Aerial view of Erhai Lake and Dali
Li Xiaoxue with a group of recent Dali settlers in a dance helping to to “embrace one’s inner child”. Li moved here in August 2023, after returning to China from Los Angeles. Ms. Li says Dali’s diversity and open-minded culture reminded her of Calif
A follower of the Buddhist faith, praying at the entrance of a vegan supermarket. The complex also hosts a vegan canteen, yoga studios, gong lessons and a dye workshop. Newcomers to Dali, settle there in search of a healthier lifestyle, both physica
Qixiu (standing) a former rapper and Xiaoran (sitting), leading a private gong healing session at a newly built guest house. Both moved to Dali from Hangzhou, a provincial capital and powerhouse. The owner of the guest-house herself, also moved to D
A man singing during an evening of Indian religious music at the NCC centre, a hub for digital nomads.
New residents of Dali have gathered for a “bonfire healing session”. The small event was sold out. Healing sessions of different types are popular among people who have recently settled in Dali.
A Chinese fire dancer gyrating to the drone of a didgeridoo, an Indigenous Australian instrument, in the courtyard of Yotam Sivan, Israeli musician who settled in Dali in 2021. In the 90s, Western backpackers were the first outsiders to make Dali a
People standing outside a makeshift bar where a small concert is taking place.
“City Life Sucks” says a banner over the stage of a bar popular with both young tourists and locals.
A student from Jiangxi province (right) selling jewellery to tourists on the street of Dali. She is planning to stay in Dali for a month before returning to her studies. Many young new comers try and sustain themselves by setting up booths on the st
At a market fair, a former computer engineer sitting by his coffee truck branded “The Wild Coffee”. He occasionally still does computer jobs and travels regularly to Tibet with his van where he sleeps. He uses Dali as his base.
Along the shore of Erhai lake, tourists having their photo taken at an open air photo studio. The owners charge $3 for the entrance and $6 for the rental of dresses and $59 for a package different accessories, sets and the services of on-site photog
Around Erhai lake, young tourists driving colourful convertibles they have rented for the day and use to take selfie’s. Convertibles rental is very popular in China’s tourist spots such Hainan Island and Dali.
Joey Chen, a 22-year-old freelance writer who had dropped out of college and moved to Dali a month earlier from Jiangxi Province, reading “All Men Are Mortal” by French philosopher and feminist theorist Simone De Beauvoir, in the reading lounge of H
Liao Zhili, 23, a digital nomad who settled in Dali from the industrial city of Tianjin, doing some work outside a music bar. Digital nomads like him are drawn to Dali, where they can work remotely in a picturesque location.
On the rooftop of 706, a youth hostel working as a hub for many of Dali young newcomers, “digital nomads” at their computers. On the right Huang Yi, an artist who relocated from UK to Dali. He works there as an art teacher to fellow digital nomads.
A local is showing an old house to a family who settled in Dali from Shanghai. They are looking for a place to renovate and make their home. Locals are happy to see this influx of urbanites settling in. It increases the value of their properties.
Children of the Sun Duo kindergarten, a progressive school, during a daily outdoor activity at the school farm. On of Dali many draws for well off families, is the number of progressive schools that allow a more relaxed curriculum compared to public
Zhou Qiaolin with her son Maommao during a home schooling class in her bedroom. Zhou moved with her family to Dali, a few months before. They can’t afford the local liberal private school and don’t want to enroll him in a pubic school.
Posing for photos along the shore of Erhai Lake. Dali is a popular destination for wedding photo shoots.
Tourists on rented scooters outside one of Dali’s historic gate. The bandana and colored dreadlocks are the cool outfit of the moment for Dali hip tourists.
A group of Bai women, dressed in traditional clothes, at a wet market. Ethnic Bai are the indigenous inhabitants of the region, and the preservation of this group traditions is of the appeals of Dali.
A musician singing for tourists along the shore of Erhai Lake. Many of Dali young new comers make try to make a living singing for tourists in bars or outdoor.
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