Dali History

Dali is a city with long history. It is one of the birthplaces of the earliest Yunnan culture.

According to historical records, in the 4th century, the ancestors of Bai thrived here, with many tribes spread in Dali. They created a splendid Neolithic culture.

 

221BC, the Qin Dynasty began to develop the southwest China, and established administrative machineries in the Southwest region, began the rule of Dali.  

 

During Han Dynasty, in 109 BC, Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty defeated Kunming’s tribes, and set Yeyu County at today’s Dali. He also opened the South Silk Road, and made Dali the hub on the road.

 

Three Kingdoms Period, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan were known as Nanzhong, belonged to Shu. Zhuge Liang pacified insurgency and rebuild Dali County.

 

During Sui Dynasty, in 597 years, Kunming happened rebellion, Sui sent Shi Wangsui pacified it; In Tang Shizhen years, Tang Dynasty set Rongzhou Government, counties in Dali area were under its jurisdiction.

 

In 7^th Century, nearing Erhai Lake, there were 6 tribes, called “Zhao”. Mengshe was located at the south of these Zhaos, and called Nanzhao. In 8^th Century, the 6 Zhaos, in support of Tang Dynasty, established Nanzhao Regime. At the late Nanzhou, with internal disorder, the country fell apart and disappeared.

 

In 937, Kingdom of Dali was established by Duan Siping. The Kingdom last for over 300 year.

In 1253, Kublai Khan led his army south to capture Dali from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The last king of Dali was captured. Dali Kingdom was subjugated.

 

In 1274, Yunnan province was established; in 1276, it was renamed as Yunnan Road and Yunnan officially became the name of a province.

 

In 1382, the Ming army attracted and broke Dali City, setting government. Qing Dynasty basically followed the prescribed system.