Dali market culture: March Street with folk customs, Erhaimen, a creative workshop, and Chai Miduo, a life museum.

Market (jí shì) is a form of commodity trading activities gathered in a specific period, which refers to a common form of trade organization in times and regions with underdeveloped commodity economy. Originated in prehistoric times, people's gatherings and transactions often appear in religious festivals, commemorative gatherings and holy places, and are often accompanied by folk entertainment activities.

Shopping in the market is a common thing in life. A dazzling array of delicious food, interesting things, pedestrians and stall owners in different forms, the market is a symbol of life, but I think the market can also be used as a tourism project and a way to experience local culture.

In Dali's street culture, there are three places that have to be mentioned, which represent the three States of Dali people's life:

Folk custom parade street

The place with the strongest folk flavor in Dali is the annual Bai March Street Gala on the 15th day of the third lunar month. From the opening ceremony to the rally lasting more than ten days, the villagers are always the most enthusiastic, and it is difficult for outsiders to understand the local people's feelings like celebrating their home.

The "low taste" of March Street is reflected in its inclusiveness and extensiveness. Although it has changed a little after thousands of years of development, it is still simple. Now March Street is as vulgar as a wholesale market in some people's eyes, but it is also the most real life of people.

Creativity erhaimen

Erhaimen, a creative market, is located at the end of the lower section of Renmin Road in Dali Ancient City. It turned out that these creative little things were concentrated in the stalls on Renmin Road, and later they were concentrated in Erhaimen after renovation, and the stalls were replaced by cabins.

Most of the booths here are young artists. They exchange their skills for some travel expenses, and when the money is enough, they will travel to the next place. There are also craftsmen who set up stalls, such as Mr. Luming Literature, a leather craftsman. Four years ago, because of his inner love, he took leather goods as his profession, first setting up a stall on Renmin Road and then opening a shop.

Erhaimen Creative Market, small in scale, is a blend of cultures from all over the world. You can find an interesting story by chatting with anyone here.

Le huo chai mi duo

Chai life market should represent Dali life in the eyes of outsiders. Back in the farming era, I grew my own vegetables and ate them myself. I can't finish eating them and sell them in the market. This is a self-sufficient life in the Peach Blossom Garden, where chickens and dogs hear about each other and flowers and birds accompany them.

In Chaimiduo Market, all you see are "farmers" who love life, burning firewood and ploughing fields, facing Erhai Lake and fleeing from the north. Perhaps what you yearn for most is this state, slow-paced, zero-stress work, which is also part of Dali culture.

The market sounds simple, but the more ordinary things, the more dull, the more you can see life clearly. If you travel for a different life, then visiting the market means that you can see other people's lives at the same time.