A family of thirteen native peoples
Dali is home to thirteen long-settled ethnic groups: Han, Bai, Yi, Hui, Lisu, Miao, Naxi, Zhuang, Tibetan, Blang, Lahu, Achang and Dai. Eight of these are population-scarce minorities — Lisu, Miao, Dai, Achang, Zhuang, Tibetan, Blang and Lahu. As China's only Bai autonomous prefecture, Dali is the Bai's ancestral homeland and main habitat — about 80% of all Bai people in China live here.
Ethnic composition (2020 census)
- Han: 1.667 million, about 49.95%
- Minorities combined: 1.6705 million, about 50.05%
Han and minorities are nearly balanced in numbers, with the Bai and Yi forming the two poles — a pattern quite representative among autonomous prefectures in southwestern China.
Total population
The 2020 census counted 3.3376 million permanent residents; by the end of 2024 the figure stood at about 3.34 million, of whom roughly 1.54 million lived in towns (urbanization rate 46.2%). Dali City alone holds about 770,000 residents — nearly a quarter of the prefecture.
A human landscape shaped by many peoples
Diversity shows in festivals and crafts: the March Street fair, the Torch Festival and the Raosanlin processions draw tremendous crowds; the Bai three-course tea, tie-dye, Jianchuan wood carving and Heqing silver-and-copper wares each form their own traditions. Language, dress and courtyard houses meet between Cangshan and Erhai in a depth you will hardly find elsewhere. Settle in an old town for a while, and you understand that what Five Golden Flowers sang about was exactly this lively, unhurried harmony of peoples living as neighbors.
