Xizhou Ancient Town Travel Guide 2025: Discover Dali’s Bai Heritage and Timeless Elegance

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Dali Nestled on the western shores of Erhai Lake, Xizhou Ancient Town stands as a living poem — a tranquil village where the whispers of the Bai ethnic culture echo through narrow cobblestone streets and sunlight lingers on centuries-old white-walled courtyards. While Dali’s fame might first draw visitors to Yunnan, it is Xizhou that truly reveals the soul of this luminous land.

A Tapestry of History: The Origins of Xizhou

Xizhou’s story began over a thousand years ago during the Sui and Tang dynasties. Once an important settlement for the Bai people and a favored retreat for Nanzhao kings, it blossomed into a thriving merchant hub during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The grandeur of its merchant past lives on in more than 100 beautifully preserved Bai mansions, each an ode to refined craftsmanship and graceful living.

Today, Xizhou remains a living museum — a place where daily life carries the fragrance of wildflowers, fresh bread, and lake breezes.

Explore Xizhou’s Timeless Architecture

Strolling through Xizhou feels like slipping between pages of a long-forgotten novel. The town’s hallmark is its Bai ethnic residences, exemplified by the iconic Yan Family Courtyard on Sifang Street. Built in the late Qing dynasty, this grand mansion is adorned with intricate wood carvings, moon gates, and elegant lattice windows. Nearby, the Dong Jinhan and Zhao family compounds blend traditional Bai styles with subtle touches of early modern Chinese influences.

Every residence reflects a philosophy of harmony: open courtyards welcoming the sun, delicate eaves sheltering from mountain rains, and quiet corners inviting a moment of reflection.

The Morning Symphony: Xizhou’s Market Life

As dawn stretches its golden fingers across Erhai Lake, Xizhou stirs to life in a swirl of colors and scents. The morning market is the town’s pulsing heart. Farmers and fishers arrive with baskets of vegetables, lake fish, fresh tofu, and fragrant flower cakes. Bai women in their vivid embroidered headscarves move gracefully between stalls, bartering and laughing.

Wander these morning alleys and you’ll taste the freshness of village life — the sweetness of warm soy milk, the earthy scent of homegrown herbs, the delicate bitterness of local tea.

Festivals: The Dance of Tradition

If your journey aligns with spring, between March and May, you may witness the Raosanling Festival — a vivid tapestry of faith and celebration. Bai villagers dressed in brilliant finery gather to sing, dance, and carry offerings to sacred sites by the lake. Drums echo across the fields at night, telling stories of ancestors and eternal bonds to the land.

Nearby Destinations: Beyond Xizhou

Zhoucheng Village (Tie-Dye Haven): Just a short ride away lies Zhoucheng, where the air is alive with indigo dreams. Here, you can learn the delicate art of Bai tie-dye, creating swirling blue-and-white patterns to carry home as a tangible memory.

Erhai Lake: The lake’s wide mirror reflects sky and mountain alike. Pedal along its gentle cycling paths or glide by boat across its surface, catching glimpses of fishermen in their wooden skiffs and waterbirds that rise like morning mist.

Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple: An enduring symbol of Dali’s spiritual heart, the elegant trio of white pagodas has watched over these lands for over a millennium.

Dali Ancient Town: Lose yourself in the winding alleys of Dali’s old town, where lanterns sway in the breeze and each corner brims with stories waiting to unfold.

When to Visit Xizhou: A Year-Round Invitation

Xizhou wears each season like a different silk robe. From March to May, camellias bloom and festivals dance through the fields. In summer and early autumn, golden rice paddies ripple like an endless sea under the sun. Even winter mornings hold a serene allure, with crisp air and clear lake reflections.

How to Reach Xizhou from Dali

Xizhou sits about 20 kilometers north of Dali Ancient Town, making it a convenient escape into authenticity.

• Minibus: Economical and frequent, taking about 40 minutes.
• Public Bus & Minivan: A combination route that reveals glimpses of local daily life.
• Bicycle: For the free-spirited, a 1–2 hour ride along lake-view roads offers a soulful, meditative approach.
• Private Car: LuxTourCN (LTC) can arrange private transfers, transforming the journey itself into a quiet unfolding of landscapes.

Where to Stay and What to Eat

Xizhou’s accommodations mirror its tranquil, artistic spirit. Boutique hotels hidden behind ancient walls offer courtyards full of blossoming flowers and moonlit evenings. For those seeking deeper immersion, family-run guesthouses invite you to wake to the sound of roosters and the fragrance of freshly baked “Xizhou Baba.”

Food here is a story in itself. Sample delicate Bai specialties, savor flower cakes still warm from the oven, or linger over a Bai “Three-Course Tea Ceremony,” whose unfolding flavors tell a tale of bitterness, sweetness, and reflection.

Sample Itinerary: A Three-Day Poetic Journey

Day 1: Xizhou Ancient Town
Wander through courtyards, taste local treats, and listen to the town’s quiet poetry echoing through its alleys.

Day 2: Erhai Lake and Shuanglang Village
Drift on Erhai’s shimmering waters, cycle through gentle villages, and explore the artistic soul of Shuanglang.

Day 3: Dali Ancient Town and the Three Pagodas
Embrace Dali’s lively charm, admire the storied pagodas, and watch the day fade behind Cangshan’s silhouette.

Embark with LuxTourCN (LTC)

Through the lens of LuxTourCN (LTC), Xizhou is not just a destination — it is a living verse, a tapestry of echoes and light. Our expertise in crafting intimate, meaningful journeys ensures that each moment becomes a cherished stanza in your own travel story.

Let Xizhou’s ancient walls whisper their secrets to you. Let the sun’s first rays catch your breath by the lake. And let your heart wander, wide open, in this timeless village where the past and present sway like willows by the water.

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