Follow the Lonely Planet photographer to shoot Dali and get flooded with questions on WeChat Moments

Who understands! Following the Lonely Planet photographer’s secret guide to explore Dali, every photo looks like a magazine spread—morning mist over the rice fields in Xizhou, the blue hour in Shuanglang, the century-old theater stage in Shaxi Ancient Town, even locals ask me about it! This guide includes the best shooting times and prop preparation, so even beginners can take professional-level photos!

📅 Dali 3 days 2 nights in-depth travel guide

Day 1: Xizhou Ancient Town + Haishi Ecological Area · Enjoy countryside and culture

- Morning: 7:00-8:30 walk the rice field path beside Xilin Garden, where morning mist wraps golden rice waves, every shot looks like a pastoral painting (wear light-colored clothes for better photos); at 9:00 visit Xizhou Ancient Town, stroll through the back alley of Yan Family Courtyard, see the Bai ethnic “Three Lanes and One Wall” architecture, and order a cup of three-course tea at the corner old teahouse to slowly savor Bai culture.
- Noon: Head straight to the local favorite "Lao Li’s Restaurant," must-order are sour and spicy fish, water spinach with flowers, and Rushan Sachima, avoid the main street’s trendy shops for better value.
- Afternoon: At 15:00 check in at Haishi Ecological Area, stroll under the Couple Trees to enjoy the shade, step on the soft mud at the Erhai shallow beach (wear non-slip shoes), watch Cangshan Mountains reflected on the lake, and casually take a healing photo of yourself with the lake view.
- Evening: After 18:30 visit Xizhou Lantern Street, warm yellow lanterns hang all along the street, use your phone’s night mode to capture the street scene, the atmosphere is perfect.

Day 2: Shuanglang Ancient Town + Around Erhai Lake · Enjoy lake views and sunset

- Morning: According to sunrise time (about 6:30-7:00), go to the viewing platform beside the “Sun Palace” on Yujidao Island to watch the sun rise from behind Cangshan, casting golden light on Erhai; at 9:30 visit Shuanglang, enjoy the lake view at the entrance of “Dali’s Little Courtyard,” or go to a lakeside café (recommend “Yunhe Zhu”), order a coffee and enjoy the view of Cangshan and Erhai while sipping.
- Noon: Eat fresh Erhai seafood at "Fishermen’s Home," boiled shrimp and claypot fish are fresh and authentic, ask prices in advance to avoid being overcharged.
- Afternoon: Rent an electric bike (choose one with over 100 km range, 50 RMB/day) and ride along Erhai West Road towards Wase, passing Wenbi Village’s S-bend, Xiaoputuo shallow beach, and Wase Pier, stop anytime to enjoy the scenery, take a side profile photo while cycling, natural and leisurely.
- Evening: Before 18:30 arrive at the railing beside the “Nanzhao Style Island” pier in Shuanglang, wait for the “blue hour” (30 minutes before sunset), the sky and Erhai turn light blue, use your phone’s low exposure to take a silhouette photo, very artistic.

Day 3: Shaxi Ancient Town · Seek a thousand years of slow time

- Morning: Drive 2.5 hours from Shuanglang or carpool (about 50 RMB per person) to Shaxi, at 8:30 see the ancient theater stage in the town center, wooden carved beams full of history; at 11:00 visit Yujin Bridge, step on the stone bridge with century-old horseshoe prints, watch the quiet flow of Heihui River.
- Noon: Eat farmhouse dishes at "Shaxi People’s Home," fresh chicken soup and fragrant stir-fried cured meat, 3 dishes for 2 people is enough to avoid waste.
- Afternoon: At 15:00 visit Shaxi Pioneer Bookstore, read in the space converted from an old granary, or order a coffee and sit by the window, take a photo with the bookshelf, artistic and quiet; around 17:00 return and end the trip.

⚠️ Travel & Photography Pitfall Avoidance Guide

1. Avoid crowded trendy photo spots: like Shuanglang’s “Haidi Life” white tables and chairs, which require queuing and spending money; better to go to less popular spots like Yujidao Island and Haishi Ecological Area, fewer people and beautiful scenery.
2. Don’t buy scenic photography props: paid scarecrows in Xizhou rice fields and glass balls in Shuanglang (20-50 RMB each) are unnecessary; bring your own straw hat and rattan umbrella for more natural and cost-saving photos.
3. Avoid shooting at noon: 12-14 o’clock sunlight is harsh, people look dark with shadows; 7-9 and 15-19 o’clock have soft light, good for both scenery and portraits.
4. Don’t overuse filters: Dali’s sky and lake are naturally beautiful, use your phone’s built-in “vivid” or “landscape” mode, excessive filters cause distortion.
5. Ride safely: wear a helmet when renting an electric bike (traffic police check), when taking photos on the lakeside road, make sure no vehicles are coming before stopping to avoid danger.

The beauty of Dali is hidden in the morning mist over Xizhou’s rice fields, the shimmering waves of Erhai in Shuanglang, and the thousand-year-old bridges of Shaxi. This trip doesn’t need to be rushed; walk slowly, look slowly, you can feel the romance of wind, flowers, snow, and moon, and gain healing memories. Hope you find your own leisurely time here.