Eryuan

The section of Erhai from Shuanglang to Shaping is actually part of Eryuan County. The county seat is over the hills to the north and into the next major valley, 60 km north of Dali. It lies a few km west of the highway. The more traditional neighbourhoods are in the northern section, while market day is staged at the northeast corner. The women wear the same components of the Bai costume as those around Erhai, with the exception of the head-dress, donning a tight-fitting bonnet instead.

Just beyond the northeast market area and across the irrigation canal is a small Bai village with cobbled streets running through a cluster of old-fashioned farm houses. Around the first major turn-off the scent of sulfur begins to permeate the air. Just past the settled area on this side lane lies a small hot spring, not built up, quaintly like a private village herbal bathing site. The other major natural attraction is Cibi Lake several kilometres further north. A jade colour, the waters cover 8 square kilometres. The lake is noted for the unusual bubbles that emanate from the lake bottom

The language and lifestyle of the Eryuan Bai resembles that of  Dali. They attend the Third Month Fair and the Mid-Autumn Festival of Shaping. They also have their own festivals, such as a Farm Tool Fair on the 15th day of the 2nd lunar month and the charming Yinyinwu, held in Fengyu village on the 5th day of the 1st moon. This festival reinforces the link between children and their elders. The latter pay special attention to the words kids speak this day, set off firecrackers when the groups of children come to call on them and send them off with small gifts