In 1619, the Naxi chieftain Mu Zeng ordered the construction of a sanctuary at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. He named it Dading, meaning great peace, dedicating the structure to his mother as an expression of filial piety. This single-eave, gable-and-hip roof pavilion stands in Baisha Ancient Town, a quiet component of the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town of Lijiang.

The pavilion measures 5.2 meters high, three bays wide, and three bays deep. Its exterior walls feature embedded decorative stones, a regional masonry style that feels cool to the touch. Outside, a 500-year-old tamarisk tree grows, its branches brushing against the eaves. Inside, the air carries the faint scent of aged wood and plaster.

On these walls, Han, Tibetan, and Naxi artists worked side by side during the late Ming Dynasty. They left seventeen murals covering 71.6 square meters. The artists combined their traditions, blending Tibetan Vajrayana deities with Chan Buddhist and Taoist figures. In the dim light, the paintings shimmer with raised gold and delicate gold leaf. One mural depicts the Water Moon Avalokiteshvara seated by a pond, surrounded by painted plum blossoms, peonies, and a high moon.

Time and moisture took a toll on the plaster. In 1743, local residents rebuilt the structure. Centuries later, conservationists stabilized the peeling pigments. In 2026, the museum completed high-definition digital modeling, allowing visitors to examine the brushwork without touching the fragile surface. Today, museum director Yang Zhigen walks the quiet courtyard, checking the daily temperature and humidity to preserve these centuries-old brushstrokes. Dading Pavilion remains a quiet space where diverse cultures met, painted, and left their marks on the stone.