The Bai or Baip are one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China. Bai people live mostly in the provinces of Yunnan (Dali area); and in neighboring Guizhou (Bijie area) and Hunan (Sangzhi area) provinces.

Dali is the ancient capital of both the Bai kingdom Nanzhao; which flourished in the area during the 8th and 9th centuries; and the Kingdom of Dali; which reigned from 937-1253. Situated in a once significantly Muslim part of South China; Dali was also the center of the Panthay Rebellion against the reigning imperial Qing Dynasty from 1856-1863.