Dali is more than just the wind! The Via Ferrata at Erhai Heart is so much fun…

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Before coming to Dali, I thought I would just be zoning out by Erhai Lake and drinking coffee, but my friend dragged me to try the Via Ferrata at Erhai Heart, and it totally unlocked a "hidden level" of Dali! The location is right next to Qingshan Coffee in Haidong Town, super easy to navigate to. After parking, just a short walk to the gear area, no detours needed~
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At first, I was worried that Route A would be too difficult (I'm a complete beginner, never even tried rock climbing), but the instructor was super patient when fitting the gear. From the safety harness buckles to the helmet tightness, every step was checked very carefully. They also repeatedly taught how to grip the rock holds and how to exert force, saying "Route A is beginner-friendly, go for it with confidence." My legs did feel a bit weak on the first step up, but when I looked down and saw Erhai Lake shining like a sapphire, and the snowy peaks of Cangshan Mountain clearly in the distance, I instantly forgot my fear!
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The spacing between the rock holds is very reasonable, no need to force yourself. Following the instructor’s advice to keep your center of gravity close to the rock face, walking slowly was actually very stable. There are several viewing platforms along the way; when stopping to take photos, the wind blows past your ears, and you can see the entire coastline of Haidong, giving a more "God’s eye view" than just taking pictures by Erhai Lake! It took about 40 minutes to finish Route A, just when I was getting hooked, I turned and saw the zipline — sliding directly from the mountainside toward Erhai Lake, about 100 meters long. The moment I shouted "ah" before starting, all my stress was blown away by the wind!
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The facilities here are very complete! After climbing, you can sit down at the nearby Qingshan Coffee, order an iced Americano and a slice of tiramisu, and look at the rock wall you just climbed — the sense of accomplishment is instantly maxed out.
Also, it’s been raining often in Dali recently 🌧, so it’s not crowded here. No need to queue for gear. We went on a Monday, and from gearing up to finishing both activities, it took just over an hour, which didn’t affect our afternoon trip to Xizhou Ancient Town at all.
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I sincerely suggest that visitors to Dali don’t just focus on Huanhai West Road! The Via Ferrata Route A is beginner level 👍, girls can easily handle it, and the zipline is a great stress reliever. After playing, Erhai Lake even looks bluer~

🏠 Dali Erhai Heart Via Ferrata Extreme Challenge
📍 Qingshan Coffee, Haidong Town, Dali City

Post by Joseph_Cook68 | Oct 22, 2025