Dali Prefecture Museum

Enjoying a profound culture and history of 4,000 years,
 Dali ranks first among autonomous prefectures in China
in regard of its major protected relics that reach as
 many as 260 pieces. Dali serves as a vital base for
carrying out archeological excavation and research.   

Dali Museum was founded in 1986, and is the first
 prefecture-level museum in Yunnan Province. Covering
 totally 8,800 square meters, the architecture complex
 is designed on a symmetric basis, and embodies the
traditional style of Bai Minority. As a whole, not to
mention the relic items, the complex in itself is a Bai
 architecture museum.    

Housed in Dali Museum are mainly relics of Nanzhao
(738-937) and Dali (938-1253) Kingdoms periods in the
 Tang and Song Dynasties. As a comprehensive museum for
 bronze wares, porcelains, potteries, stone carvings
and Bai cultural facts, the Museum is as well the major
institute for archeological excavation and research in
 Dali. It is composed of 12 display halls with 8 being open year round.
 For over two decades, it has collected and housed more than 7,000
relic items, some of which are priceless such as Bronze Drum and Chimes
 of the Warring State Period(475 B.C-221 B.C), paddy-field models and
 porcelains of period from West Han (206 B.C-23 A.D) to Jin (265-420)
 Dynasties, Acarya Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy) and Manuscript Buddhist
 Scripture of Nanzhao and Dali Kingdoms, Porcelains and potteries of
the Yuan (1279-1368) and Ming (1368-1644) Dynasties, and some marble
 masterpieces such as "Peacock Displaying Its Tail" and "Birth of King
 Monkey", etc. (Picture: left-the slim Acarya Guanyin, a mascot of Bai
 people in Dali; bottom: Patron Gods or Benzhu of Bai people)           

Tips:
Add: No. 33, Er'henan Rd., Xiagua (New Town of Dali)
Tel: 86-872-2128614