Zhoucheng Village

Zhoucheng is the place where Bai ethnic group inherits tie-dyeing. Here, the colorful printed cloths along the streets have become a splendid landscape.

Tie-dye workshops can be found everywhere in Zhoucun, and they still seem to cluster together. Even if you are wandering aimlessly, there will always be one or two Bai women to greet you and invite you to sit in the dyeing workshop.

We missed the market in Wase, but we made up for it in Zhoucun. Besides its authentic Bai ethnic customs, the Zhoucun market was the busiest of the tour. There were all sorts of local snacks, and locals in traditional costumes strolled around carrying bamboo baskets.

On the way into the village, I passed an ancient stage and two large cypress trees. Although the village itself looked like it was undergoing renovation, the market diluted all my negative assumptions. It was like a hybrid: while the outside world was consumed by commercialism, this part of the village still retained a unique sense of returning to nature. In this semi-open village, you won't see the overflowing glass balls and swings (what do I have to say about those?), but rather the vibrant yearning behind the ancient village, a feeling I hadn't anticipated before arriving.

Zhoucheng is the hometown of Bai ethnic group's tie-dyeing. The reason why we are eager to come here is certainly not to buy tie-dyeing, but to take pictures.

Various colorful tie-dyed cloths are hung on ropes, swaying gently in the wind, which is indescribably romantic and fresh.

I happened to run into a busload of foreigners visiting the area, each clutching a small, adorable tie-dyed scarf. Who wouldn't love such a natural, natural look? I'd already bought a tie-dyed tablecloth the night before while wandering around Dali Ancient Town. Fearing it might be too expensive, I even checked around in Zhoucheng for the same pattern and size. 80 yuan was the lowest price. Haha, it seems I paid well.

Tie-dyed cloth is made by hand-stitching with needles and then repeatedly cold-dyed and dipped, finally becoming a tie-dyed cloth with fresh patterns and brilliant colors.

Tie-dyed cloth was once an important trade item for the Xizhou merchant group on the Ancient Tea-Horse Road. In Zhoucheng, everyone from teenage girls to grandmothers in their sixties can tie-dye. Zhoucheng has been named the "Hometown of Bai Tie-Dye Art" by the Ministry of Culture. It is the largest natural village in Yunnan Province and the largest Bai village in Dali. The streets are also uniquely charming and quiet, as if frozen in time.

Zhoucheng, a renowned village of the Bai ethnic group in China, has traditionally relied on agriculture. The rise of the neighboring Xizhou merchant group in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China spurred the development of Zhoucheng's individual handicrafts (particularly dyeing and weaving) and commerce, a development that continues to this day.

The majority of products in Zhoucheng Village are Bai batik. You can see batik cloth hanging on the roadside after entering the village. You can enter any store to visit and take photos. The owner will not only not refuse you, but will also introduce you enthusiastically.

I originally wanted to go to Xizhou, but later found out that Zhoucheng is more famous for its tie-dyeing, so I decided to go there. It was a pleasant surprise, an ancient city with a strong local flavor and a simple style.

Tie-dyeing is really a technical job, you can try it.

Entering Zhoucheng, every streetside home is a tie-dye workshop, with blue and white patchwork hanging all along the street. I randomly found a larger workshop to visit. I always thought tie-dye was only blue and white, but I'm surprised there are so many colors. I still think blue and white tie-dye is the most beautiful.

Zhoucheng is a famous tie-dye town

Coming here and making a beautiful tie-dye product by hand is a very special experience for many travelers.

If you want to experience the local customs, you can come and see it. Unlike Xizhou, which has so many developed villages, it is a relatively primitive Bai village with a market and an old stage.

There aren't many people in Zhoucheng Village, and the place isn't big.

Very suitable for afternoon stroll

Zhoucheng is known as the "hometown of Bai tie-dyeing". It is the largest natural village in Yunnan Province and its inhabitants are almost entirely Bai people.

Zhoucheng is not only famous for the Butterfly Spring within its territory, but also for the various traditional customs of the Bai ethnic group that have been well preserved here. It is known as the "living fossil of Bai folk customs."

Here you can visit Bai ethnic minority houses, markets, and the production of Bai ethnic tie-dye, experience Bai ethnic minority weddings, taste Bai ethnic minority food, and buy Bai ethnic minority folk handicrafts.

There's a tie-dye museum in Zhouchen Village. Zhouchen's tie-dyeing is the most famous in the country, a skill the entire village possesses. It's said to be exported to Japan, so the tie-dyed fabrics we see in Japan are likely from Zhouchen.

At the museum, you can observe the tie-dyeing process and even make your own. I compared prices and found that a 2m x 1.5m piece of standard tie-dye fabric costs around 280 yuan in Zhouchen Village, while a smaller 1.5x1.2m piece costs over 180 yuan. I personally think you can bargain, and getting 50-80 yuan off is not a problem.

The rooftop view of Cangmen'er is truly a wonderful place. I heard Zhoucheng is home to the Bai ethnic group, and it's indeed different from Dali, Xizhou, and other places. Everyone walking around is wearing Bai clothing. My husband asked if they wear this kind of clothing for the festival, and he said they wear it all the time! Zhoucheng is a famous tie-dye village, so there are many tie-dye products and experience shops. It just so happened to be the annual Torch Festival. Around 5 pm, shops closed early to prepare for the Torch Festival. As the sky darkened, the whole town came to life. Every household took out their torches and gathered in the center to light them. Young and old alike had fun together, making it a grand occasion comparable to the Spring Festival. I heard that at least tens of thousands of people from all over the country gathered here to celebrate the Torch Festival with their Bai friends.

The main torch was filled with colorful flags and red incense, and then hung with "torch fruits" such as pear strings, apples, and crabapples, as well as the "shengdou" (a three-level rise in a row), the symbol of the Torch Festival. We prayed together for a good harvest and good weather. In the afternoon, we bought five torches, one for each of us, and lit them during the Torch Festival. We were even more fortunate to get the blessing fruit on the main torch. I heard that whoever eats it will have sweetness all year round. It's so sweet!

Tie-dyeing Village, a Dyeing Spot



The beauty of Zhoucheng lies not only in its scenery and the poignant legend of Butterfly Spring, but also in the subtle fragrance of plants and the dynamic feeling of a blend of grace and ingenuity.



Zhoucheng, the hometown of Bai ethnic group tie-dyeing art. Dali's Zhoucheng, Weishan, and other ethnic minority areas in Guizhou inherit the few remaining unique traditional tie-dyeing techniques.



A piece of tie-dyed cloth is soaked in isatis root to produce a blue color, which requires 16 steps to blend the colors into blue and white patterns such as flowers, leaves, fish, and peacocks.



Zhoucheng still retains traditional tie-dye workshops, filled with the delicate fragrance of plants and hung with colorful tie-dyed fabrics. Interested parties can also learn the art on site.

Walking into Zhoucun, you will find tie-dye shops everywhere in the small streets and alleys. It seems that every family knows how to make tie-dye. Of course, if you want to make it yourself, you can do it. The village has its own tie-dye making place, and many people have experienced it themselves.

Located beside Butterfly Spring, this Bai village boasts a rich history. The local tie-dyeing tradition is deeply cherished here, a place that evokes a sense of simplicity and richness, perhaps due to the atmosphere created by the ubiquitous blue and white tie-dye fabrics. Tie-dyeing is a reflection of the wisdom and inner strength of the Zhoucheng people.

After dinner, we set out to Zhoucheng to tie-dye. There was a grandmother who was our teacher. She was a little shy and spoke a little fast. When we asked her how to do it, she couldn't explain it clearly and just helped us tie it. Hahahaha, it was okay to just start~

It was noon and there were not many people in the village.

I made a small tie-dyed handkerchief in just half an hour, and then used huge tie-dyed cloths to decorate the walls of various poor homes, thinking that such things must be of little value in the local area.

Zhoucheng is the largest Bai village, where you can see a rich variety of tie-dye products. Tie-dyeing is a traditional folk craft practiced by the Bai people of Zhoucheng since the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Tie-dyed fabrics are hand-sewn and then repeatedly cold-dyed. The resulting color is a dignified, elegant green with a hint of emerald green. The meticulous craftsmanship creates fresh patterns and vibrant colors.

Zhoucheng, known as the "Hometown of Bai Tie-Dye," is located 23 kilometers north of Dali Old Town and 38 kilometers from Xiaguan on the Yunnan-Tibet Highway. It is the largest natural village in Yunnan Province and is almost entirely inhabited by the Bai ethnic group. With over 1,500 Bai households, it is the largest Bai village in Dali and is open to the public as a Bai folk tourism village.

Tie-dyeing is a traditional folk craft practiced by the Bai people of Zhoucheng since the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Tie-dye crafts integrate culture and art. Tie-dyed fabrics are hand-sewn and then repeatedly cold-dyed. They create a lush green with emerald green, creating a dignified and elegant look. These meticulously crafted fabrics feature fresh patterns and vibrant colors, and are sold widely both domestically and internationally.

The tie-dyeing experience in Zhoucheng is quite special. Although it seems that you can also experience it in Dali Ancient Town, I always feel that Zhoucheng is more quaint. Walking into Zhoucheng, you will feel like you have come to another world. There are many custom-made shops for Bai clothing on the roadside, which feel like custom-made suit shops in the city. More than half of the people buying and selling vegetables in the market are wearing ethnic costumes. It is so real, not just a group of actors performing in costumes of various ethnic groups.

There are quite a few steps involved in tie-dyeing, and it's quite time-consuming, but I still enjoy the process. Fat Tao sat beside me, playing with his phone, chatting with me, and taking photos for me. I couldn't help but feel like time was passing peacefully.

Zhoucheng Village is located in Xizhou, a true ancient town. The old houses are centuries old, and the area is home to the Bai people. You can wander around and feel the ancient past. Those who prefer a more authentic environment should visit Xizhou. This village is almost entirely dedicated to tie-dyeing.

Explore Bai villages and experience their intangible cultural heritage. This is Zhoucheng, an ancient city adjacent to Xizhou, known as the hometown of tie-dye. Tie-dyeing isn't about perfection; it's all about the fun. Not only does it allow you to experience the cultural heritage of the Bai people in Dali, but you also get to make your own handkerchief or scarf, which is a real sense of accomplishment.

I thought tie-dyeing was just dyeing, but I didn’t realize it was sewing first.

Speaking of the tie-dyeing process, it is really troublesome. You have to sew and sew continuously, and then dye and dye continuously...

I always thought tie-dyeing would only take a while, but I didn’t expect it to take hours. So I just had a simple lunch here~

Dyeing the blue part was exhausting. I had to wash and soak it with soapy water constantly until the color stopped fading. I was so exhausted squatting on the floor washing. Then, seeing how slow I was, my teacher handed it over to a professional. With just a few quick scrubs, it was all washed. I really can't do housework. I'm so clumsy.

I hailed a taxi on March Street at the west gate of the ancient city and paid 8 yuan to Zhoucheng Village. There, I tried a tie-dye workshop. The cloth cost 50 yuan, and I chose the pattern. The lady was very attentive and the experience was fantastic! Immersing yourself in the local culture is much more interesting than just shopping!

Few people visit Zhoucheng, but what's less known is that it's the home of the endangered traditional craft of tie-dyeing. In this ancient Bai village, you can buy authentic, affordable handmade tie-dye fabric, visit a tie-dye workshop, and even try your hand at making your own. This is a must-see for learning about this folk custom.

Because it's a tie-dye town, I went there specifically to check it out. But maybe I went too early, so many tie-dye workshops were closed. I asked, and they told me it would take two to three hours to make a small tablecloth myself, so I ended up buying a ready-made one. Zhoucheng is quite pristine. The market is all spoken in Bai dialect, which I don't understand. The women at the market all carried baskets on their backs and wore local clothing. There are also many handicrafts.

We walked to Zhoucheng from the hotel. The hometown of tie-dyeing is well-deserved. I unknowingly became a tourist in a tour group. The tour guide took me to the Tie-Dye Museum, where I saw many tie-dyed cloths and the experience of making a small piece of tie-dye by hand. I wanted to buy some to take home, but I couldn't find anything suitable. I like Zhoucheng. Although many people on the street will pull you to see their tie-dyeing, I see more of its other side: a real, warm, and charming scene with a constant breath of life. In the vegetable market, everyone was greeting each other and getting along well. I couldn't help but stay in the market for a long time, watching people buy vegetables and seeing vegetables I had never seen before. Then I walked all the way to their residential area and saw neighbors helping each other cook. It seemed like they were going to have a banquet. It was very lively. Anyway, I spent most of the day in Zhoucheng.

I'd long heard about the long history of tie-dyeing in Zhoucheng Village, Dali, a village traditionally passed down through family workshops. I'd always longed to see this unique folk art form, and now I'm finally here! This is the hometown of Bai tie-dye art, dotted with dyeing workshops of all sizes. The villagers of Zhoucheng still wear Bai clothing as part of their daily lives. Bai tie-dyeing is a World Intangible Cultural Heritage and an integral part of Bai folk culture.

When you walk into the Bai courtyard, you will see pieces of dyed cloth in various colors, mainly with blue background and white flowers, hanging in the sun.

You must see with your own eyes how the Bai mothers weave flowers stitch by stitch and how the Bai Apu dyes cloth with their bare hands.

The tie-dyeing art of the Bai ethnic group in Dali is renowned. This folk craft, originating in the Central Plains, has been passed down for millennia, ultimately taking root in the land surrounding Yeyu Ancient City (another name for Dali), the epicenter of the Southern Silk Road. Zhoucheng, located near Butterfly Spring, is a large Bai village where "nearly every household has a dye vat and produces tie-dye," earning it the reputation of being the hometown of tie-dye. We weren't just there for a stroll; Miss Tuanzi had already rolled up her sleeves, ready to hand-dye a piece of cloth. The first step was choosing a sample. Compared to the large, complex patterns on display, the designs available were much simpler. Tuanzi carefully selected a butterfly pattern. The Bai people all love butterflies, so we followed the local customs. We watched the printer, after piercing wax paper, print the butterfly pattern on white cloth and then, holding the cloth, we sat on small stools, bewildered, waiting for class. An elderly Bai woman, speaking fluent Mandarin, came up to us and taught us step-by-step how to tie-dye. Watching her swift needlework, I suddenly realized: batik and tie-dye are not the same thing! Tie-dye is done with stitching! A crucial technique in tie-dyeing is to create a pattern by leaving the undyed areas blank. We consider the process complex when we sew a dozen or so tiny knots on a small piece of cloth, but those grandmothers, on the other hand, pack a meter or two of cloth with knots. The needlework techniques they learned from their ancestors have accompanied them from youth to old age, and their hands have become as numerous as their dreams. After tying, it's time to dye. The most traditional indigo color for tie-dyeing is extracted from the rhizomes of Chinese herbs like Isatis indigotica and Indigofera chinensis, known as "the blue surpasses the blue." Every March and April, the indigo from the stems, branches, and leaves of Isatis indigotica is soaked in water and poured into large wooden dye vats. Then, lime or alkali is added to create a pure, natural, additive-free dye. This dye can repel mosquitoes and has anti-inflammatory and health-care effects, which modern chemical dyes cannot match.

Located near the Butterfly Spring in Dali and not far from Xizhou Ancient Town, it is a gathering place for the Bai people and the largest Bai natural village in China. Most of the houses in the village are enclosed with "three rooms and a screen wall" and "four courtyards and five patios".

Tie-dyeing is a traditional local craft. As soon as you enter the village, countless women and girls approach you, soliciting free tours of their dyeing workshops and hoping you'll buy something. I visited many years ago, and found most of the items were commonplace, with common patterns and quality. The colors fade when washed, and you can't wash them with other items, so everyone buys according to their needs.

I am more interested in the market here on Sifang Street in Zhoucheng Village, where I buy some food made by the locals. I once bought various mushroom sauces made by a young couple, which were so delicious that I could not forget them. Unfortunately, I didn’t see them during my two visits this time. I guess they went to other places to do business. What a pity.

Zhoucheng is the largest Bai village in Dali. Its tie-dyed fabrics and embroidery products are exquisitely crafted and sold at home and abroad, earning it the reputation of "the hometown of tie-dyeing." The older generation in almost every household here knows how to tie-dye, using isatis root to dye the fabric. The Jinzhen Tie-Dye Museum, the largest tie-dye workshop in Zhoucheng Village, was recommended by the driver. It's the largest and most formal tie-dye workshop in Zhoucheng. There weren't many people there when we entered, but a small group arrived when we left.

The sanitary conditions are very poor, the toilets are dirty, the air in the tie-dye factory is bad, and the tie-dye tablecloths are bargained down to around 60, which is the limit.

Tie-dyeing is a specialty of Zhoucheng Ancient Village. It uses pure natural plant pigments and is hand-dyed. The traditional patterns are very characteristic of the Bai ethnic group.

The most distinctive and must-visit place in Dali, tie-dyeing is very interesting. If you are not too busy, you should try tie-dyeing. It costs 50 yuan per piece, which is not cheap but not very expensive. It is an experience. The grandmas who teach tie-dyeing here are also very cute and simple. I like it here.

If you don't have enough time, you can skip this place.

There are tie-dye workshops everywhere in Zhoucheng, and you won’t be able to find the best tie-dye workshop without the guidance of a local.

Before returning, we rented bicycles in Taoyuan Village. A 20-minute ride for our group of three finally brought us here. The historical and cultural city we'd imagined was nothing like the reality: no prominent signs, no newly renovated buildings, no bustling tourists. Zhoucheng, before us, was simply an ordinary Bai village. Beneath a large locust tree in the center of the village, a bustling market bustled with stalls selling everything from firewood and rice to seafood, beef, mutton, fruits, and vegetables. Since we were clearly not locals, a Bai woman approached us as soon as we stopped and asked if we wanted to see tie-dyeing. Following her lead, we entered a Bai courtyard and discovered the legendary Zhoucheng tie-dye workshop. It turns out that tie-dyeing in Dali's Zhoucheng Village is a family-run artisanal workshop, so there's no trace of it on the streets.

Entering the Bai courtyard, you're greeted by a sea of colorful fabrics, primarily blue with white floral patterns, drying in the sun. Tie-dyeing in Dali's Bai region uses pure white cloth or a cotton-linen blend. The dyes are sourced locally, from natural plants like indigo, isatis root, and mugwort gathered from the Cangshan Mountains to create an indigo solution.

Dali is famous for its tie-dyeing, boasting well-preserved Bai ethnic minority dwellings. Many women dressed in Bai ethnic costumes will be waiting at the entrances, offering to show you how tie-dyeing is done. While some sales pitches are inevitable, it's still worth a visit as a traditional craft. Interested parties might also consider buying a piece or two as a gift.

Zhoucheng Village is the largest natural village of the Bai ethnic group in the country. The women's clothing and accessories here are representative of the Bai ethnic group's decorations. It is also a distribution center for Dali's tie-dye, batik and embroidery products, with a strong ethnic flavor. It is close to Butterfly Spring Park and has convenient transportation. Moreover, during the Torch Festival, Zhoucheng is the village where the largest torch is located in the entire Dali. There are two squares in the north and south here. If there are many people during the Torch Festival, the two squares can divert tourists well to avoid being too crowded.

Zhoucheng is a legendary town known for its tie-dyeing, a popular tourist attraction. Upon arriving, an elderly woman approached us and invited us to her home to see the tie-dyeing process. We'd seen this tactic so often in travelogues, it was a familiar cliché. Since we were all there to see tie-dyeing, we went along. The old woman's street-facing house served as a shop, where she sold tie-dye and other handicrafts, and behind it was her home. She demonstrated the "tying" process of tie-dyeing, as the "dyeing" process required the village's centralized dyeing workshop. So, she first showed us around her home before taking us to the dyeing workshop. The large, age-old dye vats in the workshop were truly impressive. The tour was truly informative, and I finally understood what tie-dyeing actually was.

Zhoucheng's words were one of our itineraries on the second day in Dali. Apeng's black motorcycle sped along.

Maybe because we were led by a local, we only visited a tie-dye factory, but it contained most of the history of tie-dyeing. We then had something to eat near the market and said goodbye in a hurry.

However, I do have some knowledge of tie-dyeing. I don’t know if this technique will be lost. We are all older people now.

I really regretted not buying one then.

I am still a little disappointed with Zhoucheng. I didn’t see the most distinctive craftsmanship.

Zhoucheng Village is a gathering place for the Bai people. The streets are filled with people dressed in ethnic minority costumes, creating a unique atmosphere. Buses from Dali North Bus Station to Butterfly Spring pass by here, making it a very close walk of 20-30 minutes. Along the way, you'll find markets, tie-dye shops, and Bai architecture, ensuring a pleasant stroll. There's also a Bai village with souvenirs for you to explore. The town is small, easily accessible in half an hour. Bai snacks are available, but there are no luxury restaurants.

This small village can be explored in just half an hour. Zhoucheng is known as the hometown of tie-dyeing in my country. Here, you can see the entire tie-dyeing process and buy unique tie-dyed fabrics. You can also visit the local market, where locals gather for their own food. If you enjoy local culture, this is a must-see; it's quite unique.

The greater the expectations, the greater the disappointment. I thought this undeveloped village would retain some of its original simplicity and purity, but the opposite is true. Don't trust those who invite you to their homes to see the cloth because they will rip you off. We also saw this kind of scam when we went to eat snacks.

Zhoucheng boasts numerous tie-dye workshops open for tours, and they generally don't force you to buy tie-dye, which is quite impressive. Authentic tie-dyeing involves 16 steps, with the flower alone taking seven days to complete, and requiring eighteen rinses. Authentic tie-dyeing uses isatis root (Baltissima indigotica). Some workshops cultivate this root, but I didn't see any large-scale plantings on my way there and back. After visiting the tie-dye factories, I went to the Zhoucheng market, which was quite lively in the afternoons. I believe that markets are a great place to learn more about local culture while traveling. They offer a great opportunity to observe the locals' clothing, cuisine, language, prices, economy, and culture, and more.

Zhoucheng Intangible Cultural Heritage Village still retains the traditional tie-dyeing technique. There are many dyeing workshops in Zhoucheng. If you are interested, you can tie a small piece of cloth, dye it, and buy it home as a souvenir.

You can visit the local dyeing workshop and learn about the dyeing process, which is also a good experience!

Zhouchengzhuang is home to Bai ethnic minority residences, markets, and the production of Bai tie-dye, where you can purchase Bai folk handicrafts. The area is dotted with local tie-dye shops. Upon arrival, locals will invite you into their yards to purchase tie-dyed fabrics. If you prefer to observe the production without purchasing, you're welcome to enter; there's no pressure to buy. Small pieces of tie-dyed fabric range from 7-10 yuan to large pieces costing tens to hundreds of yuan. Negotiate the price with the shopkeepers.

The villagers here have limited arable land, resulting in relative poverty. Tie-dyeing has become their primary source of income, often carried out in family workshops. In recent years, as young people have migrated for work, the majority of those remaining at home to practice tie-dyeing are elderly women. The complex process and low pay have discouraged the craft, and perhaps one day, tie-dyeing will become a mere legend.

The village is dotted with Bai ethnic minority houses with flying eaves and pointed corners. Some of them look hundreds of years old and are dilapidated. The owners are basically white-haired old people. Perhaps they have lived here for decades and are unwilling to move away, or perhaps they want to quietly guard the last days of their lives.

In Zhoucheng, I saw the local vegetable market for the first time. The hostel lady had mentioned that the locals eat pig skin, roasted and eaten raw. The market was mostly populated by Bai women in their 50s and 60s, dressed in ethnic minority clothing. We tried a local dessert. What was a little off-putting was that they used pea flour to cut it by hand. I also stumbled into a courtyard house where five or six elderly people were working on tie-dyeing. They warmly invited me in, and even had a young girl greet me. :) It felt like a warm and loving family. I felt that the people in this ancient town were very gentle, unhurried, unselfish, and willing to take their time enjoying the gifts nature has given them. We also came across a post office, and the staff there were very patient, giving us all the postcards and letting us take our time choosing.

Walking on the streets of Zhoucheng, I found that the local golden flowers all like to sit at the doorway to bask in the sun and chat.

This place is worthy of being called the "hometown of tie-dyeing", with many dyeing workshops on the streets.

We came to a tie-dyeing family and saw the yard full of freshly dyed tie-dyed cloths, and next to them were jars of isatis root dye.

Zhoucheng Market is very prosperous, and most women in the village still retain the tradition of wearing ethnic costumes.

Our first stop was the small village of Zhoucheng, where the Bai ethnic group is famous for their tie-dyeing craftsmanship! Mrs. Miao loved this antique-style craft and bought a piece of floral fabric to use as a tablecloth!

Many Bai women in Zhoucheng Village, Xizhou Town, are skilled in tie-dyeing. I watched them for a long time.

Accommodation: There is no accommodation in Zhoucheng. The village is very small and one or two hours is enough to walk around and buy tie-dye. You can return to Dali Ancient Town, or stay in Taoyuan or Caicun Wharf by Erhai Lake.

Fun: The center of the village is the stage, and the vegetable market in front of it, on Sifang Street, is the busiest spot in the village. Zhoucheng has two Bai ethnic minority temples, a rare sight in Bai villages, and a quiet monastery. I only visited one of the temples. From Sifang Street, walk north past the elementary school, then head toward the mountain at the next intersection. At the end of the road, turn right and you'll find it. My husband said it would take two or three minutes, but I doubt he drove. I still walked for at least ten minutes under the scorching sun. Food: Bai ethnic snacks like jelly and cold noodles. I ate at a stall in the Sifang Street market in front of the stage. The owner charged me 5 yuan for each portion, but I saw locals paying 2 yuan. It struck me that villages like Zhoucheng are no longer as simple and honest as they were a few years ago. You can sit down and eat and pay whatever the locals give you, no need to ask.

Shopping: Zhoucheng is famous for being the hometown of Bai tie-dye, and many shops sell tie-dye. However, prices have risen dramatically in the past two years, and are now roughly the same as tie-dye prices in Dali Ancient City two or three years ago. However, buying at the place of origin is still cheaper than in the ancient city. If you like a style, you can buy it from a family-owned workshop; small shops are more negotiable. Many Bai women will invite you to their homes to see tie-dye, so you can go with them, but the prices are not cheap.

We stopped by to visit the folk dyeing crafts at the tie-dye factory in Zhoucheng Village, Dali City. They have tie-dyed scarves, tablecloths, and wall paintings, all with unique artistic characteristics.

After admiring the distinctive three-story Bai houses, we settled down under a large tree in the market. Around 1:00 a.m., a dragon dance team led the Bai "Benzhu" (meaning "bench masters") into the venue and ushered the six "Benzhu" into a large building in the center of the market. Then, a representative of the Bai people from Sangzhi County, Hunan (said to have separated from Dali 700 years ago and to have become a sister village with Zhoucheng Village last year) spoke. Then, the Yunnan Theater began its performance. The entire event was filmed by television stations, and reporters were also covering the event, making it a lively affair.

Zhoucheng is the largest Bai village in Dali, home to an entire Bai population, giving it a rich local Bai culture. The village's main attractions include the ancient opera stage, the Benzhu Temple, and the Longquan Temple. Zhoucheng is also renowned for its tie-dyeing techniques, practiced in nearly every household in Yunnan. It's a great opportunity to experience the renowned local tie-dye art and Bai costumes.

Zhoucheng Village is the largest Bai village in Dali, where men, women, and children dressed in traditional Bai clothing can be seen everywhere. Along the alleys, you can also see Bai dwellings built with typical enclosed courtyards, such as "three courtyards and a screen wall" or "four courtyards and five patios."

First, we went to Zhoucheng, where there are many tie-dye factories. For souvenir shoppers, this place is like the place of origin. However, the prices are quite high. For example, I asked the price of a large tie-dye piece, and they said 160 yuan. Later, I said it was too expensive and refused. Then, my family called, and we were in the yard. The owner came out and asked if I wanted 60 yuan, but he finally agreed to 40 yuan. Remember to bargain!

Zhoucheng, also known as Zhoucheng Village, is a Bai village under the jurisdiction of Xizhou Town, Dali City. You can find out about its history and origins by searching on Baidu.

This village is very original. I wandered around the village for more than two hours and hardly saw any tourists.

The village currently does not charge admission, and there are no attractions in the village that charge admission.

Zhoucheng, next to Butterfly Spring, is the largest Bai village. Entering from Caishikou, a gravel road continues upward, flanked by yellow mud walls with hollowed-out doors, windows, and flower stalls. Overhanging eaves, one high and two low, are dotted around the walls, with four-eyed inscriptions or marble screens.

Zhoucheng is a renowned tie-dye town. It's also Asia's second-largest natural village, home to nearly 10,000 people. It sprawls at the foot of Cangshan Mountain. Butterfly Spring is right on the edge of Zhoucheng, within easy walking distance. While there aren't many good tie-dye shops these days, this one still uses Isatis root.

Zhoucheng is more like a small shop than a dyeing factory (this may not represent all of Zhoucheng).

Zhoucheng Village is a Bai ethnic minority village with a special feature of roller dyeing under the jurisdiction of Xizhou Ancient Town. The ancient stage in the center of the village is particularly charming.

It’s a quaint town. We arrived early and just caught up with the morning market. We had breakfast at a small stall and strolled around the tie-dye workshop!

Zhoucheng is relatively unknown and underdeveloped. It's home to a few old houses and shops selling handmade tie-dyed fabrics. So, I went there with Aunt Song, another fellow traveler from my inn. There were three or five women dressed in Bai ethnic clothing waiting outside to greet customers. They were also trying to get you to buy tie-dyed fabric. It's important to find the right place in Zhoucheng; not all dyeing workshops are handmade.

Zhoucheng, a small village near Butterfly Spring, is famous for its roller-dyeing. At the entrance, several women solicited customers for the dyeing workshop. We simply wandered into the village, looked at the market, and bought a few roller-dye pieces on the way back. A large one (1.2 meters square) was 40 yuan, and a handkerchief-sized one was 10 yuan.

Zhoucheng, a village inhabited by the Bai ethnic group, has few tourists and a strong atmosphere of life. There is a small market surrounding two ancient trees in the center of the village, which is very lively.

Zhoucheng is not big. Walking along the main road, there are shops selling tie-dye on both sides of the road. When I walked to a vegetable market, I saw a few locals in front of the door and asked if I wanted to see the local tie-dye.

Zhoucheng is not only famous for the Butterfly Spring within its territory, but also for the various traditional customs of the Bai ethnic group that have been well preserved here. It is also known as the "living fossil of Bai folk customs." Here you can see typical Bai dwellings constructed in the form of "three rooms and a screen wall" and "four courtyards and five patios" enclosed courtyards.