Slideshows Yunnan · Dali
Dali City 大理市

The white and blue tie-dye of the Bai in Zhoucheng is part of Yunnan's intangible cultural heritage.

Puxian's Birthday celebrated in Dali, Bai style.

An old house in Baitayi 白塔邑, a Bai village near Erhai. Elegant houses like this are becoming rare as time takes its toll.

A member of the Dongjing Association performing in a ritual for the Dragon King.

Dali's new architecture showcase project, the Leicui Garden, is an imagined royal garden from the period of the Dali Kingdom (937-1253AD).

A traditional Chinese folk play performance by a professional troupe from Xiaguan.

In Dali, the Dragon Boat races unusually take place on the day of the Torch Festival, on the eastern side of Erhai.

The Buddhist ritual release of live animals has a great tradition in Gusheng village, even giving the village its name.

Members of the Dongjing Ancient Music Association perform at the Benzhu Festival in Zhonghe village, on the slopes of Cangshan

Benzhu, the patron saints of Bai villages, have intricate family relationships, just like people. Here, a Benzhu is carried from the lake side village of Majiuyi all the way to Shangyangxi on the slopes of Cangshan.

In Dali's Sanwenbi village 三文笔 a new statue in honour of Wenchang 文昌 is brought to life by painting chicken blood onto the statue's eyes, ears, heart, lips and fingernails.

Just a few old ladies of the Lotus Pond Society 莲池会 in Sanwenbi 三文笔 village attending the festival in honour of the local Benzhu 本主 is perhaps a sign of a slowly dying ancient religious culture.