The weaving of straw hats is a traditional handicraft of the Bai people in the Dali area. According to legend, during the Nanzhao period, there was already a "Straw Hat Street" near Tahe City. Today, in the Tahe Village of Qili Bridge in Dali City, this street name still exists.

In the past, all the weaving and sewing of straw hats were done by hand, with limited output and monotonous patterns. Nowadays, the Bai villagers in Dali have leveraged their traditional strengths, introduced modern manufacturing techniques, and made full use of their spare time. Every household engages in weaving and sewing straw hats. Whether in courtyards, fields, or roadside villages, one can see women holding rice stalks between their elbows, continuously weaving straw braids. These braids are then bleached and sewn into various styles of finished products. The best quality ones are characterized by fine stalks, thin skin, white color, dense and even weaving, and tightly sewn seams. Because of their traditional and ancient beauty, diverse patterns, and low prices, Dali straw hats have been in high demand for years. Product styles have also been constantly innovated, such as the "Zhinyin Hat", "English-style Top Hat", "Children's Hat", and "Embroidered Hat", which are very popular among domestic and foreign tourists. The series of products are mainly sold to areas like Xishuangbanna and Dehong Prefecture, and some are exported overseas.

Straw weaving is a traditional handicraft art that has been passed down among the people of Dali. It has many types, abundant resources, and various patterns, forming different characteristics of each ethnic group. Mainly traditional weaving from rice stalks, wheat stalks, and palm fibers. According to historical records, in the early Ming Dynasty, "Yongchang area (Dali was once part of Yongchang) had already established an educational workshop to teach the methods of Shandong straw weaving". From then on, it has been passed down generation after generation. In recent years, due to market demand and the development of tourism, the variety of Dali straw weaving products has increased, including straw curtains, mats, baskets, fans, mats, and hundreds of other styles. Just for straw baskets alone, they come in a variety of colors and shapes, making them dazzling. Straw weaving products are decorated with patterns such as butterflies, tea flowers, Three Pagodas, Erhai Lake, Cangshan Mountain, and animals, which are both exquisite and practical. They are not only favored by people of all ethnic groups within the country but also exported to countries in America, Europe, and Southeast Asia.