Xizhou Ancient Town is located 18 kilometers north of the ancient city of Dali, facing the Erhai Lake in the east and Cangshan Mountain in the west. Xizhou Ancient Town is an important town where the Bai people live. There are the best-preserved and best buildings of the Bai people. These folk houses are decorated with carved beams, overlapping arches, angled cornices, gatehouses, photo walls and gables. The colorful decorative arts of the houses fully reflect the architectural talent and artistic creativity of the Bai people.
Xizhou Ancient Town is famous for Yang Pinxiang’s House, Yan Family Courtyard, Hou Family Courtyard, etc. It not only maintains the characteristics of traditional Bai houses, but also combines Chinese and Western architectural techniques. Historically, Xizhou Ancient Town was a military center in Nanzhao, with a relatively developed culture, and it had exported many famous people from all walks of life to the country.
When you first come to Xizhou Ancient Town, the first thing you can see is the two big green trees with thick leaves and branches in the village. The Bai people believe that the big green tree is a symbol of village prosperity. It is the Feng Shui tree that the ancient Bai village should have its own. This tree usually forms a group activity center for the villagers together with the stage. The two trees at the end of Xizhou Ancient Town are very old. Whenever autumn comes, there is full of snow-white herons, which is a unique landscape of Xizhou Ancient Town.
Xizhou Ancient Town is hailed as the first town of the Bai nationality. It is the largest community of Bai nationality in China. It is backed by Cangshan Mountain and faces the Erhai Lake. With a superior geographical location, the town is full of traditional dwellings with ethnic characteristics, which are well preserved and it is a good place for tourists to experience local ethnic customs. The costumes, languages, food, music, dances, folklore, etc. which are represented by the Bai nationality, have a strong national customs and historical and cultural atmosphere. They are very valuable for tourists and are the most representative window for understanding the culture of the Bai nationality.