Dali's many delights

Dip into this Chinese city's rich historical and cultural heritage as you soak up its scenic beauty.

IT was after midnight when our bus rolled into Dali on the Yunnan Plateau in south-western China. The streets were largely empty. The city was asleep. All was quiet and serene. Half an hour later, we pulled up at Haidu Hotel, where we were to spend the next three nights.