Roman Catholic Diocese of Dali

Who knew such a thing existed? I certainly didn't. A friend mentioned to me that there was a Catholic church inside gucheng (old town), so I went looking for it. It was really quite stunning. As it turns out, it's actually a cathedral, with its own bishop and everything. The building was built in 1929, the region was made an apostolic prefecture in 1931, and then the diocese was established in 1948.

If it weren't for the cross, it would look pretty much just like a temple from the outside, although the inside was decorated with wooden carvings of biblical scenes, the virgin Mary, and the words "God is Love".

"天主是爱, God is Love"

Looking from the cathedral west towards the Cangshan Mountains.

Introducing Ruthie

Hello! My name is 杨素 (Yáng Sù), English name: Ruthie. I like white. What color do you like? I like to play baby jump*, you? I like to watch TV, do you? I really like Miss Nan, she is nice to us and teaches us much knowledge.

*Or possibly doll jump? Or baby bounce? Small child hop?

你好！我叫杨素，英语名字：Ruthie，我喜欢白色，您喜欢什么色？我喜欢玩娃娃跳，你呢？我喜欢看电视剧，你喜欢吗？我很喜欢南老师，她对我们很好，还教会了我们许多知识。

Erhai

The name Erhai means "Ear Sea", so called because the lake is long with an uneven shoreline that looks vaguely ear-like. There is a ring road around the lake that has beautiful views of the lake on one side and the mountains and fields on the other.

A Weekend in Dali

Last weekend was my second time in Dali. The first, was right after Summer Institute in August. It was interesting to return and see all the changes. Although much has stayed the same, many shops have changed hands and selfie sticks have taken over. I walked some familiar routes, but also some new ones, ate another blue cheese burger and some Japanese curry, and took lots of pictures. I also realized that the old town is larger than I thought. The pedestrian area is more limited, but the walls and gates surrounding the old town actually enclose a large area, much of which I walked through this time.

Pruning the willow trees.

The east gate to gucheng (old town).

Walking west, toward the Cangshan mountains, through the center of the old town.

Goldfish in a pool inside a food court.

A fox. I have no idea what it was doing tied up in gucheng. It made me sad. It was clearly extremely freaked out.

South gate.

The main pedestrian street in gucheng and swarms of Chinese tourists.

Dali #1 Middle School, right in the center of old town.

Looking towards the north gate and Erhai from our hostel's roof.

The three pagodas, also from the hostel roof.

My cofellows and I decided to walk down to the lake on Saturday evening. It was a long walk--about an hour each way, half of which was on uneven cobblestones--but it was quite pretty.

A field of young rice.

The site of the three pagodas is probably the most famous site in Dali. The three pagodas were built in the 9th and 10th
centuries. I had heard of them, but never gotten a good look at them. I was surprised to find that the roofs of the temples
stood out in the landscape more than the pagodas themselves (until it really got dark and only the pagodas were lit).

We finally made it Erhai during the final stages of sunset.

Another pagoda across the lake.

Sunday we rented scooters and drove along the shore. More pictures to come soon.

Introducing Ellie

My name is Ellie. I'm 10 years old. I'm a little girl who likes to read books, Outlaws of the Marsh, Three Kingdoms, etc. I don't like to use the computer because it can hurt your sight. I am a lively, innocent little girl.

Amy and Ellie at the picnic last fall.

我叫龙兴艳，十岁，是个小女孩，喜欢看书，水架上有水浒传，三国演义等，我不喜欢打电脑，因为伤视力我就是一个活泼天真的小女孩。