Butterfly Spring of Dali
Source:Internet Author:Anonymous Tags:
dali yunan Butterfly Spring Bai
|
|
| Article Guide:Butterfly Spring (Hudie Quan), situated about 30 km (18.5 miles) north of Dali, is a small, clear spring frequented by swarms of tourists...and, of course, butterflies. The latter are drawn to the springs clear waters from the surrounding wooded countryside at the foot of Cang Shan, a mountain comprised of some sixteen peaks and famous for its diverse plant life. |
|
Travel some 27 kilometers south of Dali and you will come to a popular beauty spot known locally as the 'Butterfly Spring'. Situated at the foot of Mount Shenmo, the first of the peaks of Mount Cangshan the spring rises to form a square shaped pool that is shaded by the dense foliage that lines its banks. The pool is some 50 square meters overall and above it is an ancient decumbent tree. This is the famous 'Butterfly Tree', so called as in the short interval as spring turns to summer, its fragrant blossom attracts thousands of butterflies. These small multi-colored creatures fly around the pool and settle on the tree in great clusters as they sip the nectar from its blooms. The vast numbers of butterflies are hardly distinguishable from the flowers as the whole tree pulsates with every color of the rainbow. This spectacular sight has given rise to a local festival when the Bai people gather at the tree on April 15th for the 'Butterfly Meet'. The romantic spectacle of the butterflies as they feed and mate in such abundance has become a symbol of courtship and each Bai youth will seek to engage with the love of his life by joining in with the traditional antiphonal singing. The Bai also refer to the spring as the 'Allegiance Spring' as it is here that true and lasting love may be found.
Local Bai legend has it that a pair of star-crossed lovers took their lives at the spring, hoping to spend eternity together, and that their wish was granted: they were transformed into butterflies and return every spring to celebrate their enduring love. The spot remains important to the Bai, who welcome spring every mid-April with song and dance at the spring.
