|
Below, you'll find extensive information on leading
san diego ca hotel articles and Tours to help you on your way
to a pleasant vacation.
Salvadore Dali? Nope, the Paradise of Southwestern China - Dali City
By Peter Lee
Hi pals, a little bit misleading here. Though personally I love Salvadore Dali's surrealist works and very much like
to introduce to you in an armchair tour to the museums across Europe, I shall leave it to future issues and I am going to
bring you to one of the most beautiful and romantic city in China - Dali, the ancient capital of the culturally rich Yunnan,
which was best known in the West as the Switzerland of the East.
Foreigners love it so much that they forget to go home but call Dali their home. Honorably, it wins its unique fame of
having the only Foreigner Street in China - an interesting twin of Chinatown in American or European cities - where
foreigners who pursue simple lifestyle settle down permanently. Strategically sharing almost the same latitude with Guangzhou
and Kaoshiong warm belt, Dali however stands at the foot of Dian Chang mountain which is at least 3,000 meters above sea
level. The main peak of Dian Chang, Oolong Peak, is covered with plain white snow most time of the year and resembles its
counterpart across the Alps. Serving as dustless mirror for Dian Chang is the crystal clear water of Er Hai Sea, which
supplies the bulk of daily food staples of the residents of Dali. Thanks to the conducive climate of Dali, fishes from Er Hai
are fat and nutritious attributing to the delicate complexion of the native Bai girls. These contribute
to pull foreign
tourists' attraction to this ancient city: great weather, great scenery, pretty native girls and its well preserved way of
exotic lifestyle.
Today, the majority of architectures in Dali city are more than six centuries old. Dali was once the capital of Lan-Zhao
and Dali kingdom for several centuries before conquered by Mongolian troops. Er Hai was said to be a dangerous lake which
giant monster serpent created havoc under the water. A courageous young man named Duan Gong dived into the water and
struggled with the serpent for three days and nights. Finally he managed to kill the serpent and brought peace to the
fishermen of Er Hai. Duan Gong was held in great respect from the people of Dahe (the name of Dali then). His great grandson
Duan Shiping became the first ruler of Dali kingdom. The saga of Dali kingdom is well documented in the imperial temple,
Chong San temple - the famous trio temple. As faithful Buddhist kingdom, the kings of Dali followed the tradition of
retreating to Chong San temple as monks after ruling the country for a number of years. Unfortunately, other than Chong San
temple and the tombs of Duan lineage, most of the structures of old Dali kingdom had been destroyed by the Mongolians. Yet,
thanks to the heroic ancestor of Duan lineage (who was migrated from somewhere in the juncture of famous silk route), the
water of Er Hai is forever clear and safe.
If you like to spend a romantic moment with your loved one, spend a lazy afternoon by the Er Hai watching the Bai people
fishing in the boats and singing exotic songs freely in the shadow of snow covered Dian Chang range. You will enjoy the fun
and relaxation of simple lifestyle here - a great escapade from the noises of cosmopolitan.
You will be impressed by the revolution that swept through the museums of London in last two years in the move to draw in
international crowds and in due of its Millennium City promotion. We shall highlight to you the famous BBC Experience and
Museum of London - one modern and the other ancient.
http://www.yourarticle.info - Travel News
|
