Zhang Family Garden in Dali

Chinese Name: 大理张家花园
Chinese Pinyin: Da Li Zhang Jia Hua Yuan
English Name: Zhang Family Garden
Type: garden, historical relic
Opening Hours: 8:00—19:00 
Recommended Visiting Hours: 2-3 hours
Ticket: RMB 90
Location: near Qili Bridge, Dali Town, Dali City, Yunnan Province

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Zhang Family Garden 

Zhang family’s garden (张家花园)is the typical Bai residential house, in the north side of the Buddhist temple of the founding the Dali country, the square of an area of 8 acres, building area of 4700 square meters and with the 36 most unique rooms. Zhang family’s garden is surrounded by the camellias, azaleas and Erhai Lake which is called the mother lake by 18 streams disemboguing into, backing the Cangshan with flowers and gentian and other vegetables. It is called by all to have been “the first park in Yunnan Province” and “dreaming Bai houses “.

Why is Zhang Family Gaden so special?

Zhang Family Garden is called as the “the first park in Yunnan Province”, enjoying the famous flower and ancient tea trees here. It is also the “dreaming Bai houses “, reperenting the typical residence house of Bai people. It is the AAAA scenic spot.

Where is Zhang Family Garden?

The Family Zhang’s Garden was established as a tourist site in March 2008, located in the north of Guanyintang Temple or 5 km from Dali Old Town. Covering 8 Mu (appr. 5300 square meters) with 4700 square meters for architectures, the Family Zhang’s Garden has so far been the largest Bai ethnic architectural complex in Dali.

How to get to Zhang Family Garden?

By Bus: take No.4 bus and take off at Guanyingtang Station

By Taxi: take taxi, RMB 10 from Dali Ancient Town, RMB 25 from Xiaguan City.

By Car: Dali City- North Renmin Road-214 State Road-Zhang Family Garden, about 4 hours

History of Bai People

The Bai ethnic minority is an ancient minority which has a relationship with the ancient Qiang people. They lived in Erhai area as early as the 1st century (Han Dynasty). In the 2nd century AD, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty set up counties and prefectures here. From the 3rd to the 4th centuries AD, many Han people had taken refuge to the Bai area and partially merged with them because of the war. In 715, diverse ethnic groups moved from the eastern part of Yunnan to the Erhai Lake area, of who are integrated into the Bai people. Later, some Yi and Achang people also merged into the Bai people.

Especially during the period of Dali Kingdom, the Bai people formed an ancient ethnic group with a common language and culture, a similar economic level, and a relatively fixed place of residence. After the Tang Dynasty, Dali surrendered to the central government of China and was influenced by the Chinese Han culture. The economy. agriculture, handicrafts and commerce had further developed. In the Yuan Dynasty, it became a very prosperous city.

Architecture Feature

Zhang Family Garden carry on the architecture history of Dali, which combines the Bai people’s dwellings with private gardens, residence house and gardens, and reflects the gardens in the garden of Dali Fenghua Xueyue Garden. It shows the Bai people’s dwellings with garden architecture as the starting point. The harmony of heaven and man is the inevitable building of the inheritance and development of the Dali Bai ethnic architectural culture. The aim to build the garden is to visualize the architectural art of the Bai people’s dwellings, extract the essence of the Bai residence house,and complete the new era of multi-building of China. Zhang Family Garden, as the hub of Asian culture, represents the harmony of diverse culture and the continuous exchanging.

Main Attractions

The garden combines the Bai ethnic residential style of a courtyard with 3-side houses and a screen wall, a central yard with 4 small patios on each corner and the western style while carrying forwards the history of the Bai ethnic architecture history. It deserves to be called a museum of architectural art. Hotel rooms are available for visitors who’d like to experience the Bai ethnic residence.

 A courtyard with 3-side houses and a screen wall (三房一照壁)

This is a kind of architecture with the principal room facing the south and two wing rooms and a screen wall behind the gate of the courtyard.

A central yard with 4 small patios on each corner (四合五天井)

The Bai ethnic residential compound with three houses and a screen wall normally forms a major courtyard in the center and other four small ones on four corners, thus the name “Si He” (residential compound) and “Wu Tian Jing” (five courtyards).

Guanyin Temple Fair in Dali

As an ancient and primitive temple fair spent since the Nanzhao (738-937) and Dali (938-1253) Kingdoms Period in the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy) Temple Fair is spent on the 19th day of each lunar Feburuary,June and September. It’s a grand occasion in Dali attracting numerous participants.

Useful Travel Tips

1.Best Time to Visit Dali Ancient Town
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. In this period, the booming flowers of Zhang Family Garden deserve to appreciate.

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.