Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture

For the city and seat of Dali Prefecture, see Dali City.
Dali Prefecture
大理州 · Darl•lit Zox
Autonomous prefecture
大理白族自治州
Darl•lit Baif•cuf zirl•zirl•zox
Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture
Yunnanyi
Panorama of Erhai
Location of Dali Prefecture in Yunnan
Location of Dali Prefecture in Yunnan
CountryChina
ProvinceYunnan
Admin HQDali
Government
 • TypeAutonomous prefecture
 • CCP SecretaryYang Guozong
 • Congress ChairmanZhang Jianping
 • GovernorYang Guozong
 • CPPCC ChairmanZhu Jianbin
Area
 • Total29,459 km2 (11,374 sq mi)
Population
 (2010)[1]
 • Total3,456,000
 • Density120/km2 (300/sq mi)
GDP[2]
 • TotalCN¥ 170 billion
US$ 25.1 billion
 • Per capitaCN¥ 51,302
US$ 7,567
Postal code
671000
Area code0872
ISO 3166 codeCN-YN-29
License Plate Prefix云L
Websitehttp://www.dali.gov.cn/

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,[3] the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture governed one county-level city and 11 counties, with 110 townships,[4] 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.[5] 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"[6] 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.[7]

  1. ^ According to 2010 China National Census Archived 2012-03-25 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ 云南省统计局、国家统计局云南调查总队 (December 2023). 《云南统计年鉴－2023》. 中国统计出版社. ISBN 978-7-5037-9653-1.
  3. ^ "China: Administrative Division (Provinces and Prefectures) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  4. ^ "Dali Prefecture Yunnan: A Must-go Place in Yunnan with Erhai Lake". www.travelchinaguide.com. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  5. ^ "A History of China by Morris Rossabi" (PDF).
  6. ^ "Understanding the transport networks complex between South Asia, Southeast Asia and China during the late Neolithic and Bronze Age".
  7. ^ "GDP: per Capita: Yunnan: Dali | Economic Indicators | CEIC". www.ceicdata.com. Retrieved 2024-06-11.