RV China border tour day 137: Looking at the Erhai Lake from the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple and visiting the ancient city of Dali

Last time I mentioned: Parking at the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple ...

When I woke up the next day, I saw the three pagodas of Chongsheng Temple from a distance. In front of the three towers, stands a soaring Garuda . It faces the Erhai Lake and proudly overlooks the place it protects.

Legend has it that in ancient times, the Erhai dragon in Dali was plagued by frequent dragons, which made the people miserable. When the people were struggling to survive, a bird with a sharp beak, sharp claws and huge golden wings descended from the sky. , started a fight with the evil dragon, and finally the evil dragon was surrendered. Erhai Lake returned to peace, and people have lived a smooth life since then. As a result, the local people called this bird "Garuda" and regarded it as their patron saint.

Entering the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple scenic area, the three pagodas are composed of one large, two small and three pavilions. The three pagodas stand in a tripod and are majestic.

The main tower, also known as Qianxun Tower, is 69.13 meters high and 9.9 meters square. It was built in the Tang Dynasty.

The south and north small towers are each 42.19 meters high and were added during the Song Dynasty.

Chongsheng Temple Scenic Area is symmetrical on the central axis, with Cangshan Mountain to the west and Erhai Lake to the east. It is very spectacular.

Cultural Relics Exhibition Hall

Photos of the Three Pagodas in the 19th year of Guangxu’s reign in the Qing Dynasty

Dapeng Garuda

ancient shell coins

The beautiful three pagodas are reflected in the water

Clouds and mist cover the entire mountain like a quilt in winter

The jungle is alive with squirrels climbing in the trees and colorful birds playing on the rocks.

Get some "special services" in the scenic area

At noon, we went to a Dali Bai restaurant to try local specialties.

Stir-fried Porcini Mushrooms with Bacon

braised pork

In the afternoon, we arrived at Dali Ancient City , also known as Ye Yu City and Purple City. It was the political, economic and cultural center of Yunnan during its more than 500 years of history during the Tang and Song Dynasties.

Wuhua Building

Nancheng Tower

The east gate of the ancient city——Erhai Gate

The streets in Dali Ancient City are much wider than those in Lijiang Ancient City, and more of the original architectural features of the ancient city are retained.

Dali Palace

Dali Rural Film History Museum

foreigner street

street view

The scenery in the narrow alley

antique shop

After visiting the ancient city and returning to the Three Pagodas, the golden sunset looked like a huge dragon flying in the sky, like a dream.

The sunset glow and lights in the evening add unique charm to the three pagodas of Chongsheng Temple and the Garuda.

Say goodbye to beautiful Dali and continue on the way to Ruili

We arrived in Binchuan County not far away at night and parked temporarily at the Daying Service Area. We could watch the orangutans outside the RV at night. Good night everyone!