Zhoucheng Ancient Village in Dali, Yunnan - the hometown of Bai tie-dye art
Zhoucheng Village is located in the Bai ethnic gathering area of Dali, and is the largest natural Bai village in China, belonging to Xizhou Town, Dali City. The village is located in the northern part of Dali City, west of Cangshan Yunlong Peak, east of Erhai Taoyuan Wharf, 25 kilometers south of Dali Ancient City, and connected to the famous Butterfly Spring Scenic Area to the north.
Architectural design: The houses in the village are mostly Bai-style residences built in the form of 'three rooms and one screen wall' and 'four squares and five courtyards'. There are independent courtyards, and there are several courtyards in one entrance, and the plan is square. The shape is a green tile gable roof, two floors, double eaves; the main house faces east or south, three or five rooms, earth, wood, brick and stone structure, wooden house frame is combined with tenon and mortise, one or several courtyards are connected into a whole, the outer wall surface is mostly white (lime), gray (fine mud) plaster.
The Bai people's residences pay special attention to the decoration of the screen wall, door and window flower lattice, gable wall, and gate tower. The screen wall is a necessary building for a main courtyard with one main and two wings, and it is mostly a wall with a high and two low flying corners and a green tile roof; it is located in front of the main house, connecting the gable walls of the two wings, forming a closed courtyard. The center of the screen wall is plastered with lime, with four-eye inscriptions, or inlaid with marble screens; the fan surface, rectangle, circle and other patterns are outlined around, and the center is painted with water mill or pastel. The doors and windows, especially the lattice doors of the main house hall, are made of precious woods such as Yunmu, Hongchun, Qiumu, and Yunshan, and are carved with auspicious patterns such as golden rooster, happiness on the eyebrows, and Qilin presenting auspiciousness. The door seat is made of Haidong Qing mountain stone, which is finely carved into sesame flower points, and the base with clear edges and corners is built, and the wooden gate tower with a rigorous structure, fine carving, bucket arches, and flying eaves.
Tie-dyeing process: In Zhoucheng, there are very rich ethnic tie-dye products. Tie-dyeing is a traditional folk craft of the Bai people in Zhoucheng since the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Tie-dye crafts integrate culture and art. The tie-dye cloth is made by hand-stitched thread tie, repeated cold dyeing and soaking, showing a green color with a heavy and elegant color. Crafts made of tie-dye cloth are full of strong ethnic flavor and modern charm.
Zhoucheng, in front of these well-known tourist attractions such as Dali Ancient City, Shuanglang Ancient Town, Chongsheng Temple Three Pagodas, it seems very low-key, and ordinary tourists will not go. But in Dali, it has an extremely special status: Yunnan Province's largest natural village, Dali's largest Bai village, the most important, it is China's "Bai nationality tie-dyeing township". Zhoucheng is known as "Bai folk customs living fossils". In addition to tie-dye, the architecture here is also worth seeing. Bai people's houses pay special attention to the decoration of the walls, doors and windows, gables, and gates. Here you can see the typical Bai people's houses built in the form of "three bedrooms and one wall" and "four-in-five patios" closed courtyard. There is a single courtyard, one into the number of courtyards, which can be called a piece of art.
Zhoucheng is located in Zhoucheng Village, Xizhou Town, Dali City, Yunnan Province. There are butterfly spring and Qiyun Valley attractions nearby. It is the largest Bai village town in Dali. Zhoucheng's buildings are typical "three bedrooms, one photo wall" and "four-in-five patio". Zhoucheng is the place where the Bai nationality tie-dyeing industry has developed. Since the late Ming and early Qing, traditional folk crafts and crafts have integrated culture and art. Tie-dye cloth by hand stitching, repeated cold dyeing and dipping, color green with green, coagulant and elegant, full of national flavor, but also with modern charm.
Zhoucheng is located north of the ancient town of Xizhou in Dali, very close to the Butterfly Spring Scenic Area. It is an ancient village of Bai people. Now entering the ancient village, you can still see the Bai architecture and the aunt wearing ethnic costumes. The ethnic customs are strong. The tie-dyeing art here is very famous, and it is also the first reason for tourists to come here. The long tie-dyeing cloth is floating in the antique Bai courtyard. Zhoucheng Village is not big, usually play 1~ for 2 hours, there are many shops selling tie-dyeing in the village. There will be Bai aunts on the street who will pull you to the house to see the tie dye, the price is not cheaper than the street sales. Now there are about a dozen or dozens of pieces of tie dyeing. The price of large pieces is small and expensive. You can buy tie dyeing as a souvenir...
In Zhoucheng let the children experience a tie-dyeing process. Grandma and teacher have patience to teach basic tie-dyeing. Plants such as Radix Isatidis can dye different colors. Nature gives us a wealth. Experience activities are very meaningful, like tie-dyeing friends must feel it.
It is still possible, although it is actually similar to what city.
Zhoucheng is famous for its tie-dyeing as an intangible cultural heritage, but now it is basically done by old mothers, young people are out to work, and there is a tie-dyeing called mother in Zhoucheng. In the factory shop, there are many old mothers who can teach you how to tie and dye. There are also many finished products, which are very beautiful. If you have enough time, you can go and see them.
It is worth experiencing. The first village of Dali Bai traditional customs is also the largest natural village in Yunnan Province. The traditional customs of Bai nationality are rich, the folk customs are simple, the hospitality is warm, the traditional craftsmanship of Bai tie-dyeing, and the non-legacy culture are all worth seeing. It is next to the Butterfly Spring Scenic Area and close to Xizhou Ancient Town.