Visa required. A three-month visa costs US$30, and processing time is four working days.

Duty free allowance: 200 cigarettes and one quart of wine or spirit. The export of antiques, without official dealer's receipt, is prohibited.

Yunnan History Overview

Though the plains of Yunnan were originally the home to numerous aboriginal tribes, Chinese invasions over several centuries pushed them into mountainous areas, where many ethnic groups, direct descendants of those original tribes live today. The powerful Tai kingdom of Nanchao held sway over Yunnan for 247 years, during the Tang dynasty (AD 618-907), but was replaced by the Dali Kingdom in 937AD. For 300 years, Dali ruled supreme until, in 1253, in was over-run by Kublai Khan's Mongol hordes and assimilated into his growing empire.

Facts at a Glance

Area: 394,000 sq.km.

Dali Attractions

Dali Museum

Contains archeological exhibits relating to the history of the Dai and Bai people.

The Three Pagodas

Among the oldest architectural structures in SW China, the tallest was built in the 9th century and is some 70 meters in height - while the others are about 42 meters each. The nearby temple reflects typical traditional Yunnanese architecture.