Dali Erhai Lake｜Lying on the balcony to watch the sunrise! This seaside guesthouse hides a private no-queue photo spot

I had often heard people say that the guesthouses by Dali Erhai Lake are “full of deceptive photos.” During the May Day holiday, I booked a room with a try-it-out attitude. It wasn’t until the car turned into a small alley in Caicun Village and I saw the little garden facing Erhai Lake at the entrance of "Huazhu・Shanhai Yiyu" that I finally felt at ease🌿. After staying for three days, I found that this place not only didn’t disappoint but also hid many small details that were even more surprising than expected — it’s the kind of place where you don’t have to rush your itinerary and can comfortably sit on the balcony all afternoon.

🌊 Key points first: Why choose it?
✅ Zero distance to Erhai Lake: Right downstairs is the ecological corridor. You can walk to the lakeside in slippers in the morning. The breeze carries the crisp lake water scent, which feels much more real than “seeing the sea” from a few streets away in the old town.
✅ Exclusive photo spots: The Bai-style white table, transparent hanging chair, and sky mirror at the entrance don’t require queuing like other popular spots. You can take photos however you want. When you open panorama mode, Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake fit perfectly in the frame📷.
✅ Super close to the old town: It’s only about 3 km to Dali Old Town, a taxi costs around 10 yuan. After a tiring afternoon of sightseeing, you can return to the guesthouse early to rest; it’s just a 10-minute ride to Longkan Pier, so you don’t waste time on the road.
✅ Thoughtful details: There’s a 24-hour butler service. When we rented a car and didn’t know the route, the butler even drew us a map; free bicycles and parking spaces are provided. Friends with kids said if you inform them in advance, they can prepare children’s supplies, which is very reassuring❤️.

🏡 Rooms: Every room is a “sea view center stage”
I booked a 40㎡ boutique sea view twin room. The moment I opened the door, I couldn’t help but say “wow” —
▪️ The extra-large floor-to-ceiling balcony faces Erhai Lake directly, furnished with rattan chairs and a small table. In the morning, when sunlight wakes you up and Cangshan Mountain is still shrouded in mist, sitting in the chair with a cup of hot tea makes even breathing feel sweet. That kind of comfort is something you can never find in the city☕.
▪️ The room features a wooden Chinese style with a textured feel and a special wooden barrel bathtub. At night, you can see the stars outside the window while soaking, which is very healing. The facilities are complete, including 24-hour hot water, a hairdryer, umbrella, and LCD TV. The only minor downside is that the bathroom doesn’t have a dry-wet separation, but after staying a while, it doesn’t really matter because everything else is so comfortable✨.
▪️ There are many room options. If you come with girlfriends, you can choose the hammock room to lie down and sway while watching the sea; family suites are spacious enough for kids and have special children’s beds; tatami rooms are cozy too. No matter which you choose, you’ll get a nice sea view.

🍜 Food: Eat your fill of Yunnan flavors at the guesthouse
Originally, I planned to find a restaurant outside on the first day, but after eating at the guesthouse, I didn’t want to move —
▪️ The chef used to work at a star-rated restaurant and makes very authentic Yunnan dishes. The stir-fried cured meat with water spinach is a must-order, so fresh you could eat an extra bowl of rice; the sour and spicy fish and wild mushroom chicken stew are also amazing. The four of us ordered three dishes and ended up so full we could barely move. It only cost about 50 yuan per person, which is cheaper and tastier than outside restaurants😋.
▪️ Breakfast is included every day, featuring Bai rice noodles, mixed grain porridge, and freshly baked small steamed buns. If you don’t want to get up, you can order room service and enjoy your meal on the balcony while watching Erhai Lake, which brightens your whole day.
▪️ There’s free afternoon tea with Yunnan small bean coffee and flower cakes. Chatting with friends while feeling the lake breeze, that slow pace is what travel should be like🌸.

🚴 How to have fun nearby?
Ride the ecological corridor: The guesthouse offers free bicycles. You can ride from Caicun to Longkan Pier, passing through the wetland park. In spring, you’ll see vast fields of rapeseed flowers, which look especially beautiful when the wind blows.
Watch the sunrise early morning: The rooms face east, so you don’t have to get up early and squeeze for a spot like at Longkan. Just set up a phone stand on the balcony, and you can capture a sunrise like an “orange sea.” The sunlight sparkling on the lake is especially healing.
Visit Dali Old Town: After 4 p.m., it’s not sunny anymore. Stroll along Renmin Road, eat grilled milk fan cheese, and drink papaya sour soup. Return to the guesthouse early at night to see a sky full of stars, which is much more comfortable than squeezing into the old town to watch the night view.
Off-the-beaten-path experience: In the evening, follow the guesthouse butler to the lakeside to see local residents fishing in small boats. That slow lifestyle feels more authentic than checking in at tourist spots.

📍 Practical information
▪️ Name: Dali Shanhai Yiyu Seaview Hotel (Erhai Caicun Scenic Area Branch)
▪️ Address: No. 209, Group 4, Fengnan Village, Xiaoyizhuang, Caicun, Dali Town (Navigation works directly, parking available at the entrance)

💡 Honest thoughts after staying
I used to want to visit all the attractions when traveling, but staying at this guesthouse in Dali made me realize that sometimes “slowing down” is more comfortable. No need to rush the itinerary, just watch the sea from the balcony, eat authentic Yunnan dishes at the guesthouse, and take lakeside walks in the evening. This relaxed feeling was the most unexpected gain of my Dali trip.
When leaving, the butler even gave me flower cakes as a parting gift, which was very heartwarming. Next time I come to Dali, I will definitely choose this place again. I want to try the hammock room and learn to cook stir-fried cured meat with the chef to make up for what I didn’t experience this time. Sometimes, the joy of travel really lies in a comfortable guesthouse like this🥰.