Dali Foreigner Street 大理洋人街

One of the most well known places here inside the ancient town of Dali is Foreigner Street 洋人街. The name Foreigner Street brings back to mind the famous street in Yangshuo named West Street which incidentally also implies foreigner. In the case of Dali, Foreigner Street is virtually the street which turned Dali into a tourist magnet. Back then, foreign tourists would come here to find a place to stay Dali. As word gets out to the foreigner community about how this place is such a great place to hang out in, more and more people set up shop here in Foreigner Street until it is the way it is right now.

You can say that Dali’s Foreigner Street is the street which started it all backpacking scene for foreigners. Nowadays, there are numerous hostels and hotels to choose from here in Dali. The street has been replicated in other ancient towns across the country, which explains Yangshuo’s West Street. Interestingly, West Street has turned into a bad cousin of Foreigner Street has it is no longer the haunt of foreigners as it has been turned into a shopping street complete with bands blaring all night long. Thankfully, Foreigner Street doesn’t seem to be like that, though only time would tell if it would remain that way.

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