[InKunming--Yunnan] Xizhou town is located in the north of Dali city, with Cangshan mountain to the west and Erhai lake to the east. There are vernacular dwellings of Bai nationality. 

The basic form of Xizhou Bai folk house are triangle courtyard and quadrangle courtyard. The former is the most common, consisting of three houses and one wall. The quadrangle courtyard has four houses around the four sides, and the “Yan Jia Da Yuan” (严家大院) is the most typical one. About 99 architectures built between Ming and Qing dynasty are still remained intact so far. 

Dwellings in Xizhou highlight art decoration inside the building. The eaves, carved wooden doors and windows, delicate walls, colored paintings, marble paintings and wells are very exquisite and beautiful, making Xizhou full of artistic charm.

Xizhou cake, known locally as “Po Su”, is made of wheat flour, lard and soda. It shaped into a circle, adding brown sugar or ham to make two flavors, sweet and salty. It needs to be cooked on both sides by a hanging stove for minutes until it becomes golden, then a crispy cake is done well.(pics via 边凡)

Click here to view more pictures

(Editors: Christine, Rachel)