kundu Bar Street
• Sanlitun Bar Street
• Xintiandi Bar Street
• Maoming South Road Bar Street
• Tongren Road Bar Street
• Yandang Road Bar Street
• Hard Rock Cafe Beijing
• Sasha's Bar
• Bourbon Street Bar
• Julu Road Bar Street
• Armani
• Baby Face
• Suzie Wong Club
• Mexican madness night at Zapata's Bar

Shopping Street in Great China

• Wangfujing Walking Street
• Tunxi Ancient Street
• Nanjing Road
• Shopping Heaven on Xujiahui Street
• Barkhor Street
• Foreign Tourist Street
• West Street
• Liulichang Culture Street
• Central Street
• Hefang Street
• Grand Bazaar
• Panjiayuan Collection Market
• Quanyechang Bazaar
• Dongtai Road Antique Market
• Shopping on Fuzhou Road
• Kaili Sunday Market
• Wai Chai
• Moslem Street
• Shiban Street
• Kundu Bar Street
• Lhasa Carpet Factory
• Shuyuanmen Street
• Fishermans Wharf
• Ancient Culture Street
• Pudong New Area
• Yandang Road Bar Street
• Kashgar Bazaar
• Jinli Street
• Tian Xia Shua Du
• Xi'an Antique Market
• Stanley Market
• Binhai Road
• Chunxi Road
• Senado Square
• Nanshi Food Street
• Xintiandi Area
• Wenbaozhai Tourist Shopping Center
• Red Market

Foreign Tourist Street FAQ & Travelers's Tips

  Weather

1. When to go

  Transportation

1. A note on taxi

  Shopping

1. Always negotiate the price and make everything clear first.

  Travel

1. Can I rent a bike?
2. What are some interestng local festivals?

  Other Hints

1. Stay safe
2. Emergency Numbers
3. Useful Numbers

• When to go

  Dalii Bai Autonomous Prefecture is situated on the altiplano with low latitude, there are no severely hot summers or very cold winters. The best time to travel Dali is from March to June when the Spring is in full swing featuring enough sunshine, fresh air.

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• What are some interesting local festivals?

  March Street Festival of Bai Nationality
  Held between the fifth day and the twenty-first day of the third lunar month, the festival is one of the most magnificent folk celebrations of the Bai ethnic minority. The ceremony takes place just outside the western gate of Dali Ancient City. People come from every corner of the city at this time, dancing and singing; some trading are conducted on the spot too.

  Butterfly Fest
  It is a fest for the Bai ethnic boys and girls, held usually on the fifteenth day of the fourth lunar month near the Butterfly Spring. Stones are thrown into the spring and songs are sung with the hope of finding Mr or Miss Right.

  Raosanling of Bai Nationality
  It is a grand public function of the Bai people, held on the twenty-third day of the fourth lunar month. Everyone tries to be at the function promptly. The ceremony is aimed at praying for rain before the farming season begins.

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• Stay safe

  There are a few scams and petty crime targeting tourists in Dali. Watch your belongings carefully to protect from pickpockets and theft, though perhaps the major risk you take if staying in cheap accommodation is theft by other foreign travellers. Overall Dali is a very safe place with little crime directed at tourists.

  If you are planning to hike up the Cang mountains, travel in a group both to protect yourself from robbery and as back up in case of accident.

  Drugs disguised as strange artifacts are usually sold by women in traditional Bai costume, who will then lead you to their homes. Marijuana is widespread in Dali's foreign bars but, if caught, the penalties for possession and use are severe.

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• A note on taxi

  Generally, taxis in Dali are without fare meters, but for downtown travel, it is about 6 to 7 RMB Yuan per trip, if you want to go outside the city, you should talk and fix the fare with the taxi driver, generally about 25 Yuan per trip.
  

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• Always negotiate the price and make everything clear first.

  Before you pay for any other kind of entertainment, like riding a boat on Erhai, do make sure you have made everything clear, like what costs how much, the total price, to avoid arguments or unpleasantness.

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• Can I rent a bike?

  There are bikes for rent in Dali, but you will have to show your ID and pay a certain amount of deposite. The rent fee is about 10 - 15 RMB per day.

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• Emergency Numbers

  • Fire: 119
    
  • Police: 110
    
  • Traffic: 122
    
  • Ambulance: 120

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• Useful Numbers

  • Consumer Complaint: 12315
    
  • Tourist Complaint: 2670384
    
  • Telephone Number Inquiry: 114
    
  • Weather Forecast: 121
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