Dali: Love at First Sight

In Dali, 5,000 years of Chinese culture and modern life-style blend into one of the most fascinating travel experiences in the world; a wonderland of fantasy, mystique, and ancient splendor. Situated on the crossroads of many bygone civilizations, on a fertile plateau in Southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dali was praised by Marco Polo, the famous Venetian explorer, as the "the magicland beyond the clouds, an idyllic hideaway where life approaches perfection." However, the remote beauty of Dali did not remain untouched. Genghis Khan and his Mongol Warriors swooped down the legendary Silk and Tea roads, passing through Dali. Centuries later it was a major base along the Burma Road to the heroic Flying Tigers who supported China in its fight against Imperial Japan during WWII. Today Dali offers the conveniences of the 21st Century and yet remains a treasure trove of tradition and history.