Xizhou Bai Nationality Ancient Buildings

It faces Erhai Lake in the east and Cangshan Mountain in the west.

Here are the largest number and best preserved Bai architecture.

The owner of the shop opened the door slowly to welcome customers, and the fragrance of Xizhou Baba floated in the air.

Occasionally, I hear the cries of freshly baked fried dough twists being sold, and the creaking of sewing machines in the tie-dyed hat shop.

The morning in Xizhou is warm, cozy and leisurely, which makes me yearn for it.

Xizhou is located 18 kilometers north of Dali Ancient Town. Xizhou is an important town inhabited by the Bai ethnic group. It has the largest and best-preserved Bai residential complex.

Xizhou boasts some of the most well-preserved Bai ethnic minority dwellings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Xizhou's tranquility and beauty lie in its Bai siheyuans, each a testament to its history. Here, you can wander into a local residence at any time, mistakenly believing you've entered a historic site. Or, you can truly stay in a siheyuan dating back three or four hundred years, as many renovated inns boast state-of-the-art facilities. A must-do experience in Xizhou is staying in a historic Bai siheyuan and experiencing the beauty of Bai architecture firsthand! The main room of a Bai siheyuan typically faces west, a fact not only due to Dali's location nestled between mountains and water, but also due to its windy climate, which tends to lean west year-round. This layout, with doors and windows facing east, prevents wind from entering the house from behind. Siheyuans are typically two-story and come in two main layouts: "three courtyards and one screen wall" or "four courtyards and five courtyards." The screen wall and gatehouse are crucial elements in traditional Bai dwellings. The screen wall is a unique feature of China that was influenced by Feng Shui.

Xizhou is one of Dali's many ancient towns with its own unique characteristics. It is much better than Shuanglang Dali Ancient Town. If you want to visit an ancient town, Xizhou is the first choice.

It's purely a point to make money, at least that's how I feel, but the scenery outside is nice.

There are large mansions not far from the city of Dali

I don't know if it's because we went too early, but there were not many people in the ancient city. However, there are fewer tourists in winter. The buildings are OK, and the main thing is that it has a more lively atmosphere.

The most typical feature of Bai architecture is white walls and black tiles, the same main color scheme as Hui-style architecture, but the shape is more ethnic. Some nearby hotels are also built in this style, blending in with the surrounding environment.

It is an ancient town with Bai culture. There are not many people and the town is not big.

The ancient buildings of the Bai nationality in Xizhou are a unique local custom.

There is a local hotel that I highly recommend trying.

Bai architecture is quite beautiful. In fact, there are many beautiful buildings on the national highway. You don’t need to go inside.

The basic residential forms of the Bai people in Xizhou are the three-sided and four-sided courtyards, with the three-bay "fang" (fang) serving as the basic unit of construction. In Xizhou Town, there are over ten "Liuhetongchun" (Six-Courtyard Unity)-style buildings, with multiple courtyards within a single entrance. The Yan Family Compound, located near Sifang Street in the town, is a prime example.

Bai folk houses are a major landscape of Bai architectural art.

The architecture of the Bai nationality is very distinctive. The white walls are inscribed with many auspicious words, which are very impressive.

This is the Bai Autonomous Prefecture, which is truly "white". The main color of the buildings is white, and many traditional costumes are also white.

The ancient buildings, the unique local lifestyle, and the slow pace really like this place.

The Bai architecture in Xizhou Town has strong ethnic characteristics.

Xizhou Town is a quaint little town. When I visited, the road was under construction, and a section was quite muddy. The locals lived a quiet life, unlike Dali Ancient Town, which has been swayed by foreign commercialization. They continued to work from sunrise to sunset, and as soon as darkness fell, everyone went to sleep. It didn't feel like a tourist town. But with the morning sun, the sparse crowds gradually gathered, and the lively hawking of vendors began. On the roadside, local women would solicit young girls to braid their hair. The hair was beautiful, and the women's technique was expert. Elderly women, still using traditional baskets and wearing local clothing, would shop for their daily needs along the street. Xizhou Town is predominantly inhabited by the Bai ethnic group, and the architecture is distinctive, with white facades, colorful paintings, and the traditional couplets on every door. Unlike traditional New Year decorations in northern China, their couplets are a reflection of their family traditions, each handwritten. A day and night spent here allowed me to experience the unique culture of the Bai people. It was a worthwhile trip. A special note.

There are Xizhou Baba everywhere in the streets of Xizhou. I bought one and it was okay. It is actually a baked pancake and it is best eaten while it is hot.

It’s not a big ancient town, but Yan Family Courtyard is worth a visit.

Xizhou Ancient Town is not big, so I didn’t get to experience tie-dyeing, but I did get to eat a lot of small things, such as fruit radish, which is super mini and tastes like carrot, but is sweeter than carrot. Even though I don’t eat carrots, I ate several of them silently.

There are continuous Bai buildings with white walls and gray tiles, small bridges and flowing water, towering ancient trees blocking the sun, and red lanterns all over the streets.

The Xizhou Bai Nationality Residential Complex is located in Xizhou Town, Dali City, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. It faces Erhai Lake to the east and Cangshan Mountain to the west. It is a famous historical and cultural town in China's southwestern frontier.

The area boasts picturesque scenery and abundant natural resources. The renowned Butterfly Spring is located within the area, and the film "Five Golden Flowers" was filmed here. The typical layout of the area is characterized by enclosed courtyards with "three courtyards and a screen wall" and "four courtyards and five patios."

Yan's Courtyard is located at No. 1, Fuchunli, Sifang Street, Xizhou Town Office. It was built in 1919 by Yan Zizhen, a famous national capitalist in Xizhou.

Xizhou, located 18 kilometers north of Dali Ancient City, borders Erhai Lake to the east and Cangshan Mountain to the west. A major Bai ethnic group settlement, Xizhou boasts the largest and best-preserved Bai residential complex. Its layout exemplifies the typical Bai courtyard layout of "three courtyards and a screen wall" and "four courtyards and five patios." Notable examples include Yang Pinxiang's Residence, the Yan Family Courtyard, and the Hou Family Courtyard.

Xizhou Bai ancient buildings are included in the fifth batch of national key cultural relics protection units.

Every house is a big mansion, very unique, the locals regard building a big house as their lifelong goal

It's okay, you can go and have a look. The commercial atmosphere is not as heavy as that of Lijiang Ancient Town, and it is not that big. The Xizhou Baba tastes okay, but 10 yuan each is said to be too expensive. Locals may only pay 2 yuan each, hahaha~

Xizhou is not the only place around Erhai Lake. Every village and town has retained a strong Bai ethnic minority style, and Xizhou is the best example.

Xizhou is relatively wealthy and has some wealthy businessmen, so there are some very beautiful and unique Bai architectural representatives here, such as the Yan Family Courtyard.

You can go in and have a good look around.

Xizhou is the ideal place to live. It is quieter and more pristine than Dali, a little more commercial than Zhoucheng, and offers a place to stroll around at night. The Bai ethnic group's architecture is very distinctive and can be seen everywhere in Dali, though it is more prominent in Xizhou.

A place where you can quietly appreciate the architecture

2007.4.13 Bai ethnic group performance at Xizhou ancient buildings

It's a town with a strong cultural character. It gave me a relaxing feeling and I could spend some time walking around.

The ancient Bai buildings in Xizhou adopt the architectural style of "three courtyards and one screen wall" and "four courtyards and five patios". These buildings are decorated with carved beams and painted buildings, overlapping brackets, upturned corners and flying eaves, gatehouses, screen walls and gables with colorful paintings, which fully reflects the architectural talent and artistic creativity of the Bai people. Among them, the Yan Family Courtyard is the most famous.

I wanted to go there for lunch, but they said I had to pay for a ticket and it was sparsely populated, so I didn't go in. I felt it was just average! Later I found a restaurant nearby, but the food was terrible. Anyway, I didn't have a good impression of this place!

If you charter a car to travel around Haixi Road, you will definitely come to Xizhou. There is no entrance fee to the ancient town, but you need to buy a ticket to enter the small attractions inside.

It is a good choice to cycle around the sea in the morning and have lunch in Xizhou at noon.

There are two famous attractions in Xizhou, one is Butterfly Spring and the other is the tie-dyeing in Zhoucheng Village. However, I am not interested in either of them. Every time I come here, I stop by the ancient town, eat a freshly baked minced meat cake from Fuxing, have lunch, buy some rose jam, drink a glass of fragrant milk, and buy a pound of milk fan. It's perfect.

There are many snack shops and specialty shops in the Sifang Street area. There are also several old streets nearby, but they are not well preserved and there is nothing worth seeing.

Xilinyuan is free to visit from 13:00 to 17:00 in the afternoon. The old house is well preserved and worth a visit.

You need to buy a ticket to enter the Sea Tongue Peninsula, but if you cycle along the West Coast Road, you don't have to spend this money.



Huanhai West Road and Xizhou were under construction in 2017. The roads were dug up badly and many places were inaccessible. It is recommended to wait until they are repaired before visiting.



Xizhou Town is located in the north of Dali City, leaning against Cangshan Mountain in the west and facing Erhai Lake in the east. It was called "Dali City" during the Sui and Tang Dynasties. It was one of the "Ten Eyes" in the Nanzhao period and the hometown of the movie "Five Golden Flowers". It is a famous historical and cultural town and one of the key overseas Chinese hometowns in Yunnan Province.

It has local characteristics and is worth a visit.

Compared to Dali Ancient Town, Xizhou Ancient Town seems a little more charming. Without the hustle and bustle, stroll through the ancient streets and eat at Xizhou.

Xizhou Town, located 17 kilometers north of Dali Ancient City, is one of the largest Bai ethnic minority villages in the Dali Basin. Xizhou Bai dwellings have a long history and distinct ethnic characteristics. In modern times, they have developed a unique blend of Chinese and Western styles, making them a significant legacy in Chinese architectural history. In June 2001, they were listed as a fifth-batch national key cultural relic protection site.

There are many very beautiful Bai ethnic minority houses in the town, which are well preserved and have a strong atmosphere of town life. However, some houses require a few yuan to enter.

On the way from Xizhou Ancient Town to Haishe Park, I got lost, but fortunately, I encountered some typical Xizhou Bai ethnic minority buildings. They are well-preserved and have distinct Bai ethnic characteristics. There are also some new Bai dwellings, which, while new, still show architectural features borrowed from past generations.

Many houses in Xizhou Town have been converted into B&Bs, which make it a place to escape from the world. You can live in an old house and listen to the croaking of frogs in the fields.

Xizhou boasts a relatively intact collection of Bai ethnic minority dwellings, imbued with a rich cultural heritage. While similar in style, the dwellings vary in size, primarily painted white. Decorated with inscriptions and landscapes, they boast sprawling courtyards, carved beams, and painted pillars. The most striking features of the buildings are the colorful paintings on the gatehouses, screen walls, and gables. Tall and imposing, with unique shapes, the dwellings exude a rich cultural atmosphere both inside and out.

The houses of the Bai people are all white, with words like "Cangshan Yuxiu" written on the walls.

The ancient towns and villages around Erhai Lake are also worth visiting. Due to time constraints and lack of sufficient planning, we only spent some time in Xizhou Ancient Town and had lunch. The Xizhou baba is good, I like sweet ones~

If you want to learn about the traditional customs of the Bai people, you can learn about it with a one-day tour group.

This ancient town is quite unique, unlike the Xitang and Zhouzhuang I visited. Perhaps it's because of the Bai ethnic group. Tie-dyed fabrics are everywhere, and the architecture is quite unique. It doesn't feel like a typical Jiangnan water town. The town isn't large, and a full walk around it takes just over half an hour. There are plenty of people braiding their hair along the way. You should try the Xizhou Baba.

Compared to the extremely commercial Lijiang and the bustling Dali, the current Xizhou Ancient Town has a richer atmosphere of life. It's quite nice! You can even experience the craftsmanship of an old lady in the legendary barber shop.

The photos were all taken in Dali's Xizhou Ancient Town. Compared to Dali Ancient City's Shuanglang, Xizhou Ancient Town is better preserved and has many exquisite traditional buildings with flying eaves and arches. The exquisite beauty is different from other ancient buildings. The Bai ethnic group's architectural style is more complex and exquisite, with deep ethnic and regional characteristics.

Xizhou is an ancient town that has preserved ancient buildings very well. The Bai ethnic minority buildings, although mottled, still bear the marks of history and are magnificent.

Xizhou has many local residents and is not very commercialized. There are many old houses. It was already afternoon when I finished visiting the Yan Family Courtyard. I walked around and saw many more old houses. They were so old that I felt a little creepy when I walked into them!

I really like the Bai people's houses, especially their vibrant and colorful paintings. The residents here prefer white and new, and they pay great attention to the facades, so maintaining the exterior is paramount. When Lao She visited Xizhou, he exclaimed, "It felt like I'd arrived in Cambridge, England (from "A Short Note on a Trip to Yunnan")."

When I went to Tongcai Village three years ago, it was incredibly deserted. Aside from a few teenagers on bicycles on Sifang Street, the rest of the area was practically completely booked. When I went back this year (September 2016), there were so many shops, so much noise, and it was a riot of activity. It wasn't a pleasant experience at all.

Bai architecture. Houses inhabited by the Bai people in Dali, Yunnan, all feature gatehouses, with those in Xizhou being the most prominent. These typically adopt the style of a Central Plains palace, with overhanging eaves and corners, but are often constructed of lime or bricks and tiles. With the exception of the wooden eaves skirts and lintel ornaments, the rest of the structure is primarily brick and tile. The wood, mortise and tenon joints, are interlocked with the brickwork, creating a meticulously designed and meticulously detailed experience. Floors feature a rich tapestry of three-dimensional patterns, interwoven with clay sculptures, wood carvings, painted paintings, stone carvings, marble screens, and embossed blue bricks, creating a magnificent and elegant atmosphere.

It's very tasteful. When the weather is good, looking at the blue sky, white clouds and ancient buildings really makes me feel better.

Xizhou Ancient Town isn't overly commercialized, so it's quite pleasant. It's not very large, and a stroll through it takes about two hours. Initially, I was intrigued by the white buildings. Dali's architecture is primarily influenced by the Bai ethnic group, and its unique style has been well preserved. Every house has a screen wall, which is something you don't see in Northeast China, so it was quite novel. Each house has four characters inscribed on it: "Clean and Incorrupt Family," "Qinhe Family Reputation," "Qinglian Legacy," "Bairen Family Reputation," and so on. At first, I thought they were just auspicious omens. But on closer inspection, I realized that wasn't the case. Some houses even had characters repeated in other houses. After asking Master Li, I learned that these characters represent family names. Each character on the screen wall represents a family name, a story, a legacy, and ultimately, a family tradition.

These characters are not written casually. In these characters, we can find the shadows of ancient celebrities, which show that they have an extraordinary historical heritage.

For example, the legacy of Qinglian represents the surname Li, and Li Bai was known as Qinglian Jushi. The surname Zhang, also known as Bairen, is known as the family reputation of Zhang Gongyi, also known as Zhang Gong Bairen.

History must be passed down well so that it will not be forgotten. I really didn't know there was so much knowledge here, and I didn't expect the Bai people to pay so much attention to culture and residential architecture. It was not a wasted trip, I learned a lot.

I like the appearance of Bai architecture. The design of Zhongjing is also very humane. The houses here are more ancient and more charming.

I've heard a lot about the architectural complex of Xizhou Ancient Town. While the main entrance requires a 60-yuan ticket, the other side entrances are completely ticket-free. The architecture is remarkably local, with the usual off-white walls and the famous Yan Family Courtyard – it's definitely worth a visit!

On the shore of Erhai Lake, you can appreciate the architectural features of the Bai people.

Xizhou has a lot of snacks. The Bai architecture bears the marks of many years. The simple and elegant retro architectural style also reveals a bit of exotic charm.

Here you can drink the famous three-course tea, one bitter, two sweet and three aftertaste, and you can also watch ethnic minority performances (just a few people, very simple)

The Yan Family Courtyard is a very distinctive Bai architecture.

Xizhou Bai Ethnic Group Ancient Architecture: In Xizhou Ancient Town, dwellings imbued with the aesthetics of ink and wash painting are neatly arranged along ancient stone alleys. Each courtyard boasts a symmetrical layout and enclosed exterior, creating a natural and appropriate atmosphere. The buildings are constructed of earth, wood, brick, and stone, with doors and windows adorned with intricate wood carvings of flowers and birds. The pale white walls are partially painted with ink and wash landscapes. The gatehouses and gatehouses are intricately carved with bluestone patterns, creating a unique Bai architectural style. The most distinctive features include the Seven-Foot Study, the Yan Family Courtyard, and the Yang Family Courtyard. The distinctive shapes of the Bai dwellings, with their simple and elegant style, offer a breath of fresh air.

Bai architecture. Houses in the Bai ethnic group's Dali, Yunnan, all feature gatehouses. These typically adopt the style of a Central Plains palace, with overhanging eaves and corners, but are often constructed of lime or bricks and tiles. With the exception of the wooden eaves skirts and lintel ornaments, the rest of the structure is primarily brick and tile. The wood, mortise and tenoned, joins the brickwork in a staggered arrangement, creating a meticulously crafted and meticulous experience. The floors are interwoven with clay sculptures, wood carvings, painted paintings, stone carvings, marble screens, and embossed blue bricks to create a rich, three-dimensional pattern, creating a magnificent and quaint elegance.

First, let's be clear: the Xizhou we're referring to here is Xizhou Town, which you'll find after entering from the road behind Xizhou Zhengyi Gate on Dali Road and passing the large banyan tree. It's a genuine Bai ethnic village, filled with old houses, traditional dwellings, restaurants, and shops. It's not the brand-new, artificial "Xizhou Ancient Town" on Dali Road that costs 80 RMB per person and has no walls, ethnic songs and dances, or even three-course tea performances. If you're confused, use AutoNavi Navigation to locate Xizhou Zhengyi Gate. Find the gate and the tree in the two photos below. You'll be all set.



What is the significance of Xizhou? For a tourist, Xizhou is a place that is close to the ideal and reality, between prosperity and tranquility, between commercialization and original ecology.

Ancient cities, like Hamlet, are something everyone has in their hearts, and they constantly change with the passage of time and the vicissitudes of life. If your image of an ancient city or town is bustling crowds, hipster coffee shops, unique shops, and vibrant bars, then visiting nearby Lijiang Dayan Ancient Town or Dali Ancient Town might offer a more immersive experience. If your image of an ancient city or town is the distant mountain bells of the ancient Tea Horse Road, then explore the more distant Shaxi and Nuodeng, where you'll find undisturbed rivers and bridges, and dazzling starlight at night. If neither is your preference, then Xizhou is the place to experience the unspoiled Erhai Lake, the daily life of the Bai ethnic minority market, horse-drawn carriages crisscrossing villages, and local groceries. It also offers essential modern tourist amenities like minibuses, inns, Western restaurants, hostels, and car rentals.



What's there to do in Xizhou? A good route, centering on Xizhou, connects Xizhou Ancient Town with the surrounding Taoyuan Village, Zhoucheng, and Haishe Park. It should take about 1-2 days.

As a gathering place for wealthy families, Xizhou Ancient Town itself boasts numerous old residences and historical sites, such as Ziyunshan Temple and the Yan Family Compound (the old one, not the newly built one on Dali Road). In fact, in an ancient town like this, there's no need to specifically visit a large mansion; unassuming roadside homes and even the replica school are filled with the rich flavor of Bai life. It's recommended to spend the morning strolling the streets and alleys of Xizhou after arriving (in Dali, including Dali Old Town, mornings are generally reserved for locals, with many Bai-style shops only open during the morning and noon periods. The afternoons and evenings are dominated by smaller businesses, and Xizhou isn't very commercialized, so there's not much nightlife at night). The ubiquitous Xizhou baba, cold chicken rice noodles (available only in the mornings), milk popsicles, and milk fan are all essential tourist items. Especially the market south of Sifang Street, where Bai ethnic group grandmothers set up stalls to sell all kinds of pickled fruits. They are cheap, plentiful and delicious. I still remember the pickled plums I bought at the market when I went to Xizhou in 2015.

Photographing the Bai people was also the main purpose of this trip, but many of them were newly built. Although they did not have that ancient charm, the essential characteristics of the houses were still preserved.

Xizhou Ancient Town, to put it simply, is a place you can visit on a horse-drawn carriage. It has three walls and is very unique.

Most old women on the street wear Bai ethnic clothing.

We went on a one-day tour and it felt like we were just there for the fun! It cost us 130 NTD, and we had a full day of fun! We also had two shopping malls.

The people's customs are no longer simple and honest, so they must be slaughtered harshly!

Dear friends, you should keep your eyes open, or don't take the loss to heart, just don't lose too much. We are tourists, so we are too tired to complain. We have been cheated by Lijiang and think this place is just an ordinary scam.

Sitting in a Bai family home, drinking tea and eating Bai specialties at a small table in the courtyard, I felt like I didn't want to go home. The carved doors and windows reflect the unique culture of the Bai people and their hard work, making their home so beautiful...

The town has a strong local ethnic flavor, but the downside is that it is too small to walk around for long.

Different Bai architecture, worth seeing! ! !

The ancient architecture of the Bai ethnic group has always been a major feature of Dali. When you go to Xizhou, in addition to eating Xizhou Baba, you must not miss the ancient architecture of the Bai ethnic group.

A scenic spot developed and contracted by local people. Generally speaking, it is unsatisfactory. No matter how exciting the foreplay of the Bai girl is, she will definitely go around to sell tea in the end. It feels like a one-time visit.

A scenic spot developed and contracted by local people. Generally speaking, it is unsatisfactory. No matter how exciting the foreplay of the Bai girl is, she will definitely go around to sell tea in the end. It feels like a one-time visit.

We also tasted the "Bai Three-Course Tea" here and watched the Bai wedding song and dance performance.

Xizhou is rumored to have once been a very respectable town. The Xizhou merchant group was once a prominent group in the Dali area, and every household built their houses with great care. Even though it has long since fallen into decline, the remaining buildings still give glimpses of its former glory. When Lao She visited Xizhou, he praised it as comparable to Cambridge. In his "Short Notes on a Journey in Yunnan," he wrote, "Xizhou Town is a miracle. I can't recall seeing such a respectable town in any remote part of China." Although it no longer lives up to the image of Lao She's visit, some traces of prosperity and wealth can still be found.

Maybe it’s because I love the unique architectural styles of various ethnic groups and countries, so I have always had a special love for architecture.

The architecture inside is very unique and has a strong ethnic flavor! I tasted the Bai ethnic group's three-course tea and bought a few boxes (a bit...),