[2025 Dali ] Travel Guide for Lanxu Ancient Tie-Dyeing Experience Park (Xizhou Tianyuan Store) (Updated Apr)

As a national intangible cultural heritage, Dali tie-dye integrates the Bai people's millennial craftsmanship with the natural inspiration of Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake. The experience is an immersive cultural healing journey. Below is an in-depth guide for a professional tie-dye experience: I. Decoding Tie-dye Techniques 1. Plant Secrets: The core dye uses indigo extracted from isatis root, with varying shades achieved by adjusting the pH value. Rice wine and lime are added to form active bacteria, a biochemical reaction that creates a unique cold dyeing process. 2. Topological Art: Using the principles of topology, folding and tying techniques, along with 17 traditional stitching methods such as "Horse Tooth Flower" (continuous zigzag stitching), "Spider Flower" (radial tying), and "Fish Roe" (granular knotting), transform three-dimensional structures into two-dimensional patterns. II. Professional Experience Process 1. Cultural Introduction (30 mins) - Visit the dye house's ecological pool: Observe the oxidation process of isatis root dye from green → blue → dark blue. - Study the history of Bai "knotted cloth": Analyze the evolution of the "tie-dyeing" technique from the Tang and Song dynasties. 2. Topological Creation (90 mins) - Geometric Composition: Apply the Möbius strip principle to fabric folding. - Mechanics Control: Experiment with the functional relationship between rubber band tension and dye penetration rate. - Modern Design: Innovative experiments combining laser-engraved templates with traditional stitching methods. 3. Biochemical Dyeing (40 mins) - Controlled Variable Experiment: Explore the relationship between the number of dips (3-7 times) and color saturation. - Oxidation Monitoring: Observe the oxidation process of the fabric changing from green to blue through timed lifting. 4. Postmodern Deconstruction (20 mins) - Nonlinear Unraveling: Experience random artistic creation. - Color Fixing: Soap washing treatment to enhance colorfastness to level 4 or above. III. Recommended High-Level Experience Venues 1. Zhoucheng Intangible Cultural Heritage Workshop - Book a "Topological Tie-dye Workshop" with provincial inheritor Zhang Shishen. - Experience plant dye chromatography experiments (Sappanwood red, Gardenia yellow, Gromwell purple). 2. Xizhou Complex Space - Lanxu Ancient Dyeing Courtyard: Participate in the 24 Solar Terms dyeing project. - Boji Folk Art Lab: Try cross-border creations combining tie-dye and Jiama woodblock printing. IV. Professional Equipment Recommendations 1. Bring a macro lens to capture the dye oxidation process. 2. Use time-lapse photography to record the morphological evolution of the unfolding patterns. 3. Prepare pH test strips to test the changes in the pH of the dye vat. V. Data Reference - Dye Ratio: 1.2 kg of indigo paste can be extracted from every 100 kg of isatis root leaves. - Time Cost: Traditional techniques require 72 hours for dye fermentation. - Color Retention: Natural dyed products have a colorfastness level of 3-4, with an annual fading rate of 8-12%. This in-depth intangible cultural heritage experience transcends ordinary handicrafts, becoming a cross-border practice that integrates material science, biochemistry, and ethnic aesthetics. The moment you untie the knots, you not only unfold the fabric's texture but also unlock the genetic code of a millennial craft. It is recommended to reserve 4 hours for a systematic experience. The best creation time is 1:00-4:00 PM when the sunlight is abundant, as the dye activity reaches its peak, resulting in the most ideal color presentation.

When you come to Dali, you really have to experience Dali blue tie-dye! This is our country's intangible cultural heritage. Only after experiencing it in person can you know how great its charm is😍 This time, my friends and I chose the simplest tie-dye style. The whole production process was super fun. And the production time will vary depending on the complexity of the tie-dyeing. For a simple style like ours, each item can be completed in about 30 minutes. I made three items in one go: a hat, a belt, and a phone bag. I felt a great sense of accomplishment. Now I will share with you the simplified process 👇 ✨Choose a pattern: The store has a variety of pattern samples, from traditional geometric shapes to patterns full of ethnic characteristics, which are dazzling. I chose the cloud pattern that is characteristic of Dali, and I feel that it can particularly represent the style of this place. ✨Tie the flowers: This step is to use rubber bands to tie the fabric according to the pattern you want. Don’t underestimate this step, it is the key to determining the final product effect! Looking at a plain piece of white cloth, which was gradually fixed into shape by rubber bands in my hands, I was looking forward to what it would look like after being dyed. When the tied cloth was put into the dye vat, something magical happened. The originally white cloth was slowly dyed with a deep and charming blue. The change is really indescribable. After several times of dyeing and oxidation, the moment I took it out and untied the rubber band, wow! The unique Dali blue artwork is born👏 Each tie-dye work is like a perfect combination of nature and handmade art. Walking on the streets of Dali wearing a hat I made myself, feeling the breeze with a homemade belt, and walking through the alleys of the ancient city with a mobile phone bag, the sense of satisfaction and pride is simply overwhelming💥

Planning a trip for the Lunar New Year? Dali and Lijiang are great choices! Check out this 5-day itinerary to make your trip more relaxing and enjoyable. -------- 🚩Itinerary: Day 1: Erhai Lake Enjoy the beautiful scenery of Erhai Lake. Day 2: Ideal State - Shuanglang - Nanzhao Island - Erhai Ecological Corridor - Panxi Village Explore Ideal State, stroll through Shuanglang, visit Nanzhao Island, and enjoy the scenery of Panxi Village along the Erhai Ecological Corridor to experience the diverse culture of Dali. Day 3: Gantong Cableway - Xizhou - Lanxu Traditional Tie-dye Experience Park (Xizhou Store) Take the Gantong Cableway to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Dali, then head to Xizhou to experience the traditional tie-dye craft at Lanxu. Day 4: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain - Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Cableway - Shuhe Ancient Town Climb Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, take the cableway to enjoy the magnificent snow mountain, and stroll through Shuhe Ancient Town to experience the ancient charm. Day 5: Private Transfer to Lijiang Airport End your pleasant journey with a private transfer to Lijiang Airport for your return flight. 🛫 -------- Packing List: 👕 **Clothing**: Bring a thick coat, scarf, and gloves. A down jacket is ideal for the temperature difference between day and night. 🎩 **Accessories**: Bring a hat and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun and wind. 🎒 **Bag**: Choose a lightweight backpack to carry your phone, camera, and power bank to capture beautiful moments. 💳 **Documents**: Bring your ID card, driver's license, and passport for convenience. 💊 **Medicine**: Bring some common medicine, such as cold and pain relief medicine, just in case. 🌂 **Rain Gear**: The weather is changeable, so bring rain gear. An umbrella for both sunny and rainy days is more practical. 👟 **Shoes**: The stone roads in the ancient town are not easy to walk on, so wear comfortable shoes. -------- Explore the romance of Dali and the charm of Lijiang. Don't miss out! 😉