Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, an ethnic autonomous prefecture under the jurisdiction of Yunnan Province, is located in the central western part of Yunnan Province, between 98 ° 52 ′ -101 ° 03 ′ E longitude and 24 ° 41 ′ -26 ° 42 ′ N latitude. It belongs to the low latitude plateau monsoon climate, with distinct dry and wet seasons. Most areas have no scorching heat in summer and no severe cold in winter, with a total area of 29459 square kilometers. As of the end of 2023, the permanent population of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture was 3.342 million.
Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture has a long history. As early as the Neolithic Age, ethnic minorities such as the Bai and Yi people have thrived here. During the Tang and Song dynasties, local political powers such as the "Nanzhao Kingdom" and the "Dali Kingdom" emerged respectively.
In 1956, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture was established. Dali City, where the state capital is located, is the intersection of the Yunnan Burma Road and the Yunnan Tibet Road. It was an important transit station for the "Shu body poison road" and the "Tea Horse ancient road" in ancient times. It is now a planned and constructed central city, regional transportation hub, and logistics center in western Yunnan Province.
Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture is a national level Dali cultural and ecological protection zone, with more than 130 scenic spots and tourist attractions, including the Buddhist holy site Jizu Mountain, the Taoist famous mountain Weibao Mountain, the grotto Guibaobao Mountain, and the plateau pearl Erhai Lake. Cangshan Erhai Lake is a national level scenic spot, and "Cangshan Nature and Nanzhao Cultural Relics" are national natural and cultural heritage sites. Dali, the capital of the autonomous prefecture, is one of the first batch of 24 national historical and cultural cities. It is a national level historical and cultural city, a national level scenic spot, a national level nature reserve, an excellent tourist city in China, the best charming city in China, a national geological park, one of the top ten tourist and leisure cities in China, the best leisure tourism destination in China, and the most famous cultural city in China.