Discover Bai Minority Life in Xizhou Ancient Town — A Timeless Tapestry of Culture and Architecture

By, luxtour2025

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Dali Tucked on the western shore of Erhai Lake, Xizhou Ancient Town (喜洲古镇) invites you into a world where time flows as slowly as the morning mist rising over the rice paddies. More than just a scenic stop, Xizhou is a living chronicle of Bai minority culture — a place where every courtyard and doorway seems to hum with ancestral memory.

While Dali Ancient Town dazzles with its bustle, Xizhou charms with its quiet authenticity. The true heartbeat of this village lies in its architectural wonders. With over a hundred well-preserved Bai houses, some dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Xizhou stands as a vibrant open-air museum of Bai ethnic design. The houses, adorned with whitewashed walls, grey tile roofs, and ornate stone and wood carvings, embody the aesthetic philosophy and spiritual beliefs of the Bai people.

Among these treasures, the Yan Family Compound is an unmissable highlight. This iconic courtyard house exemplifies the traditional “three rooms and one screen wall” and “four courtyards with five skylights” layouts, showcasing the unique fusion of practicality and elegance that defines Bai architecture. Intricate murals, delicate wood lattice work, and poetic couplets capture a refined yet grounded way of life.

Beyond its architecture, Xizhou pulses with daily rhythms that reveal the warmth and resilience of its community. Begin your day at the bustling morning market, where locals in colorful Bai attire trade freshly picked vegetables, fragrant spices, and handmade crafts. Join them in savoring Xizhou Baba — a savory, golden-fried flatbread that embodies the region’s earthy flavors.

Don’t miss the experience of the “Three Courses of Tea” ceremony. With each cup — from bitter to sweet to a lingering aftertaste — you taste not just tea but a philosophy of life, a poetic reflection on the stages of existence cherished by the Bai people.

Wandering down Four Square Street and the surrounding lanes, you’ll glimpse everyday vignettes: elders chatting under ancient camphor trees, children chasing each other past ancestral halls, and artisans carefully tending to traditional tie-dye fabrics. In Xizhou, life unfolds at a gentle, deliberate pace, offering travelers a rare chance to breathe deeply and reconnect with the heart of Yunnan.

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