Zhoucheng Bai Ethnic Village in Dali
Chinese Name: 大理周城白族村
Chinese Pinyin: Dali ZhouchengBaizu Cun
English Name: Zhoucheng Bai Ethnic Village in Dali City
Type: ancient village, folk art
Area: 2 square kilometers
Best Time: from March to November
Opening Hours: the whole day
Recommended Visiting Hours: 2 to 3 hours
Location: 23 km north away from Dali Ancient Town, Yunnan Province
Chinese Name: 大理州宾川县州城镇州城村委会
English Name: Zhoucheng Village of Zhoucheng Town in Dali City
Zhoucheng Bai Ethnic Village
Located in Xizhou Old Town, Zhoucheng Village is lying 30km north near Butterfly Spring in Dali. It has earned the nickname ‘the Hometown to Tie-dyeing’. The delicate and colorful dyeing process appeals to many travelers at both home and abroad. Except for the tie-dyeing, travelers can have a view of the tradtional architecture and daily life of Bai ethnic minority. Zhoucheng Village is the largets Bai ethnic village in Dali. Villagers carry on the traditional culture of Bai, like Dongjing Music, Bawangbian Dance and Patron God worship.
Tie-dyeing
Tie-dyeing is the traditional folk art of the Bai ethic minority. It can be dated back to 1,000 years ago. At the very beginning, the Bai make tie-dyeing in their own houses, and gradually home-based workshops appeared, becoming so common that almost every family had one. The material originally used was pure white cotton cloth with blue dye, but today the choices in both color and design are richer and more varied than before – greens, reds, and browns have been introduced in addition to the traditional blue. The designs are simple, inferring an idyllic pastoral life, and are made with dye that will never fade. However, even though the designs are simple, the process is anything but, as procedures are becoming more and more complicated with increased demand. Watching how the Bai people make their tie-dyed pieces is absolutely a must-see.
Process of Tie-dyeing
The first step involves drawing the designs on a piece of cloth. Unlike other tie-dyeing designs that choose to feature abstract patterns, the Bai like to incorporate flowers, animals and plants such as bees, butterflies, bamboos and lilies. The second step is to tie the cloth with thread – not too tightly and not too loosely. Next, it involves dyeing the cloth with dye made from a Chinese medicine called Banlangen. The fragrance is supposed to be good for both skin and health. Last, the threads must be removed and the cloth hung out to dry.
Architectural Form
Here you can see a typical “a reflecting wall while the other three serve as living spaces”, “quadrangle courtyard with two extra patios in the two sides” enclosed courtyard formed Bai local-style dwelling houses building.
Bai Dwelling House pays attention to decoration of reflecting wall, door and window, gable and gate house. The reflecting wall is a necessary main building of two wing-rooms and three courtyards, it is cornice grey tile and caping wall; the main house is to connect gable of two wing-rooms and make it an enclosed courtyard. The center of the reflecting wall was whitewashed by lime, written inscription, and embedded with marble wall; the surrounding sector inlaid and drawn the outline of rectangular and circular design, and painted with pastel. Doors and windows, especially the panelled door of main room, mostly are cloud wood, toon, Chinese catalpa wood, and other rare wood, carved on the golden chicken, kylin, and other auspicious patterns.
Ethnic Culture
Zhoucheng Town Belief
Zhoucheng Town Bai ethnic believes in mainly Buddhist. In Zhoucheng Town, there is Yinxiang Temple and Longquan Temple and other buddhist temples, etc. Like other Bai village, Zhoucheng Town has their own local deity worship, in Zhoucheng there are two local temples. Lingdi Temple consecrates its local deity hero Du Chaoxuan who chopped the boa in the Butterfly Spring; Jingdi Temple consecrates Zhaomulanggang who was the earliest ancestor of Zhoucheng Town. They were the legendary heroes and ancestors, also the patron saint of the local village. Here people can visit Bai local-style dwelling houses, street market, Bai tie-dye, and can appreciate Bai wedding, but also taste the Bai flavor food, buy Bai folk arts and crafts.
What to See
National tie-dye products
In Zhoucheng Town, you can see the rich ethnic tie-dye products. Since the late Ming dynasty and early Qing dynasty, tie-dye is Bai people’s traditional folk craft in Zhoucheng Town, tie-dye crafts are in collection of culture and art as a whole. Tie-dyed cloth is made by hand suture needle, repeatedly immersed by cold dyeing method. The color is green, dignified and elegant, and it is fine production, design pattern is pure and fresh, colorful, sold at home and abroad. The handicraft made of tie-dyed cloth is full of strong ethnic flavor, is also full of modern flavor.
Festival Activities
Zhoucheng Town Bai ethnic in addition to celebrate the same festivals like the Spring Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival with the Han nationality, they also celebrate traditional Third Month Fair, Raosanlng, Torch Festival and other national holidays. Every June 25 in the lunar calendar, the annual Bai Torch Festival was held here, strong ethnic characteristics, and large scale scene create the Torch Festival a lively atmosphere.
Useful Travel Tips
Best Time to Travel Zhoucheng Village: from March to November is the best time to visit Zhoucheng Village. During that time there is traditional Third Month Fair, Raosanling, and Torch Festival. Every June 25 in the lunar calendar, here will host annual Bai Torch Festival. At that time village is full of ethnic features.
Travelers should respect the local ethnic custom and protect the traditional architecture.
