Zhoucheng Village - the largest Bai ethnic minority village in China
Last Update: 20th October 2020
Located around 23 kilometers north of Dali Old Town, Zhoucheng Village produces the original handmade tie-dye products and embroideries. Villagers wear Bai costumes every day and live a simple life. The houses are more than 100 years old. They all feature the characters of Bai building.
Interested in visiting Zhoucheng Village on a Yunnan Tour?
Wendy Wei Tours offers a variety of different packaged tours as well as custom tours including Zhoucheng Village, among other attractions and destinations. To find out more, please visit our Tours page or Contact Us directly to find out more.
What to expect at Zhoucheng Village
The screen wall plays an important role in the Bai buildings. The doors and windows are made of cloud wood, toona ciliate, catalpa wood, or spruce and other valuable timbers. The patterns of golden pheasant, the magpie in the branch of a plum tree and Qilin are carved exquisitely on the doors and windows. You could explore the old houses at the village for free.
At Zhoucheng Village, you could be shocked at a variety of local tie-dye products. Since the late Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), locals have made use of the process to create amazing cloth. The tie-dye products are a combination of local culture and art. The cloth for tie-dye is first stitched with hands, and then is dyed in the water with the natural colors made of indigowoad root, Sichuan pepper, Bidens pilosa or gardenia or other plants. After being dyed, the cloth will be rinsed again and again. The tie-dye cloth is really handmade without any machine being used. If interested, you could experience the procedure at the Tie-dye museum in person. You will see many tie-dye cloths hung outside.
If lucky enough, you will be able to join the local wedding. The bride wears a red crown with small yellow and green bobbles. The lower part of the front part of the red robe similar to cheongsam will be torn down before she enters the house of the bridegroom, which means the bride will be a wife and mother from then on. The mirror hung on the chest shows that the bride and the bridegroom will live happily. To avoid evil spirits, the bride also needs to wear sunglasses.
At the local market, you will know more about the local life. It offers a great chance for you to enjoy local food as well.
At Zhoucheng Village, you could be shocked at a variety of local tie-dye products. Since the late Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), locals have made use of the process to create amazing cloth. The tie-dye products are a combination of local culture and art. The cloth for tie-dye is first stitched with hands, and then is dyed in the water with the natural colors made of indigowoad root, Sichuan pepper, Bidens pilosa or gardenia or other plants. After being dyed, the cloth will be rinsed again and again. The tie-dye cloth is really handmade without any machine being used. If interested, you could experience the procedure at the Tie-dye museum in person. You will see many tie-dye cloths hung outside.
If lucky enough, you will be able to join the local wedding. The bride wears a red crown with small yellow and green bobbles. The lower part of the front part of the red robe similar to cheongsam will be torn down before she enters the house of the bridegroom, which means the bride will be a wife and mother from then on. The mirror hung on the chest shows that the bride and the bridegroom will live happily. To avoid evil spirits, the bride also needs to wear sunglasses.
At the local market, you will know more about the local life. It offers a great chance for you to enjoy local food as well.
Best time to visit Zhoucheng Village
If you would like to experience the process of tie-dye, the best time to visit is in the morning as it always takes several hours to make the tie-dye product.
The best months to visit are from April to October.
The best months to visit are from April to October.
How to get to Zhoucheng Village
There is no direct bus from Dali Old Town to Zhoucheng Village. The only option is to rent a vehicle.
Additional Zhoucheng Village Travel Advice
- Opening hours: 24 hours
- As at 20th October 2020, the entrance pricing is free of charge.
- Most of the elders at the village couldn’t speak Mandarin. They just speak Bai language.
- Please wear the sunscreen scream and sunglasses.
Interested in visiting Zhoucheng Village on a Tour?
Wendy Wei Tours offers a variety of different packaged tours as well as custom tours including Zhoucheng Village, among other attractions and destinations. To find out more, please visit our Tours page or Contact Us directly to find out more.