XiaoLi | “Fengyu Countryside Market”

In Dali, from Monday to Sunday, there is always a market in different counties and towns, where you can buy local foods, clothes, and specialties. The people you meet are mostly locals.

When I was a child, my favorite thing was going to the market once a week. My parents would give me money, and with it, I could go to the town and buy things that weren’t available in our village (though I might also use the money to buy cigarettes). The markets were always crowded with people from different villages and towns.

Dali has markets every day in different places. My family is from Right Suo Town in Eryuan, but my favorite market was in Fengyu Town, which is over a mountain pass. I think it’s because Fengyu used to be an important town on the Tea Horse Road, nestled in the valley beneath Huadianba. As the Tea Horse Road faded, the main highway bypassed the area, making it less accessible. But this also allowed the rich traditions and natural beauty of the place to be preserved.

For example, when I go to the market, I find many locals wearing traditional Bai ethnic clothing, which is different from the Bai clothing and headdresses in Dali City. The colors here are usually darker.

Due to the development of transportation and the evolution of modern life, these traditional markets are becoming fewer and may eventually disappear. That’s why I really want to visit and see them as much as I can. Like the nature of Cangshan, the products at the markets change with the seasons, so there is always something new and enjoyable to experience with each visit.