Dreamy Yunnan, a land of diversity
by Hannah Ramirez
Jan 25, 2024
When the clouds of Cangshan fall into the embrace of Erhai Lake, and the ancient city's ginkgo trees gild the blue stone paths, autumn in Dali gently sketches a poetic scene of wind, flowers, snow, and moonlight. From September to November, this thousand-year-old ancient city enters its most pleasant season—golden rice fields, translucent clouds, mountains and sea embracing, all your distant dreams come true here.
📍 Five Autumn Secret Spots ❶ Erhai Ecological Corridor "Oil Painting Gallery" 🚴 Cycling experience: 23 km barrier-free path through golden rice fields 📸 Perfect photo spot: Wait for the "Jesus rays" at Caicun Pier at 7 AM 🐦 Special spectacle: Siberian red-billed gulls arrive in late October as the advance team
❷ Cangshan Jade Belt Road "Cloud Walk" 🍁 Autumn color index: Late October from Ximatan to Gantong, the forest is ablaze with color 🚠 Lazy option: Take the Gantong cable car for a panoramic view of the hundred-mile Erhai 🧺 Picnic recommendation: Enjoy a Bai-style bamboo basket lunch at Zhonghe Temple platform
❸ Xizhou Ancient Town "Rice Field Concert" 🌾 Golden ocean: October rice field café offers limited-time "Rice Fragrance Latte" 🎵 Rural notes: Field jazz nights every Wednesday and Saturday at Zhou Café 🎨 Handmade experience: Join the autumn plant dyeing class at the Blue Continuation Tie-Dye Workshop
❹ Jizhao Nunnery "Zen Autumn" 🍵 Buddhist time: Taste Cangshan snow tea in the succulent courtyard and admire century-old ginkgo 🥗 Vegetarian legend: Line up at 11:30 for the "best vegetarian meal" 📿 Spiritual healing: Participate in morning chanting and pick wild autumn fruits with the master
❺ Shaxi Ancient Town "Time Capsule" 🐎 Tea Horse Road legacy: Buy freshly harvested walnuts from Yi villagers on Friday market day 🌌 Stargazing: Autumn constellation identification event by Yujin Bridge 🏮 Secret feast: Bai family dinner "Eight Bowls and Three Dishes" by reservation at Ouyang Courtyard
📅 Dali Autumn Festivals ▪️ September: Erhai Opening Festival (Millennium fishing lights reappear) ▪️ October: Bai Harvest Festival (Three Spirits folk activities) ▪️ November: Wuwei Temple Ginkgo Festival (Millennium ancient tree leaf-falling celebration)
🍁 Limited Flavors 🔸 Roushan Autumn Pear Roll: Fresh roushan wrapped in snow pear and baked 🔸 Erhai Osmanthus Fish: Fishermen’s fresh catch steamed with Cangshan wild honey 🔸 Yangbi Walnut Paste: Walnuts from century-old trees ground on site 🔸 Xizhou Crispy Baba: Autumn limited rose brown sugar filling
🏡 Autumn Stays ✅ By Erhai: Mingyue Songjian·Erhai (Terrace for gull watching) ✅ In the rice fields: Xilinyuan·Rice Field Branch (Window view of Cangshan) ✅ Inside the ancient city: Jixia Mountain·Dali (Immersive cultural experience)
📸 Photo Guide ▪️ Ethnic style: Rent Bai costumes and shoot in Zhou Ancient Courtyard ▪️ Cinematic feel: Shoot the "Heavenly Road" to Erhai on Hongsheng Road ▪️ Cultural lens: Early market scenes capturing local elders with bamboo baskets
💡 Helpful Tips ❗ Day-night temperature difference: Bring a light down jacket (summer clothes at noon/winter clothes early and late) ❗ Upgraded sun protection: UV index remains high, SPF50+ needed ❗ Travel tip: Rent new energy vehicles (easy charging around the lake) ❗ Cultural etiquette: Do not step on thresholds or point at statues in temples
🌾 When the autumn wind stirs waves in the rice fields, you will understand—every journey is to find your own poetry and distant place between Cang and Erhai.
Post by NebulaRadiance | Oct 7, 2025























