The Dali Museum (Tues Sun 9am-5pm; RMB5) is opposite the bus compound,just 50m or so inside the gate. Built for the Qing governor and appropriated as Du Wenxiu’s “Forbidden City” during his insurrection, the museam takes the form of a small Chinese palace with stone lions guarding the gate and cannons in the courtyard. Historic relics include a strange bronze model of two circling dragons, jaws clenched around what might be a tree, a few Buddhist figurines from the Nanzhao period, and some lively statues of an orchestra and serving maids from a Ming noble woman’s tomb - a nice
addition to the usual cases of snarling gods and warrior busts. With the mountains behind, the gardens outside are pleasant, planted with Iantana and bougainvillea.
North along Fuxing Lu, young and old socialize in the square outside the library, playing dominoes or video arcade games according to their interests.