Dali, Yunnan, long known as a destination for international visitors, is now a model of China’s emerging domestic tourist industry. Part of the ancient Silk Road trade route, it is now connected by high-speed rail from Kunming and further north, benefiting from the Belt and Road Initiative. Travelers come from all parts of China to explore the scenery and fresh air, forging new friendships with fellow Chinese and international tourists, and with local minority people. Leaving the pressures of the city, they reflect on a balance with nature, family, and renewed awareness of their environment, an ethos that led to the region’s nickname “Dalifornia.”

Visitors ride bikes, scooters or horse-drawn carriages on country roads, stop to walk in colorful gardens, and rest at roadside cafes. It is fun for an expat to share Dali’s discovery with Chinese people from all over, as we all slow down – a feeling captured by the phrase, “… a hundred years is just one day!”

The video mixes footage of my live performance near Dali with its famous scenic spots. It also reflects on environmental challenges, as measures are taken to ensure green development and the health of the lake. It showcases how tourism and other initiatives bring the promises of development to the region, and emphasizes the determination of Dali’s people to work together, and with government, to protect the lake and the environment. “Dalifornia” is a place for people from everywhere to share a Chinese dream.