Suối Bướm

Butterfly Spring (Hudie Quan) is a small scenic park at the foot of the Cangshan range, a few kilometers north of Dali Old Town near the village of Zhou Cheng. A clear, blue-green square pool set beneath a stand of ancient trees, the spring has been celebrated in local Bai culture for centuries, and was made famous across China by the 1959 romantic film Five Golden Flowers, which used it as the setting for its central love story. For travelers passing between Dali and Xizhou, it makes a peaceful half-hour stop.

The centerpiece of the park is the spring itself, a small pool of remarkably clear water ringed by a low stone railing. According to local legend, the spring was once visited every spring by thousands of butterflies, who would link wings and drape across the water in a living garland. The phenomenon, attributed to the fragrant blossoms of the surrounding trees and the chemistry of the water, was once reliably observed during the fourth lunar month and gave the site its name.

Today, the park includes a "Butterfly World" exhibit that breeds and displays dozens of species of butterflies native to the Cangshan area, allowing visitors to see the insects up close at any season. The grounds also include shaded walkways, a small Bai cultural exhibit, and benches that make the site a pleasant place for a rest between stops. The dense canopy keeps the park cool even in the heat of the day.

For most travelers, Butterfly Spring is a brief, gentle stop on a half-day loop through the villages north of Dali. It pairs naturally with the nearby Three Pagodas, Xizhou Ancient Town, and the Cangshan foothills. The pool is at its most photogenic around midday, when sunlight penetrates the canopy and illuminates the water. The cultural and cinematic associations are best appreciated with a bit of background reading or a local guide.