AllMovie

A note of clarification: the "Dali" of the title refers not to the artist Salvador Dali, but to a locale in China, more specifically Dali City in Yunnan Province. The city courts an interesting reputation for its blend of centuries-old Chinese culture and early 21st century modernity; it also houses many elements of mystery, wonder and fantasy. The city itself lies on a fertile plateau, at the nexus of numerous ancient (and extinct) civilizations; fittingly, then, it drew the attention of historical figures including the Mongol warrior Genghis Khan (1162-1227), whose brutal regiments plundered Dali's silk and tea roads, and Marco Polo (1254-1324), who referred to it as "the magic land beyond the clouds." Centuries later, the city functioned as a strategic military base for China's Flying Tigers during the Second World War. This documentary program examines the many faces of present-day Dali, while keeping a fixed eye on its interesting and colorful past.