Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture

Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture (Chinese: 大理白族自治州; pinyin: Dàlǐ Báizú Zìzhìzhōu; Bai: Darl•lit Baif•cuf zirl•zirl•zox) is an autonomous prefecture of northwestern Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China. between longitudes 98°52′ to 101°03′ east and latitudes 24°41′ to 26°42′ north, it has a subtropical plateau monsoon climate with distinct dry and wet seasons. Most areas do not experience extreme heat in summer or severe cold in winter, covering a total area of 29,459 square kilometers. By the end of 2023, the permanent population of the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture was 3.342 million people. As of March 2023, the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture governed one county-level city and 11 counties, with 110 townships, and the People's Government of the Autonomous Prefecture is based in Xiaguan, Dali City.

The Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture has a long history. As far back as the Neolithic Age, the ancestors of ethnic minorities such as the Bai people and Yi people and thrived here. During the Tang and Song dynasties, local governments such as the "Kingdom of Nanzhao" and the "Kingdom of Dali" emerged. In 1956, the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture was established. The capital, Dali City, is the intersection of the Yunnan-Burma Road and the Yunnan-Tibet Road, historically an important transit point for the "Shu-Sindu Road" and the "Tea Horse Road," and now is planned by Yunnan Province as the central city of Western Yunnan, a regional transportation hub, and the logistics center of Western Yunnan.

The Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture boasts more than 130 scenic spots and historical sites, including the Buddhist holy land of Mount Jizu, the famous Taoist mountain of Weibaoshan, the magnificent stone carvings of Shibaoshan, and the plateau pearl of Erhai Lake. The Cangshan and Erhai are national-level scenic spots, and "Cangshan Nature and the Cultural Relics of Nanzhao" are dual national natural and cultural heritages.

In 2022, the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture achieved a regional gross domestic product (GDP) of 169.96 billion yuan, growing by 2.4% compared to the previous year.

Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture is bordered by Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture to the east, Pu'er City and Lincang to the south, Baoshan, Yunnan and Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture to the west, and Lijiang to the north.