Nanzhao Palace of Erhai Lake in Dali City

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Nanzhao Palace is the main architectural complex on Nanzhao Folk-Custom Island (南诏风情岛), serving as a reconstruction of the summer palace of the Nanzhao King. The current building is a replica in ancient style, while the original site was located near the shores of Erhai Lake (洱海) in Taihe City (太和城), one of the capitals of the Nanzhao Kingdom (南诏国). Covering over 8,000 square meters, the palace integrates Tang Dynasty-style roofs, Tibetan-style walls and windows, and the base colors of Bai (白族) traditional residences. It also incorporates the Bai people’s Benzhu (本主) worship culture, reflecting a blend of diverse cultural influences.

Historically, Nanzhao originated from the Weishan (巍山) tribe and, with the support of the Tang Dynasty, unified the Five Zhaos around Erhai Lake. At its peak, the kingdom’s territory extended across southern Sichuan, Yunnan, parts of Guizhou and Guangxi, and into Vietnam, covering an area of 1,073,600 square kilometers. The palace featured thick outer walls, rooftop battlements, watchtowers, and beacon towers, underscoring its role as a defensive stronghold of a “military empire.” Only parts of the ruins remain today, though historical records compare its scale and defensive capacity to that of the Forbidden City in Beijing (北京故宫).

Scale

Besides this palace, the Nanzhao kings built additional summer palaces, royal gardens, and hunting grounds around Erhai Lake. Historical accounts note that the royal city’s north and south walls were 3,350 meters and 3,275 meters long respectively, with a distance of 500 meters between them. This grand scale rivaled that of the Forbidden City, and its splendor was once celebrated in chronicles. Sadly, only fragmented walls remain today.

Architectural Features

Built in imitation of an imperial palace, Nanzhao Palace reflects the strong influence of both Tibetan and Tang cultures on the Nanzhao Kingdom. Its architectural style combines Tang Dynasty roofs, Tibetan walls and windows, and the foundations and exterior colors of Dali Bai residences. Occupying more than 8,000 square meters, the palace is as imposing now as it was in the past.

A distinctive cultural element here is the Bai people’s Benzhu worship—a local religious belief in protective village deities known as “our lord.” In the Dali region, it is said there are “five hundred Benzhu,” with every village maintaining a Benzhu temple and its own festival.

Cultural and Historical Background

Nanzhao was once a small tribe, comparable to a modern small town, located at the foot of Weishan. Supported by the Tang Dynasty, it conquered the other five Zhaos around Erhai Lake, expanding into a major regional power. After decades of consolidation, it extended its territory to southern Sichuan, most of Yunnan, large parts of Guizhou and Guangxi, and all of Vietnam. At its height, the kingdom ruled over 1,073,600 square kilometers—27 times the size of modern Yunnan—and stood as an equal to the Tang and Tibetan empires for nearly two centuries.

During its 249-year history (653–902 CE), Nanzhao spent 89 years at war, earning the reputation of a “military empire.” The famous Tianbao War took place near Jindao Island (金岛). To ensure a “forward attack and safe retreat,” the royal city was built with strong defensive capabilities, and Nanzhao Palace incorporated these features in four ways:

1. Tapered Outer Walls – solid, heavy, and hard to climb.
2. Rooftop Battlements – for defense during sieges.
3. Watchtower – on the main building’s left for monitoring enemy movements.
4. Beacon Tower – on the right side of the main building to signal military alerts.

Even the feather-shaped bricks in the courtyard symbolize its deep military heritage.