Dali is one of the earliest cultural birthplaces in Yunnan. According to archaeological excavations, Neolithic sites are widely distributed around plateau lakes centered on Erhai Lake. The ancestors of Bai and Yi people planted rice, domesticated livestock and engaged in gathering, fishing and hunting in this beautiful and rich land, creating an ancient Dali civilization. During the Han and Yuan Dynasties (1 10- 105 BC), the Han Dynasty established Yu Ye, Yunnan, Xielong and Subi counties in Dali, which belonged to Yizhou County. Since then, Dali has been formally incorporated into the territory of the Han Dynasty. Dali belonged to Yongchang County in the Eastern Han Dynasty, and Yongchang County and Yunnan County in the Shu and Han Dynasties. The Jin Dynasty belonged to Yongchang and Yunnan counties in Ningzhou; Liu Song belonged to Yunnan, Dongheyang and Xiheyang counties in Ningzhou; During the Southern Qi Dynasty, it belonged to Yunnan, Dongheyang, Xiheyang and Yongchang counties in Ningzhou. Sui Dynasty belonged to Zhou Kun; In the fourth year of Tang Wude (62 1), Erhai area was set up with "eight states and seventeen counties", and in the first year of Linde (664), it was changed to Yaozhou Governor's Office. In 1930s, with the support of the Tang Dynasty, Nanzhao, one of the "six imperial edicts" in Erhai area, unified Erhai area and established Nanzhao State. Two years later (902), Zheng Maisi, the powerful minister of Nanzhao, launched a palace coup, established Dachang and Guo, and Nanzhao died. In the second year of Tiancheng in the late Tang Dynasty (927), Dadiandao and Dayi were established one after another. In the second year of Tianfu at the end of Jin Dynasty (937), Duan Siping joined forces with 37 troops from East Yunnan to March into Dali, overthrowing the country of "Ningguo" and establishing Dali. In the first year of Bao in the Southern Song Dynasty (1253), Kublai Khan led an army to destroy Dali and build Yunnan. Nanzhao Dali lasted more than 500 years, which made Yunnan form a stable political unity, laid the southwest frontier of the motherland and promoted the rapid development of economy and culture. During the Yuan Dynasty, the political center of Yunnan moved eastward to Kunming, and the Yuan Dynasty set up 20,000 households in Dali. In the 11th year of Yuan Dynasty (1274), it changed its course, became a prefecture, a county, and the Dali area belonged to Dali Road, Heqing Road, Wei Chu Road and Yunlong Hall. In Ming Dynasty, Dali belonged to Dali, Heqing, Hua Meng, Yongchang and Chuxiong. In Qing Dynasty, Dali belonged to Dali Prefecture, Lijiang Prefecture, Yongchang Prefecture and Mongolian Zhili Hall. 19 13 years, Dali belongs to the western Yunnan road. 1929, the national government implemented a two-level system of provinces and counties. There are 13 counties in Dali, namely Xiangyun, Midu, Binchuan, Fengyi, Hua Meng, Dali, Yongping, Yunlong, Yangbi, Deng Chuan, Eryuan, Jianchuan and Heqing. In the late 1940s, the Yunnan provincial government set up administrative supervision departments in Dali, Hua Meng and Heqing. 1 February, 19501day, Dali Commissioner's Office was established, covering Guanguan, Dali, Fengyi, Deng Chuan, Binchuan, Xiangyun, Midu, Hua Meng, Yunxian, Mianning, Shunning (Fengqing), Yongping, Yangbi, Yunlong, Eryuan, etc./kloc-. 1956, Yunxian, Mianning and Shunning counties were placed in Lincang area, and Heqing and Jianchuan counties in Lijiang area were placed in Dali area. 1956 1 1 22nd, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture was established, and Shimonoseki was designated as the capital of the autonomous prefecture. By 2000, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture administered 1 city 1 1 counties, namely: Dali, Yangbi Yi Autonomous County, Xiangyun County, Binchuan County, Midu County, Nanjian Yi Autonomous County, Weishan Yi and Hui Autonomous County, Yongping County, Yunlong County, Eryuan County and Jianchuan County.
In the second year of Yuanfeng in the Western Han Dynasty (BC 109), Yuye County was established in Dali, and the organizational system of Yuye County remained until the Southern and Northern Dynasties. At the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, the "six imperial edicts" in Erhai area had more and more influence. With the support of the Tang Dynasty, in the 26th year of Tang Kaiyuan (AD 738), the Six Imperial Letters were unified and Nanzhao State was established. In the 27th year of Kaiyuan (AD 739), Nanzhao capital moved from Weishan to Taihe City (near Taihe Village in Cangshan, Dali), and then moved to Yangmao City (west of Dali ancient city). Nanzhao, the later established three dynasties and the capital of Dali are all in Yang Mao. Dali has been the political, economic and cultural center of Yunnan and the capital of Nanzhao and Dali for more than 500 years from the 8th century to the Tang and Song Dynasties in the13rd century (that is, from the establishment of Nanzhao in 738 to the fall of Dali in 1253).
After the demise of Dali in Yuan Dynasty, Yunnan remained the political center of Dali. In the 11th year of Yuan Dynasty (AD 1274), Yunnan Province was established, and its administrative center was moved from Dali to Kunming, but Dali is still the largest city in western Yunnan, which has been inherited ever since.