Dali Shopping

In Dali, there are many places where you can buy special presents for your families and friends. In Ancient Town or Xiaguan, the four treasures of the study, i.e. writing brush, ink stick, ink slab, paper, made of marble are sold as well as flowerpots, vases, and lamps.

Wax printing and dyeing of Bai ethnic group are very popular and you can find them everywhere in Ancient Town and Xiaguan. Dengchuan rushan (food made of milk) is very famous and you are advised to taste it in farmers’ markets. Xiaguantuo Tea, mushroom-shaped, has a long-lasting and special taste. Produced in the east coast of Erhai Lake, Dali pears are juicy and crisp. Jianchuan wood carvings are doors, windows, and screens made by skillful craftsmen. Recently they also produce fine sculptures which you can find in handwork shops.

Huguolu Road is a must if you go to Ancient Town. There handcrafts and fabrics of ethnic groups are sold. Antique shops will definitely bring tourists surprises. In Zhou City, travellers can go to villagers’ house to personally find out how to wax print or dye choth, because almost all the villagers have their own workshops.

Specialities:

Dali straw hats: Making straw hats is a traditional craft of Bai ethnic group in Dali. Qixingqiaotai and Cunnei are specially good at making straw hat. Hats are colorful and cheap and present ancient beauty. Recently demand of straw hats has exceeded supply. “British hats”, “hats for children”, and “embroidering hats” are popular with tourists from home and abroad.

Diaochuan wood carvings: Diaochuan is renowned as “hometown of carpenters”. Carpenters are skillful in carving flowers, birds, moutains, and streams which are used to decorate doors, windows and furniture. The products are made of high-quality wood materials and fine workmanship, thus are valuable both for using and collection.

Wax printing: Wax printing is hand-made printing in districts of ethnic groups in Yunnan Province. Patterns on the cloth include portraits, flowers, and scenery. The products made of wax printing are clothes, bags, and wall hangings.