Shangguan Village of Xizhou Town in Dali City, Dali Prefecture

Chinese Name: 大理州大理市喜洲镇上关村
English Name: Shangguan Village of Xizhou Town in Dali City, Dali Prefecture

Shangguan Village is located in Xizhou Town, Dali City, Yunnan Province, China. Positioned to the north of Xizhou Town, it is 8 kilometers from the town government center and is easily accessible via a cement road. The village is 50 kilometers away from the city center. To the east lies Erhai Lake, to the south is Butterfly Spring, to the west is Cangshan Mountain, and to the north is Shaping. Shangguan Village covers an area of 14.37 square kilometers, with an elevation of 1,984 meters. The average annual temperature is 15.00°C, and the annual precipitation is 1,100 millimeters, making it suitable for growing rice, corn, broad beans, wheat, and other crops. The total cultivated area of the village is 1,727 acres, with an average of 0.5 acres per person, and the forest area is 19,325.50 acres. In 2006, the total economic income of the village was 72.44 million yuan, with an average per capita net income of 4,272 yuan. The primary sources of income for villagers are the secondary and tertiary industries.

“Shangguan Flower”

The “Shangguan Flower,” one of the renowned “Four Sceneries of Dali,” is famous far and wide. In the 21st year of the Qing Daoguang era, Zhang Shaohan, Ding Wenmo, and other prominent figures recorded the “Five Sceneries of Shangguan” in the inscription of the Longshou Pass Kuixing Pavilion, including “Jiang Village Fishing Lights” to the east, “Wild Geese at Shazhou” to the south, “Clouds across the Jade Belt” and “Fishermen Casting Nets” to the west, and “Mountain Echoes of Woodcutters’ Songs” to the north. The poetic charm of Dali village life is vividly represented in Shangguan Village, surrounded by mountains and water.

Traditional Architecture and Culture

Residents of Shangguan Village live amidst beautiful scenery and poetic ambiance. The village features traditional Bai-style whitewashed walls and gray tiles, with over 300 traditional Bai-style residential buildings preserved, including 10 ancient buildings, which make up 35% of the total households. Architectural relics such as the Longshou Pass ruins and Guanyin Temple are preserved here, showcasing the ancient charm.

Bai Ethnic Culture

The Bai ethnic culture is well-preserved in Shangguan Village. The Bai "Jia Ma," also known as Bai "Jia Ma Paper," is a folk art form associated with natural, ancestral, and local deity worship. Traditionally, Jia Ma is burned or displayed during rituals to seek blessings or ward off disasters. In Bai culture, the swift horse, once a vital transportation tool, is imbued with spirituality, and people hope their wishes are carried by the horse depicted in the artwork. Over time, this evolved into the present-day Jia Ma.

Jia Ma is a distinctive Bai folk art form that serves as valuable material for studying printmaking art, ethnicity, folklore, religion, and cultural history. Shangguan Village maintains a complete heritage of Bai Jia Ma, with a leading Jia Ma workshop in Dali region. The workshop covers about 4 acres, produces tens of thousands of Jia Ma pieces daily, and supplies most of the Jia Ma retailers around Erhai Lake, forming a complete supply and sales system, becoming a unique industry of Shangguan Village.

乳扇 (Milk Fan)

Shangguan Village is also renowned for its milk fan. The history of milk fan production in Shangguan Village is long-standing. According to "Yunnan Historical Materials Collection," the milk fan from Shangguan Village is considered the best due to the local plant Qiuhe grass, which is consumed by cows, making the milk particularly rich. The production process involves heating homemade sour water in a pot, adding fresh cow milk, and gently stirring. The proteins and fats in the milk gradually form a chewy “milk fan lump,” which is then spread into thin slices and dried on bamboo racks.

With its yellow-white color and rich milk aroma, milk fan has become an essential delicacy for welcoming guests in Shangguan Village. It can be baked, steamed, or fried, each method offering a distinct flavor.

Tourist Attractions

• Shangguan Flower: As the first among the “Four Sceneries of Dali,” the Shangguan Flower was sought after by Ming Dynasty explorer and geographer Xu Xiake. He described the flower as yellow like a pomegranate and large like a lotus, with its fragrance traveling a great distance. The Shangguan Flower is known for its unique twelve or thirteen petals in leap years, adding to its mystique.
• Tianlong Cave: Located on the Yunlong Peak of Cangshan Mountain, Tianlong Cave is a natural limestone cave with an estimated 8 million years of history. Discovered during the Tang Taizong era, the cave is famous for its “View of the Blue Sea, Appreciating Famous Flowers, Exploring Ancient Caves, and Seeking Historical Relics” features. The cave is depicted in Jin Yong's novel "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils," where it is described as the location where the protagonist encounters a divine figure.
• Longshou Pass: Situated on the western side of Cangshan Mountain and facing Erhai Lake, Longshou Pass was established during the Nanzhao Pilo Pavilion period over 1,300 years ago. It has been a crucial military and historical site in Dali. The pass was historically a significant gateway and a vital part of the Tea Horse Road. The pass’s brick and stone structures were destroyed during the liberation period, but the earthen foundations remain well-preserved.
• Tianlong Temple: Located in Shangguan Village, Tianlong Temple was named after a divine spring nearby. Legend has it that during a ten-year drought, the Third Prince of the Dragon King visited the area and brought rain, prompting locals to build the temple in gratitude. The temple is known for its longstanding incense offerings and is especially visited during festivals and droughts for prayer.

Tips

• Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• Best Time to Visit: Suitable year-round
• Transportation Guide: Take a bus from Dali to Eryuan to reach Shangguan Village.