Naozhao Island of Folk Culture

Chinese name: 南诏风情岛(Nan Zhao Feng Qing Dao)
Location: Erhai Lake
Ticket: Entrance ticket CNY50.00 include round-way curise
Estimated time of tour: 1-3 hours
Recommended time of visit: all year round
Nearby attractions: Dali ancient town, Erhai Lake, Three Pagodas, Dali Ancient Town, etc.

Nanzhao Folk Cuture Island is one of three islands and islets on Erhai Lake. It is within the Shuanglang village which is the sweet spot among all Erhai Lake region. It is a tiny island compared to the vastness of Erhai Lake. In old days this place was called Yuji Island. It was turned into Nanzhao theme park and resort complex in 1999 when the World Horticulture Expo was held in Kunming City.The facilities remained on this island since then. In the theme park, you can enjoy the sights of the lake and the surrounding region from the heights on the tree covered hill. There is also a small beach with white sand. The island is in the northeast part of Lake Erhai. Along with the natural trees and the lake for scenery, there are specially built attractions and a small amusement park. Nanzhao Folk Island is small, but it is big enough to accommodate hotels sitting on the crest of the hill, a dock, some villas, and a park with trees. This is ideal place for those who long for a get away and relax in tranquil.

Legend has that the ancestor of Nanzhao was a woman named “Shayi”. She made a living by fishing. In the process of fishing, she touched the sinking wood and became pregnant. So she gave birth to ten sons, and then there was another woman under the Ailao Mountain who gave birth to ten baby girls. Ten boys marry with the ten girls, and they lived happily with each others. Cruising to the island from the south, you can see the coppers statues on the bank, named “Daughters of Erhai Lake”. Two fishing girls play and take bath here, one standing and one lying. There are also the statue of Shayi, ancestor of the local people in the local legend. In Yunnan Fuxing Square, the statue of Goddess of Mercy stands in the center. This statue is 17.5 meters tall and is made of white marble. It is the special Goddess of Mercy in Nanzhao culture, named as Acuoye.

Apart from that statue, the most noticeable object on this island is Nanzhao Palace. Nanzhao Palace is the main architecture of Nanzhao Island, covering an area of 8,000 square meters. It combined the architectural styles that of Tang Dynasty, Nanzhao Kingdom and Tibet Kingdom, representing the and tolerance and multi-ethnic culture of Nanzhao Kingdom. It was the resort of the King of Nanzhao.