Distinctive City

The traditional Bai ethnic minority folk houses give the city distinctive feel，unlike any other Chinese city.A typical house is characterized by“3 rooms and a wall screening”and“4 joints and 5 courtyards”.”3 rooms and a wall screening”means that every house has a principle room and two wing-rooms and facing the principle room stands the wall screening.When the sun shines on the wall screening in the afternoon，the sunlight is reflected back to the courtyard，thus illuminating the whole area.’4 joints and 5 courtyards’means houses are built with four sides；and four courtyards in the joining parts of the houses’corners and one big courtyard in the center makes five courtyards.The decoration is another construction feature of the folk residences，paying great attention to the gate tower，the eaves and corners.The windows，doors and the wall screening are adorned with Jianchuan woodcarvings，colored patterns，marbles and wash drawings.The delicacy，freshness and elegance of their construction may be called first-class among folk residences in Southwest China.

When people walk along the cobble-paved streets in the ancient city，a sense of primitive simplicity and elegance will be invoked.Besides the Bai ethnic minority traditional folk houses，the houses all with grey-green roof tiles，peculiar workshops，temples，schools and churches with an antique flavor are scattered.

Traditional artworks made of marble，such as pencil vases，striped screens，and a variety of woven handicrafts made of fine straw are laid chockablock on both sidesof the street to be appreciated and purchased.The newly-opened Foreigner Street is also a must-see，providing snacks with the traditional flavors of the Bai ethnic community，as well as the famous”Three-course Tea”ceremony for receiving guests that includes“bitter tea”，“sweet tea”and“final tea”.

qingquang

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