The beautiful Old Towns of LiJiang and DaLi, YunNan province

Scenic films.

With CHN Tourism ...

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With Lucas & Ann ...

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Dali, located in Yunnan Province in southwestern China, is a charming and culturally rich destination that attracts visitors with its stunning natural scenery, ancient history, and vibrant local culture. Here's a guide for visitors to Dali:

Historical and Cultural Significance:
Ancient City: Dali Ancient City, also known as Dali Old Town, is a well-preserved historical town that dates back over 1,000 years. It served as the capital of the Kingdom of Dali during the Tang Dynasty and later as an important trading post on the ancient Tea Horse Road.

Bai Minority Culture: Dali is home to the Bai ethnic minority, whose unique culture and traditions are evident throughout the region. Visitors can explore Bai villages, interact with locals, and learn about their traditional customs, architecture, and craftsmanship.

Top Attractions:
Erhai Lake: One of Dali's most iconic natural attractions is Erhai Lake, a vast freshwater lake surrounded by picturesque landscapes. Visitors can take boat cruises on the lake, cycle along its shores, or hike to viewpoints for panoramic views of the water and surrounding mountains.

Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple: Located just outside Dali Ancient City, the Three Pagodas are iconic symbols of the region and date back to the Tang Dynasty. The pagodas are set against the backdrop of Cangshan Mountain and are surrounded by lush gardens and temples.

Cangshan Mountain: Cangshan Mountain is a scenic mountain range that towers over Dali and offers numerous hiking trails, scenic viewpoints, and opportunities for outdoor adventure. Visitors can hike to waterfalls, explore alpine meadows, and enjoy panoramic views of the valley below.

Xizhou Ancient Town: Xizhou Ancient Town is another well-preserved historical town near Dali, known for its traditional Bai architecture, historic courtyards, and vibrant market streets. Visitors can wander through the town's narrow alleyways, visit ancient temples, and sample local delicacies.

Cultural Experiences:
Bai Architecture: Explore the distinctive Bai architecture found throughout Dali, characterized by white-washed walls, gray tiled roofs, and intricately carved wooden decorations. Visitors can tour traditional Bai homes, visit ancient temples, and learn about local building techniques.

Cultural Performances: Experience traditional Bai music, dance, and theater performances at local venues and cultural centers in Dali. These performances often showcase traditional costumes, musical instruments, and storytelling techniques unique to the Bai culture.

Practical Tips:
Weather: Dali enjoys a mild climate year-round, but the best time to visit is during the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) when the weather is most pleasant and the landscapes are lush and green.

Transportation: Getting around Dali is convenient with its network of buses, taxis, and bicycles. Many attractions are within walking distance of Dali Ancient City, while others can be reached by public transportation or organized tours.

Accommodation: Dali offers a range of accommodation options, including boutique hotels, guesthouses, and traditional courtyard homes. Staying in Dali Ancient City allows visitors to immerse themselves in the town's historic atmosphere and vibrant culture.

Dali offers a captivating blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and traditional charm, making it an enchanting destination for visitors seeking to explore the treasures of Yunnan Province. Whether hiking in the mountains, wandering through ancient towns, or immersing oneself in local culture, Dali has something to offer for every traveler.

Lijiang, located in the northwest of Yunnan Province in southwestern China, is a picturesque ancient town renowned for its stunning natural scenery, rich cultural heritage, and well-preserved traditional architecture. Here's a guide for tourists visiting Lijiang:

Historical and Cultural Significance:
Ancient Town: Lijiang Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a well-preserved ancient town with a history dating back over 800 years. It was an important stop on the ancient Tea Horse Road, a trading route connecting Yunnan with Tibet and Southeast Asia.

Naxi Culture: Lijiang is home to the Naxi ethnic minority, whose rich cultural heritage is reflected in the town's architecture, music, and customs. Visitors can experience Naxi culture through traditional music performances, local festivals, and visits to Naxi villages.

Top Attractions:
Lijiang Old Town: Explore the cobblestone streets, winding alleys, and historic buildings of Lijiang Old Town, which is renowned for its traditional Naxi architecture, wooden houses, and flowing canals. Highlights include the ancient Mu Residence, Black Dragon Pool Park, and Sifang Street.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain: Towering over Lijiang, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a majestic snow-capped mountain range known for its breathtaking scenery and diverse ecosystems. Visitors can take a cable car ride to the mountain's summit, hike along scenic trails, and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

Lijiang Mural: Baisha Village: Baisha Village, located near Lijiang, is home to a collection of ancient murals dating back to the Ming Dynasty. These exquisite frescoes depict scenes from Chinese mythology, religious rituals, and daily life, providing insights into the region's cultural heritage.

Tiger Leaping Gorge: Located about 60 kilometers north of Lijiang, Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest river canyons in the world and a popular destination for hiking and outdoor adventure. Visitors can trek along scenic trails, admire dramatic cliffs and waterfalls, and experience the natural beauty of the gorge.

Culinary Delights:
Yunnan Cuisine: Lijiang is known for its diverse and flavorful Yunnan cuisine, which features fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and influences from neighboring regions. Visitors can sample local specialties such as Yunnan hot pot, crossing-the-bridge noodles, and yak meat dishes at restaurants and street food stalls throughout the town.

Old Town Snacks: Explore the bustling markets and food stalls of Lijiang Old Town to discover a wide variety of snacks and delicacies, including fried cheese, sweet pastries, and rice cakes. Don't miss the opportunity to try local specialties like yak butter tea and rose-flavored desserts.

Practical Tips:
Weather: Lijiang enjoys a mild climate year-round, with cool summers and chilly winters. The best time to visit is during the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) when the weather is pleasant and the scenery is beautiful.

Altitude: Lijiang is situated at a high altitude, so visitors should take precautions to prevent altitude sickness, such as staying hydrated, avoiding strenuous activity, and acclimatizing gradually.

Transportation: Getting around Lijiang is convenient with its network of public buses, taxis, and bicycles. Many attractions in and around the town can be explored on foot or by bicycle, while taxis and buses provide transportation to more distant locations.

Accommodation: Lijiang offers a wide range of accommodation options, including boutique hotels, guesthouses, and traditional courtyard homes. Staying in Lijiang Old Town allows visitors to immerse themselves in the town's historic atmosphere and vibrant culture.

Lijiang offers a captivating blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and traditional charm, making it an enchanting destination for tourists seeking to explore the treasures of Yunnan Province. Whether marveling at ancient architecture, hiking through majestic mountains, or savoring local cuisine, Lijiang has something to offer for every traveler.

YunNan map

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In the post 1945 period, Westerners have come to believe that Western-style democracy – essentially universal suffrage and a multi-party system – is more or less the sole source of a government’s legitimacy. This is a superficial and ahistorical position. Western-style democracy does not ensure the legitimacy of a regime in the eyes of its people: Italy is perhaps the classic example, with successive governments over a long historical period experiencing a chronic lack of legitimacy. And what of China? Although it does not have Western-style democracy, there is plenty of evidence – for example the Pew Global Attitude surveys and the work of Tony Saich at the Harvard Kennedy School – that the Chinese government enjoys high levels of support and legitimacy, much higher indeed than those of Western governments. How do we explain this? Clearly the reason is not Western-style democracy because China has not chosen this path. The late Lucian W. Pye, in his book ‘Asian Power and Politics’, argues that Western scholars have, in their understanding of politics, prioritised political systems over political cultures: Pye argues, correctly in my view, that the opposite is the case. His insight is highly relevant to the Chinese case. The relationship between the state and society in China is very different from that which characterises Western societies. There are three key elements. First, China is primarily a civilization-state rather than a nation-state, with the overriding and extremely difficult age-old task of government being to maintain the unity of China and its civilization. This has lent the state an enduring authority, importance and centrality in China that is very different from the Western nation-state tradition. The state is intrinsic to China in a way that this is not true in Western societies: they are, in effect, in large degree synonymous. 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In the West, discussion about the state largely revolves around the manner by which the government is selected, in China, by way of contrast, the competence of the state assumes priority. Fourthly, following from the previous point, the state is expected and required to deliver in China. Over the last few decades, of course, it has presided over and masterminded a huge transformation, the most remarkable in modern economic history. The contrast between the performance of the Chinese and Western economies is manifest. In summary, the relationship between the state and society in China and the West is profoundly different and the reasons lie in the historical and cultural differences between them. They can and should learn from each other but they will remain distinct. So what of the future? As I mentioned at the outset, it is axiomatic in the West that sooner or later China will face a crisis of governance that will result in profound reform along Western lines. In reality, it seems far more likely that the crisis of governance will occur in the West than China. The United States and Europe are in decline and, as a consequence, their ruling elites and political systems are already suffering from declining legitimacy and authority, a process that is likely to continue. China, in contrast, is a rising power whose ruling elite is likely to enjoy growing status and prestige as a consequence. China, though, faces its own kind of governance challenge. The country is changing at extraordinary speed. If one thinks of how the life of an ordinary person has changed over the course of the last three decades, then this is a measure of how everything else, including political rule, must also change in order to survive. Of course, transparency, representivity and accountability have been transformed since Mao’s death, but this is a dynamic process and arguably the greatest changes still lie in the future. 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