Roadside stalls and local shops
Browse small local shops and produce stalls for a closer look at Shuanglang’s Bai food culture. Preserved fruit and rushan cheese are distinctive tastes of the Dali region. Leave time to explore on foot and ask about the ingredients and ways of serving the foods that catch your eye.
Preserved fruit and fan-shaped cheese
Meiguo is a sweet-and-sour preserved-fruit snack made with fruits such as papaya, pear and plum. Carved and preserved plums also make distinctive local treats.
Rushan is a pale cow’s-milk cheese shaped into thin sheets, often rolled like a folding fan. It can be eaten dried or fried and paired with Yunnan ham. Finely cut pieces also appear in the sweet second serving of Bai three-course tea.
Market life during the festival
Bai lakeside celebrations bring food and craftsmanship together: rushan-making, boatbuilding and embroidery all reflect local traditions. Fishing songs, antiphonal singing and dabenqu storytelling connect market life with Erhai’s cultural heritage. Look beyond souvenirs to the skills and ingredients behind them.
