Welcome! Here is the ultimate guide to Dali, Yunnan for you to check out

Hey guys👋, who knows! Dali is truly the poetry and distant dream of your heart. It’s like a slowly unfolding landscape painting, each frame breathtakingly beautiful. Here you’ll find the sapphire-blue Erhai Lake, the majestic and elegant Cangshan Mountain, and the ancient town full of lively local life. Follow this guide and start your romantic journey in Dali!

Itinerary📅

Day 1: Dali Ancient Town → Foreigner Street → Renmin Road

● Morning: After arriving in Dali, check into your booked guesthouse and take a good rest to relieve travel fatigue. Then take a leisurely walk into Dali Ancient Town to feel the charm of this thousand-year-old city. The architecture is full of Bai ethnic characteristics, with blue tiles, white walls, flying eaves, and dougong brackets, each corner revealing the weight and history of the past.

● Noon: Find a specialty restaurant inside the ancient town to taste authentic Dali cuisine, such as po su baba (crispy pastry), cold chicken rice noodles, and er si (rice noodles).

● Afternoon: Visit Foreigner Street, where there are many unique shops, cafes, and bars. You can hunt for interesting souvenirs or sit down for a coffee and enjoy a relaxing time. Then head to Renmin Road to experience the artistic atmosphere; you might even catch a wonderful street performance.

● Evening: Have dinner inside the ancient town and enjoy the night view. The brightly lit streets offer a unique charm.

Day 2: Erhai Ecological Corridor → Xizhou Ancient Town → Shuanglang Ancient Town

● Morning: Rent a bicycle or electric bike and ride along the Erhai Ecological Corridor🚲, admiring the lake and mountain scenery of Erhai. The scenery along the way is picturesque, with sparkling lake water and the rolling Cangshan Mountains in the distance, refreshing your mind and spirit.

● Noon: Ride to Xizhou Ancient Town and try Xizhou baba, a baked wheat flour cake available in sweet and savory flavors, crispy and delicious.

● Afternoon: Continue to Shuanglang Ancient Town, an excellent spot to view Erhai Lake. You can stroll by the lakeside to enjoy the beautiful scenery or visit Nanzhao Style Island to experience the rich Nanzhao culture.

● Evening: Stay overnight at a lakeside inn in Shuanglang Ancient Town and fall asleep to the sound of the waves.

Day 3: Cangshan Mountain → Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils Film Studio

● Morning: Take the Cangshan cable car🚠 to the top of Cangshan Mountain for a panoramic view of Dali. The mountain is rich in vegetation, with fresh air and many rare plants and animals. You can walk along the mountain trails and enjoy the natural scenery.

● Noon: Have lunch at a mountain restaurant and taste some wild mountain flavors.

● Afternoon: Head to the Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils Film Studio, the filming location of the TV series "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils." Experience martial arts culture here and watch exciting martial arts performances, as if you’ve traveled back to that martial arts world.

● Evening: Return to downtown Dali for dinner and end a wonderful day.

Food Recommendations😋

● Po Su Baba: Crispy on the outside, soft and glutinous inside, both sweet and savory flavors are worth trying.

● Xizhou Baba: A specialty of Xizhou, crispy and delicious, a must-eat in Dali.

● Er Si: Made from rice, soft and glutinous in texture, paired with various seasonings and side dishes, very tasty.

● Sour and Spicy Fish: Made from fresh fish from Erhai Lake, tender fish meat with a sour and spicy flavor that whets the appetite.

● Grilled Milk Fan: A dairy product shaped like a fan, crispy and sweet after grilling.

Accommodation Suggestions🏨

● Inside Dali Ancient Town: Convenient for travel, surrounded by many delicious food options, and you can enjoy the ancient town’s night view. Choose guesthouses with Bai ethnic characteristics to experience the local cultural atmosphere.

● Shuanglang Ancient Town: Sea view rooms are a highlight here, allowing you to admire Erhai Lake’s beauty from your bed. However, prices are relatively high, so book in advance.

Transportation Guide🚗

● External transportation: You can arrive in Dali by plane, train, or bus. Dali has an airport and a train station, making transportation very convenient.

● Internal transportation: There are buses in Dali city that reach various attractions, but the frequency may not be very high. You can also take taxis or rent cars for convenience and speed. If you want to enjoy cycling, you can rent a bicycle or electric bike.

Notes⚠️

● The UV rays in Dali are strong, so be sure to take sun protection measures and bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sun hat.

● The ecological environment of Erhai Lake is fragile; please protect the environment and do not litter.

● Pay attention to safety while cycling and obey traffic rules.

Guys, the beauty of Dali needs to be experienced in person. Hurry up, pack your bags, and start this romantic journey in Dali! You will surely fall in love with this charming city💕.