Minority culture, Old City of Dali, China - Dali is the name of the Prefecture, the local city (aka Xiaguan) and the Dali Old Town. Travelers visit the Dali Old Town for its traditional architecture, minority cultures - mostly Bai but also with many Yi and Hui - and simply to relax. The Old Town has a population of approx. 40,000 and the entire Dali Prefecture around three million people.