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The night view of Dali Old Town with the city gate lit, Yunnan
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Dali Travel Guide — Erhai Lake, the Cangshan range, the Three Pagodas, Xizhou and the wind, flowers, snow and moon

Dali is the old Bai capital between the Cangshan range and Erhai Lake - the land of 'wind, flowers, snow and moon' (the Xiaguan wind, the Shangguan flowers, the Cangshan snow and the Erhai moon). The old town with its Foreigner Street, the Erhai boat cruise, the Butterfly Spring, the Cangshan cableways, the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, the lakeside villages of Xizhou and Shuanglang, and the mountains of Weishan and Jizu complete the classic visit. The field guide budgets from RMB 800 for a 3-day trip. This guide carries the tickets, opening hours, phones, hotels, restaurants and transport from the guide, so you can plan it yourself or have our team arrange it end to end.

DaliErhai LakeCangshanThree PagodasXizhouShuanglangButterfly SpringBai culture
3 Days+The classic 3 days cover the old town, Erhai, the Three Pagodas, Xizhou and the Cangshan cableways
RMB 800+Hostel beds from RMB 30, courtyard rooms RMB 120-460, meals from RMB 5 per head
March-April & Oct-NovThe azaleas of spring and the clear autumn; the March Street fair runs the 15th-20th of the third lunar month
Free Booking HelpHotels, tickets & tours by our team
What's inside this guide Bucket List · Highlights · Q&A · Itineraries · Attractions · Activities · Where to Stay · Food · Getting Around · Shopping · Practical Info · Day Trips · Tips · Background · Plan Your Trip

Dali Bucket Listthe lake, the mountain, the pagodas and the old towns

01

Cruise Erhai Lake

The RMB 142 boat cruise (children half price, 09:00-17:00, tickets at Longkan, Xiaguan and Taoyuan piers) - the lake of the Bai and the Cangshan reflection.

02

Ride the Cangshan cableways

The mountain entry is RMB 30 (students RMB 15) - the Gantong (big) cableway 7 km south of the old town and the Cangshan (small) cableway west of the gate, joined by the Jade Belt Road.

03

See the Three Pagodas

The pagodas of Chongsheng Temple north of the old town - RMB 121 (students RMB 62), 08:00-19:00, +86 872 266 6346.

04

Walk Xizhou and Zhoucheng

Xizhou - the Bai courtyard houses of 'three rooms and a screen wall'; Zhoucheng - the living tie-dye village where a dyed shirt costs RMB 20-50.

05

Cycle the Erhai shore

The lakeside ride from the old town - a rented bike and an hour and a half to the water, the classic Dali afternoon.

06

See the night from the old town

The lanterns of the Foreigner Street and Renmin Road, the revived night market and the music of the old-town bars.

Top Highlightsthe wind, flowers, snow and moon

No.1Erhai Lake

Erhai Lake

The sunset light over the great lake.

No.2The Three Pagodas

The Three Pagodas

The pagodas reflected in the pond.

No.3Dali Old Town

Dali Old Town

The gate and the lanterns of the Bai capital.

No.4The lake at dawn

The lake at dawn

The first light over the Erhai shore.

Questions & Answerswhat travellers always ask about Dali

How many days do I need in Dali?

The field guide budgets from RMB 800 for 3 days - the old town and Erhai on day one, the Three Pagodas, Xizhou and Zhoucheng on day two, and the Cangshan cableways or Shuanglang on day three; a fourth adds Weishan or Jizu Mountain.

What does 'wind, flowers, snow and moon' mean?

The four signatures of Dali - the Xiaguan wind, the Shangguan flowers, the Cangshan snow and the Erhai moon; the old saying that the scenery of Yunnan is best in Dali, and the scenery of Dali best at Shuanglang.

How much is the Erhai cruise?

RMB 142 for adults, half price for children, 09:00-17:00 - tickets collected at the Longkan, Xiaguan and Taoyuan piers; the lakeside ride and the Shuanglang day are the free alternatives.

Is the Cangshan worth the cableway?

Yes - the entry is only RMB 30 (students RMB 15); the Gantong cableway and the Jade Belt Road give the mountain views and the old town far below; the small cableway starts west of the old-town gate.

What is the best season?

March-April for the azaleas and the March Street fair (15th-20th of the third lunar month); October-November for the clear skies; summer is the rainy season and winter is mild.

Where should I stay?

The old town for the night life (beds from RMB 30 at Ai Dali, rooms RMB 120-220 at the smile inns), the Erhai shore for the sunrise, and Shuanglang for the lakeside views - book ahead in season.

Can ToursChinaTravel arrange my Dali trip?

Yes - email [email protected] or message us on WhatsApp. Our team books the Erhai cruise, the cableways, the Three Pagodas tickets, the Xizhou village tours and the hotels, free of charge.

Sample Itinerariesthe old town, the lake and the pagodas

Dali 2-Day Old Town & Erhai

The Bai capital, the lake cruise and the night lanes - the essential Dali. View the plan →

Day 1

Dali Old Town - the South Gate, the Foreigner Street, Renmin Road and the revived night market, with the Three Pagodas reflected in the evening.

Day 2

The Erhai morning - the RMB 142 cruise from the piers, or the lakeside cycle ride; the afternoon at Xizhou for the Bai courtyards and the baba flatbread.

Dali 3-Day Cangshan, Xizhou & Shuanglang

The mountain, the villages and the lake - the complete portrait. View the plan →

Day 1

The Cangshan cableway and the Jade Belt Road, the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple in the afternoon, and the old-town night.

Day 2

Xizhou and Zhoucheng - the Bai courtyards, the tie-dye village and the baba flatbread, then the lakeside ride back.

Day 3

Shuanglang - the lakeside town of the 'best scenery of Dali', the Yuji Island and the Nanzhao Style Island, then the evening return to the old town.

All plans are bookable end-to-end by our team — see the full day-by-day Dali itineraries hub, or the day-trip pages for single-day options.

Top Attractionstickets, hours, transport & insider tips

Erhai Lake

Erhai Lake

The great highland lake of Dali - the RMB 142 cruise (children half price, 09:00-17:00, tickets at the Longkan, Xiaguan and Taoyuan piers); the lakeside ride and the Shuanglang day are free.

RMB 142 · 09:00-17:00 · Lake · Cruise
View details →
The Three Pagodas (Chongsheng Temple)

The Three Pagodas (Chongsheng Temple)

The pagodas of the Tang and Song dynasties north of the old town - RMB 121 (students RMB 62), 08:00-19:00; +86 872 266 6346.

RMB 121 · 08:00-19:00 · Pagodas · Temple
View details →
Cangshan Mountain

Cangshan Mountain

The mountain west of the old town - entry RMB 30 (students RMB 15); the Gantong cableway 7 km south of the old town and the small cableway west of the gate, joined by the Jade Belt Road.

RMB 30 · 08:30-16:10 · Mountain · Cableway
View details →
Butterfly Spring

Butterfly Spring

The spring below Cangshan's Yunlong Peak on the 214 road - the film location of 'Five Golden Flowers', with the Butterfly World; RMB 60, 08:30-19:00.

RMB 60 · 08:30-19:00 · Spring · Butterflies
View details →
Dali Old Town

Dali Old Town

The Bai capital - the South Gate, the Foreigner Street, Renmin Road and the night market; free to walk, and the start of the Erhai rides.

Free · All day · Old Town · Night
View details →
Xizhou

Xizhou

The Bai town of the 'three rooms and a screen wall, four courts and five patios' courtyard houses - the baba flatbread at RMB 3 and the village lanes.

Free · All day · Bai Culture · Village
View details →
Shuanglang

Shuanglang

The lakeside town of the saying 'the scenery of Dali is best at Shuanglang' - the Yuji Island (RMB 25), the Nanzhao Style Island with its 17-m white-marble Guanyin, and the lakefront cafes.

Free · All day · Lakeside · Views
View details →
Zhoucheng Tie-Dye Village

Zhoucheng Tie-Dye Village

The living tie-dye village of the Bai - the indigo workshops where a dyed shirt costs RMB 20-50 and you can try the binding yourself.

Free · Daylight hours · Tie-Dye · Craft
View details →
Weishan Mountain

Weishan Mountain

The Taoist mountain of the Dian kingdom - RMB 60, 08:00-18:00; coaches from the Xiaguan south station at RMB 18 (1.5 hours) or a hired car at RMB 150-200 (40 minutes).

RMB 60 · 08:00-18:00 · Taoism · Mountain
View details →

More in the region on the Yunnan attractions page.

Activities & Festivalsthe March Street fair, the butterfly festival and the lake

The March Street Fair

The 15th-20th of the third lunar month below Cangshan - the great Bai market with the horses, the songs and the dances.

The Butterfly Meeting

The day after the 15th of the fourth lunar month - the butterflies of the spring at the Butterfly Spring.

The Erhai night cruises

The evening cruises from the piers with the Bai songs and the lake lights.

The Bai Three-Course Tea

The 'three courses' of the Bai welcome - bitter, sweet and aftertaste, the ceremony of the old town and the Xizhou courtyards.

Where to Stayold-town courtyards, lakefront rooms and the resort hotels

Every hotel below is bookable by our team; browse the full Yunnan hotels directory.

Weixiao Kezhan (Smile Inn, Renmin Road)

The friendly courtyard at Renmin Road - RMB 120-220; +86 872 267 0565.

Weixiao Kezhan (Yinxian Road)

The quiet branch at Yinxian Road - RMB 50-150; +86 187 8723 1862.

Erhai Xinyi Guesthouse

The lakefront guesthouse - from RMB 140; +86 133 2055 0057.

Ai Dali Youth Hostel

The old-town hostel with beds from RMB 30; +86 872 247 5307.

Haiyang Lanlan

The lakeside guesthouse - beds RMB 50, rooms from RMB 140; +86 159 0872 9030.

Fenghuaxueyue Hotel

The landmark four-star of the old town - from RMB 460; +86 872 266 6666.

Lanlinge Hotel

The comfortable courtyard hotel - from RMB 380; +86 872 266 6318 / +86 872 266 6188.

Manwan Hotel

The four-star at the lakefront - from RMB 490; +86 872 218 8188.

Food & Restaurantsrushan cheese, raw pork, crossing-bridge noodles and the baba

Rushan cheese

The grilled milk-fan cheese of the Bai - the famous street snack of the old town.

Shengpi (raw pork)

The Bai raw-pork classic with the chilli dips - the famous 'hailuo' of the region, for the adventurous.

Liangji Mixian (cold chicken noodles)

The Zaihuishou shop of the old town - large RMB 6, small RMB 5, closed after 18:00; +86 872 689 5609.

Shikai's Dali Kitchen

The home-style Dali restaurant at about RMB 30 per head; +86 872 536 5356.

Jianmei Xiaochi

The small canteen at 86 Renmin Road at about RMB 35 per head - the local menu of the town.

Cang'erchun

The long-running restaurant at about RMB 40 per head; +86 872 690 0907.

Xizhou baba

The flatbread of Xizhou at RMB 3 - sweet or savoury from the village ovens.

Clay-pot fish & the three-course tea

The Erhai fish cooked in the clay pot, and the bitter-sweet-aftertaste tea of the Bai welcome.

Shopping & Souvenirsmarble, flower cakes, silver and the tie-dye

Dali marble

The marble of the region - the 'cloud' patterns of the Dali stone, carved into the panels and the ink-stones.

Flower cakes (xian hua bing)

The rose-flower pastries of Yunnan - light, sweet and the classic take-home.

Bai silver

The silver of the old town - note the white-copper imitations of the stalls; buy at the registered shops.

Tie-dye & batik

The indigo textiles of Zhoucheng and the old town - shirts from RMB 20-50 at the dye houses.

The night market of the old town

The revived night stalls of Renmin Road - the crafts, the snacks and the music.

Full local-product guides live on the Yunnan specialties page.

Getting There & Aroundby air, rail, coach, taxi and the lakeside ride

Dali Airport beside the lake - the airport bus to the old town, then taxis at RMB 7-8 for the first 3 km within the city.

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Dali Railway Station on the Kunming-Dali line - buses and taxis into the old town, about 30 minutes.

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The Dali coach terminal - Kunming coaches about 4-5 hours; the Xiaguan south station for the Weishan coaches (RMB 18).

https://media.doubao.com/space/api/box/stream/download/all_by_mount_point/G3lnbKl2fogBuUx4wAEcjM8bnab

Taxis start at RMB 7; the city buses are RMB 1-2; bicycles rent from the old town at about RMB 20-30 a day.

https://media.doubao.com/space/api/box/stream/download/all_by_mount_point/Rw10bEPvOoICXRxIdJSc1PpAn5b

The classic ride from the old town to the Erhai shore takes about an hour and a half round trip; the Shuanglang road is longer but the lakeside villages reward it.

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Day Trips From Dalithe lake, the villages and the mountains

Erhai Cruise & Lakeside Ride Day Trip

Erhai Cruise & Lakeside Ride Day Trip

The boat from the piers and the cycle of the eastern shore.

Xizhou & Zhoucheng Day Trip

Xizhou & Zhoucheng Day Trip

The Bai courtyards, the baba and the tie-dye village of the north.

Weishan & Jizu Mountain Day Trip

Weishan & Jizu Mountain Day Trip

The Taoist mountain or the Buddhist peak beyond the lake.

Travel Tipsthings to remember

The wind of Xiaguan

The famous wind blows hardest in spring - carry a light scarf and sunglasses for the lakefront.

Silver and the white-copper trick

The stalls sell 'silver' that is often white copper - buy at the registered shops of the old town and ask for the receipt.

The old town is small

Everything of the old town is walkable - the Foreigner Street, Renmin Road and the gates are minutes apart.

Book the lakefront in season

Shuanglang and the Erhai shore fill in May, October and the holidays - book the lakefront rooms ahead.

The Bai tea has three courses

The welcome tea is bitter, then sweet, then aftertaste - the ceremony of the courtyards, worth sitting through.

Rent the bike early

The RMB 20-30 rentals go early - the lakeside ride is best started before the noon heat.

Practical Informationbanks, hospitals, emergencies and local help

Chongsheng Temple (Three Pagodas)

The pagoda tickets and information: +86 872 266 6346.

Dali tourism complaint line

The official complaints line of Dali.

Phone: Not published

Dali airport

The airport information for the flights and the airport buses.

Phone: Not published

Dali railway station

The station information for the Kunming-Dali trains.

Phone: Not published

The old-town medical point

The clinic of the old town for the minor ailments.

Phone: Not published

Background & Historythe Bai capital of the Dian kingdom

The old kingdom

Dali was the capital of the Nanzhao and Dali kingdoms from the 8th to the 13th centuries - the pagodas and the temples date from those dynasties.

The Bai people

The Bai of Dali keep the courtyard architecture, the tie-dye, the three-course tea and the festivals of the region - the March Street fair is their great annual market.

Wind, flowers, snow and moon

The Xiaguan wind, the Shangguan flowers, the Cangshan snow and the Erhai moon - the four signatures that the Bai have carried in their poetry for centuries.

The film town

The Butterfly Spring became famous through the 1959 film 'Five Golden Flowers' - the song of the film still opens the tourist brochures.

Plan Your Dali Tripattractions, hotels, flights and specialties — all in one place

Everything on ToursChinaTravel is bookable through our team by email or WhatsApp. Here's where each part of your Dali trip lives on the site.

Yunnan Attractions

Yunnan Attractions

Star-rated sight details — hours, tickets, phones and tips for every Yunnan attraction.

Browse Yunnan sights
Dali Hotels

Dali Hotels

Star-rated hotels across Yunnan — sorted by rating, all bookable by our team.

Book a Yunnan hotel
Flights & Trains

Flights & Trains

Routes, airlines and schedules for flights and rail to Dali.

See China flights
Yunnan Specialties

Yunnan Specialties

Local products, crafts and foods of Yunnan — where to find each one.

Browse Yunnan specialties
Yunnan Travel Agencies

Yunnan Travel Agencies

Licensed agencies with addresses, phones and booking contacts.

Find a Yunnan agency
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More China Travel Guides

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