The Dali area was formerly known as '' ' Xiemie ' '' ( , '' Xiémiē '' ) . The old town was the medieval capital of both the Bai kingdom Nanzhao ( and 9th centuries ) and the Kingdom of Dali ( 937 – 1253 ) . That city was razed and its records burnt during its conquest by China 's Mongolian Yuan Dynasty . The present old town was organized in the late 14th century under the Hongwu Emperor of the Ming Dynasty . The area became significantly Muslim ( Hui ) under the Yuan and Ming and was the center of the Panthay Rebellion against the Qing from 1856 – 1863 . It was severely damaged during a massive earthquake in 1925
massive earthquake in 1925
1925 Dali earthquake
Dali City