The Latest Erhai Guide: All 9 Stunning S-Curves Revealed!

🌊 A Complete Guide to Dali's Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake | Experience the Wind, Flowers, Snow, and Moon in One Stop! 🌄
🗓️ Best Time to Travel
🌸 March–May: Spring blossoms, rapeseed flower fields
☀️ June–August: Summer retreat (but remember to bring an umbrella 🌂 for the rainy season)
🍁 September–November: Clear and crisp autumn, the most beautiful season
❄️ December–February: Fewer crowds, beautiful scenery, seagull season (November–March)
🚗 Transportation Guide
✈️ Airport to Dali Ancient City:
Airport bus: CNY 25/person 🚌
Taxi: approx. CNY 80 🚖 (40 mins)
🚲 Around Erhai Lake Transportation:
Electric bike rental: CNY 50–80/day ⚡ (Recommended!)
Bicycle: CNY 30/day 🚴♂️
Chartered car around the lake: CNY 300–400/day 🚗
🏡 Accommodation Recommendations
🌅 Erhai Lake Coast
1. Shuanglang: Enjoy high-end sea views
Recommended guesthouse: Mingyue Songjian
Price: CNY 800+
2. Caicun: More cost-effective
Recommended guesthouse: Erhai Xinglai
Price: CNY 300–600
3. Longkan Wharf: Excellent place to watch the sunrise
Recommended guesthouse: Yundu
Price: CNY 400–800
🏯 Dali Ancient City
Lively and convenient: Dali Ancient City No. 1 Courtyard
Artistic and fresh: Cat Fruit

🌟 Must-Visit Attractions
🏔️ Cangshan Mountain Guide
Ximatan Cableway 🚡 (Full ticket price: CNY 310)
Directly reaches an altitude of 3,966m, with different scenery in each season
Gantong Cableway (Ticket price: CNY 100)
Easy hike + Jizhao Nunnery (Vegetarian meal: CNY 20 🍚)
Yudai Yunyou Road 🚶♂️
12 km gentle trail, beginner-friendly
🌊 Erhai Lake Guide
Around Erhai Lake Route (approx. 130 km):
📍Ancient City → Caicun → Panxi S-Bend → Xizhou → Shuanglang → Wase → Xiao Putuo → Ancient City
Must-stop stations:
Panxi Village Internet-famous S-bend 📸
Xizhou Ancient Town (Rice fields + Corner Building)
Shuanglang (Yang Liping Sun Palace ☕)
Wenbi Village (Wedding photography base)

📸 Photo Guide
1. Best time:
Sunrise 🌅: 6:30–7:30 (Longkan Wharf)
Sunset 🌇: 18:30–19:30 (Haidong Highway)
2. Outfit suggestions:
White/red long dress 👗
Straw hat + woven bag 👒
3. Must-take scenes:
S-bend cycling photo 🚲
Tree by Erhai Lake 🌳
Xizhou rice fields 🌾

🍜 Food Map
🥢 Must-Eat List
1. Bai ethnic characteristics:
Spicy and sour fish 🐟
Rushan (Can be grilled or fried)
Raw skin (For the brave)
2. Snack recommendations:
Xizhou Baba (Salty and sweet)
Cold chicken rice noodles 🍜
3. Internet-famous restaurants:
Shuanglang "Mu Xi Dali" (Reservation required)
Ancient City "Young Master Duan"

⚠️ Tips to Avoid Pitfalls
1. Be sure to check the vehicle condition and record a video when renting a car 📹
2. Sunscreen! Sunscreen! Sunscreen! ☀️ (Strong ultraviolet rays on the plateau)
3. Buy special seagull food for feeding seagulls during the seagull season (CNY 5/pack)
4. It is recommended to spend 2 days touring around Erhai Lake, don't rush
5. Book guesthouses 1 month in advance during peak season 🏨

💰 Cost Reference
Accommodation: CNY 200–800 per night
Dining: CNY 50–100/person/day
Transportation: Car rental CNY 50–300/day
Tickets: Cangshan Cableway CNY 100–310
Total: CNY 500–1,500/person/day

📅 Classic Itinerary
Three-day Essential Tour:
Day 1: Dali Ancient City → Chongsheng Temple Three Pagodas → Xizhou Ancient Town
Day 2: West Erhai Lake Line (S-bend + Lang Bridge + Shuanglang)
Day 3: Cangshan Cableway + Jizhao Nunnery + East Erhai Lake Line
Five-day In-depth Tour:
Add a day trip to Shaxi Ancient Town/Nuodeng Ancient Village

🌟 Local Suggestions
1. Erhai Lake is most quiet and beautiful before 7am
2. Want to take photos of the unmanned S-bend? It is recommended to stay in Panxi Village
3. Go to the "March Street" fair on Wednesdays/Saturdays 🛍️
4. Learn a Bai phrase: "A Peng Ge" (handsome guy), "Jinhua" (beautiful woman)

📢 Important reminder: Protect the ecology of Erhai Lake, do not litter! ♻️

👇 Interactive time:
Have you been to Dali? What is your most unforgettable experience?
Share your story in the comments section~ ✨
(Collect the guide for easier travel!)