Dali, Yunnan

Dali, a place of wind, flowers, snow, and moon, boasts a bright blue sky, clear Erhai Lake, majestic Cangshan Mountain, and a charming ancient town, each radiating unique charm😉. Here is a detailed travel guide to Dali to help you fully enjoy its beauty.

Best Travel Time

- March to May: Late winter to early spring, comfortable temperatures, cherry blossoms and rapeseed flowers in full bloom, a great season for flower viewing.
- September to November: Crisp autumn air, clear blue skies, avoiding the summer peak season, offering a better travel experience.

Transportation Guide

- External Transport: You can choose to fly to Dali Airport or take a train to Dali Station, both are convenient.
- Internal Transport: In the ancient town and along the lakeside roads, you can rent shared bicycles or electric scooters; for groups, renting a car or chartering a vehicle is more convenient and flexible.

Must-Visit Attractions

- Dali Ancient Town: Free to enter, featuring bluestone paths and buildings with upturned eaves. During the day, stroll to enjoy the tranquility; at dusk, find a café on Renmin Road to watch the sunset; at night, the Foreigner Street is lively with various hand drum shops, small bars, and unique cultural and creative stores.
- Erhai Lake: One of the four famous scenic spots of wind, flowers, snow, and moon. It is recommended to tour around the lake. You can drive or cycle, passing through Panxi Village’s S Bay, an excellent cycling spot with a “road on the sea” feel; also visit Xizhou Ancient Town and Shuanglang Ancient Town to enjoy different views of Erhai Lake.
- Cangshan Mountain: Take a cable car up the mountain. For the physically fit, choose the Ximatan Cableway, which reaches 3,900 meters altitude to see alpine rhododendrons and glacial relics; for a relaxed trip, take the Gantong Cableway directly to Qingbixi. The Jizhao Nunnery on the mountain is a popular “succulent temple” and offers vegetarian meals.
- Shuanglang Ancient Town: Stay in a lakeside room, watch the sunrise over Erhai Lake from Yujidao Island in the early morning, and visit the external views of the “Sun Palace” and “Moon Palace.” The unbeatable scenery here lets you feel the peaceful leisure of a paradise.

Food Recommendations

- Grilled Milk Fan: Sprinkled with rose sugar, rich milky flavor, recommended at “Yang Ji Milk Fan” (Renmin Road branch).
- Erkuai Baba: Wrapped with fried dough sticks and fermented bean curd, crispy and delicious, sold at small stalls near the ancient town gate.
- Xizhou Baba: Available in sweet (red bean paste filling) and savory (minced meat filling) flavors, freshly baked and very fragrant, can be bought at shops near Sifang Street.
- Erhai Claypot Fish: Made with fresh Erhai fish, the soup is fresh and flavorful, best tasted at local-frequented restaurants in Shuanglang Ancient Town.

Accommodation Recommendations

- Near Dali Ancient Town: Convenient for travel, many hostels and guesthouses, prices range from 50-200 RMB/night. Recommended: “Dali Ancient Town No.1 Courtyard” (mid-to-high end), “Dali Canghai Mizong Inn” (cost-effective).
- Shuanglang Ancient Town or Panxi Village: Facing Erhai Lake directly, lakeside rooms range from 200-500 RMB/night. Recommended: “Shuanglang Banyue Tolan Waterscape Elegant Courtyard,” with strong design sense.
- Shaxi Ancient Town: More niche and quiet, many guesthouses are renovated old courtyards, 100-200 RMB/night. “Shaxi Mabao Courtyard” is worth staying at.

Notes

- Don’t trust “low-price Erhai Lake charter cars,” many drivers may take you to shopping spots to earn kickbacks.
- There are many silverware shops in Dali Ancient Town; items claiming to be “pure silver” may be fake. When buying souvenirs, choose small accessories.
- If you want a follow-shoot in Shuanglang, ask in advance whether retouching is included and if all original photos are provided to avoid extra charges later.