Wuhua Tower in Dali Old Town
Chinese Name: 大理五华楼
Chinese Pinyin: Da Li Wu Hua Lou
English Name: Wuhua Tower in Dali Ancient Town
Type: tower, historical relic
History: over 1200 years
Opening Hours: all day
Ticket: free
Location: Dali Ancient Town, Dali Prefecture, Yunnan Province
Wuhua Tower
The Wuhua Tower of Dali Ancient Town（大理古城五华楼）is state guesthouse of ancient Nanzhao king in the past, also called to Five Flowers Building. It has five floors and can accommodate thousands of people. It has gone through thousands of vicissitudes. Since Nanzhao, Wuhua Building was burned down for many times, and rebuilt many times, but it was smaller after rebuilding over and over. Today the area of Wuhua Building has formed a certain scale of calligraphy and painting market, operating varieties include calligraphy, Chinese paintings like landscape flowers and birds painting and figures painting, etc., and leather trade and oil painting sale is very active. The Wuhua Tower we see toady was rebuilt in 1998. It is a four-storey building with a height of more than 20 meters. Wuhua Tower is one of the landmark buildings of Dali Old Town.
Why is Wuhua Tower so special?
It is the world’s first building of ancient Nanzhao kingdom. Wuhua Tower is also one of the landmarks of Dali.
Where is Wuhua Tower?
Wuhua Tower is located in Dali Ancient Town, north of Xiaguan Town, 13 kilometers away. This ancient city is situated between Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake.
Distance from other famous attractions in Dali
1.About 5 kilometers from Erhai Lake
2.About 2.3 kilometers from Three Pagodas of Dali
3.About 1.9 kilometers from Cangshan Mountain
4.About 24.7 kilometers from Shuanglang
How to get to Wuhua Tower?
Travelers can use our private car taking to Dali Ancient Town from Dali Airport or Dali Railway Station. If you are independent travelers, you can take bus or go by taxi.
1.By Car
From Dali Airport: It is about 30 km from Dali Airport to Dali Ancient Town. There are airport shuttle running between the airport to Dali Old Town. The drive takes about 40 minutes. If by taxi, it may cost around 80~100 Yuan.
From Dali Railway Station: It is about 26 km from Dali Railway Station to Dali Ancient Town. Travelers can take No.8 bus outside of the railway station to Dali Ancient Town, which takes about 40 minutes. If by taxi, it may cost around 50 Yuan.
2.By Bus
Taking bus No.4, No.8 in Xiaguan about 40 minutes to the Dali Ancient Town, the fare is 2 yuan. People who take bus No.8 can choose to get off at the east gate. In Yuer road there is touring bus passing Wind Flower Snow and Moon Hotel, Guozi Garden, Bluestone Bridge, Yeyu Road, Yuer Park, Boai Crossing and Cangshan Mountain Gate. In addition, visitors can take the minibus to Dali Ancient Town in Jianshe Road and Cultural Road, about 30 minutes to reach the old city. There are three options of transportation of electronic mobile, mountain bike and walk for tourists in Dali Ancient Town.
Introduction
From Nanzhao Kingdom to the ending of Yuan Dynasty, Dali met five earthquakes. It was burned down and rebuilt for three times. It is hard to find the wood big enough to build the grand tower, so Wuhua Tower becomes smaller and smaller. The wood carving is necessary for Wuhua Tower. The wood carving enjoys the history of over 1000 years.
Wuhua Tower was rebuilt in early Ming and Qing dynasties. During the Cultural Revolution, it was teared down. Many stone tablets of Yuan Dynasty were found here. It was built by government in 1998.
Nowadays, Wuhua Tower is a market selling the calligraphy works and Chinese paintings, also the oil paintings.
Nearby Attractions
Dali Ancient Town is a historic town with rich culture located between Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake. Unlike any other Chinese town, the traditional Bai ethnic houses give the town distinctive feel. Travelers can wonder in this leisure town to appreciate the unique ethnic architecture and discover its profound history and culture.
The Three Pagodas,the symbolic building of Dali, was first built in the time of Nanzhao Kingdom and Dali Kingdom in 9th and 10th century. Looking from a distance, the pagodas are like three ballpoint pens standing between the magnificent Cangshan Mountain and elegant Erhai Lake.
Cangshan Mountain,located west of Dali Ancient Town and Erhai Lake, is with nineteen peaks and eighteen streams. Travelers can take cableways to reach the top of Cangshan Mountain or explore the breathtaking scenery along Jade Cloud Road.
Erhai Lake (Ear-shaped Sea), reputed as “Pearl of Plateau”, is the second largest highland lake of Yunnan. Taking a boat and cycling around the lake are fantastic ways to explore “Silver Cangshan Mountain and Jade Erhai Lake” scenery.
Useful Travel Tips
1.Best Time to Visit
A lot of festivals and events of Bai nationality focused on March to April each year, travel at this time you will feel rich ethnic customs. And there is a song: “March in Dali has good scenery”, so in the spring, it is suitable whether it is traveling to Dali, or climbing Canshang Mountain, visiting Erhai Lake.
2. What to Pack
Dali belongs to the low altitude plateau monsoon climate and ultraviolet ray is strong. Travelers should bring usual clothes and necessities as well as sunscreen cream and sunglasses to protect yourselves.
