Atlas of China
Deyuan City Ruins 德源古城遗址Déyuán Gǔchéng Yízhǐ
National heritage site · Dali, Yunnan
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Days to budget
- Half a day
- City
- Dali
- Region
- Yunnan
- Type
- Heritage
- Listed as
- National heritage site
About Deyuan City Ruins
A hilltop fortress above Dengchuan, at the northern end of the Erhai plain, that was the seat of Dengdan, one of the six chiefdoms the Nanzhao kingdom absorbed in 738, and then guarded Nanzhao's northern approaches. Rammed-earth walls about 900 m round, best preserved on the west side and still up to 3.8 m high, enclose four terraces, and the site is described as the best-preserved Nanzhao-era walled town known. On the top terrace a temple rebuilt in 1988 honours Lady Baijie, the chief's widow of local legend.
How to get to Deyuan City Ruins
On a hilltop above Dengchuan in Eryuan County, about 45 minutes by road north of Dali Old Town.
Nearby
- Dali Old Town & Erhai Lake 大理古城与洱海 40 km
Bai courtyards, old stone gates and lakeside bike rides beneath the Cangshan peaks - Shaxi Ancient Town 沙溪古镇 40 km
A caravan town on the old Tea Horse Road, with a village market every Friday
Also within 20 km: West Lake (Eryuan) 洱源西湖 (under 10 km), Butterfly Spring 蝴蝶泉 (10 km), Dali Geothermal Kingdom 大理地热国 (20 km).
On the map
Open Deyuan City Ruins on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it and what else is close, and to add it to a trip.
Open Deyuan City Ruins on the map