Take your loved one to Erhai Lake, where even the breeze is sweet.



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📍 1. Erhai Lake Overview
- Location: Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, surrounding Dali Ancient Town
- Best travel seasons: Year-round, with March-May (spring blooms) and September-November (crisp autumn) being ideal
- Recommended duration: 2-3 days (3-4 days for in-depth lake circuit tours)

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🚗 2. Transportation Guide
1. How to get to Erhai Lake?
- ✈️ By air: Fly to Dali Fengyi Airport, then take a taxi/bus to Erhai (≈40 mins)
- 🚄 By train: Kunming→Dali Station (2 hrs), then taxi/bus to Erhai (≈30 mins)
- 🚌 By bus: Direct buses from Kunming/Lijiang to Dali Ancient Town or Shuanglang

2. Getting around Erhai Lake
- 🚲 Biking/E-bikes: Ideal for short distances (rentals near Ancient Town/Caicun Pier)
- 🚗 Private car/self-drive: 140km lake circuit (recommend car rental ≈¥200-400/day)
- 🚤 Boats: Cruise options available (Dali Port, Longkan Pier, Shuanglang Pier)

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🌊 3. Must-Visit Attractions
🌅 West Coast (Countryside + Artistic Spots)
- Longkan Pier: Best sunrise spot with photogenic redwoods and lake reflections
- **Caicun Pier: Close to Ancient Town, cycling starting point with rural views
- Panxi Village S-curve: Viral photo spot (best at dawn/dusk)
- Xizhou Ancient Town: Bai ethnic culture, rice fields, tie-dye workshops, try Xizhou baba
- Haisee Park: Erhai's "tongue tip" with iconic couple trees (check closures in advance)

🌇 East Coast (Panoramic Views + Sunsets)
- Shuanglang Ancient Town: Most picturesque lakeside town, home to Yang Liping's Sun Palace
- Wase Town: Quaint fishing village with waterside forests
- Little Putuo: Mini island with winter seagulls
- Wenbi Village: Rainbow road with aerial lake views
- Ideal Resort (Dali's Santorini): Greek-style architecture, perfect for photos

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🏡 4. Accommodation Recommendations
1. Lakeside stays:
- Shuanglang: Premium B&Bs (e.g. Muxi Dali, Liuyue Wusuo)
- Caicun/Longkan*: Budget-friendly near Ancient Town (e.g. Erhai Awakening, Yun Jue Qi She)
- Wenbi/Wase: Less crowded with stunning views
2. Dali Ancient Town:
- Vibrant nightlife, convenient dining, budget-friendly options

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🍜 5. Food Guide
- Must-try specialties:
- Rushan cheese (grilled/fried), Erkuai rice cakes, Xizhou baba
- Sour-spicy fish, braised chicken, Yongping papaya chicken
- Cold chicken rice noodles, Yangbi rolled rice sheets
- Top restaurants:
- Shuanglang: Four Seasons Wild Mushroom Hotpot
- Ancient Town: Zaishou Cold Chicken Noodles, Stone Grill
- Xizhou: Moshan Garden Restaurant

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📸 6. Photography Tips
- Golden hours: Sunrise (6:30-7:30), Sunset (18:30-19:30)
- Outfits: Light-colored dresses/ethnic styles photograph best
- Iconic spots:
- S-curve road (Panxi Village)
- Xizhou rice fields (golden in autumn)
- Ideal Resort's white architecture
- Lakeside swings in Shuanglang

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⚠️ 7. Pro Tips
1. SUN PROTECTION! Strong UV - hats, sunglasses, sunscreen essential
2. Travel clockwise around lake (east coast best for afternoon sunsets)
3. Choose e-bikes with 100km+ battery for full circuit
4. Seagull season: November-March (Little Putuo is prime viewing)
5. Some photo spots charge fees (e.g. "sky mirror") - confirm prices first

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🚩 8. Itinerary Suggestions
【2-Day Trip】
- Day1: Ancient Town→Longkan Pier (sunrise)→Panxi S-curve→Xizhou→Haisee Park→Stay in Shuanglang
- Day2: Shuanglang→Wase→Little Putuo→Wenbi Village→Ideal Resort→Return
【3-Day In-Depth】
- Add Chongsheng Temple, Cangshan Mountain hike, Zhoucheng tie-dye experience

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Erhai's magic lies in its ever-changing beauty—morning mists, afternoon glimmers, sunset glows—every moment is worth treasuring. Pack this guide and set forth! 🌊✨

Post by KASH WALLACE | Jul 4, 2025

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