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Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple below the Cangshan mountains, Dali

Dali

大理 · Dàlǐ

Erhai Lake, Bai villages and a laid-back old town.

2–3Days
Mar–May, Sep–NovBest time
66Foreigner-friendliness

Photo: Jason Zhang · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Best time to visit

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

From the airport or station to the city

Where you land, the ways into the city centre, how long each takes and what it costs.

From Dali Railway Station (Xiaguan)

大理站

  • BusTime40–60 minCost¥2–3

    City bus 8 to the Old Town, about every 10 minutes. The station is in Xiaguan, the modern city, about 15 km south of the Old Town. High-speed trains from Kunming take about 2 hours.

  • TaxiTime25–35 minCost¥40–60

    Taxi rank or DiDi at the station. Ignore touts in the arrivals hall.

From Dali Airport (DLU)

大理凤仪机场

  • BusTime60–90 minCost¥25

    Airport shuttle bus to the Old Town, roughly every 30 minutes until about 20:00.

  • TaxiTime45–55 minCost¥90–130

    Taxi or DiDi. The airport is east of Xiaguan, about 30 km from the Old Town.

Getting around

“Dali” means two places: Xiaguan, the modern city where trains arrive, and Dali Old Town (Dali Gucheng), 15 km north, where most visitors stay. The Old Town is walkable. For the lake and villages use DiDi, local buses, or rent a bicycle. Private e-bikes and cars are not allowed on the Erhai lakeside corridor; use the shared bikes and e-bikes at the entrances.

Book these before you fly

These sights need a reservation with your passport. Walk-ups are usually turned away.

Top sights

South Gate tower and city wall of Dali Old Town大理古城Dali Old TownA walled Ming-era town of stone streets, Bai-style gates and streams running down from the mountains.Half a day to a full dayLakeside path of the Erhai ecological corridor with hills beyond洱海生态廊道Cycling the Erhai Lake corridorA car-free lakeside path on Erhai’s western shore, through fields and Bai fishing villages.Half a dayThe Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple under a blue sky崇圣寺三塔Three Pagodas of Chongsheng TempleThree white pagodas, the tallest over 1,100 years old, with a huge rebuilt temple behind.Booking recommended2–3 hoursChairlift climbing Cangshan Mountain above the Dali plain苍山感通索道Cangshan Mountain cable carsRide up the mountains behind Dali to the Jade Belt Road, a level cliffside trail with lake views.Booking recommendedHalf a day to a full dayMemorial archway and Bai-style buildings in Xizhou old town喜洲古镇Xizhou villageA living Bai town of merchant mansions, rice fields and the famous Xizhou baba flatbread.Half a dayBai tie-dyed cloths hanging in Dali (illustrative, not Zhoucheng)周城扎染Zhoucheng tie-dye villageThe largest Bai village, where families still make indigo tie-dye by hand.1–2 hoursLakeside guesthouses and moored boats at Shuanglang on Erhai Lake双廊古镇ShuanglangA fishing town on Erhai’s east shore, now full of lake-view guesthouses and cafés.Half a day, or stay a nightGongchen Tower, the red gate tower at the heart of Weishan Old Town巍山古城Weishan Old TownA quiet, lived-in old town south of Xiaguan, the birthplace of the Nanzhao kingdom, with famous local snacks.Day tripMain hall of the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture Museum大理白族自治州博物馆Dali Prefecture MuseumA free museum in Xiaguan on Bai culture and the Nanzhao and Dali kingdoms, with Buddhist statues, bronzes and carved stone.Booking recommended1.5–2 hoursEntrance stone of Butterfly Spring at the foot of the Cangshan mountains蝴蝶泉Butterfly SpringA clear spring under an old tree at the foot of Cangshan, made famous by a Bai love story and a classic 1959 film.1–2 hoursView across Erhai Lake from Erhai Park toward Xiaguan洱海公园Erhai Park (Tuanshan)A free hillside park at the southern tip of Erhai in Xiaguan, with viewing platforms over the lake and the Cangshan range.1–1.5 hoursXiaoputuo, a tiny temple islet in Erhai Lake小普陀Xiaoputuo isletA tiny rock islet off Erhai’s east shore topped by a two-storey Guanyin pavilion, a classic photo stop on the east-shore loop.30–45 minutesJinding Temple and its white pagoda on the summit of Jizu Mountain鸡足山Jizu Mountain (Chicken Foot Mountain)A Buddhist pilgrimage mountain north-east of Dali, with forest temples and the Jinding Temple pagoda on the 3,248 m summit.Booking recommendedFull day (or overnight)Old theatre stage and wooden houses on Sideng Square in Shaxi沙溪古镇（寺登街）Shaxi Ancient TownA quiet Bai farming town on the old Tea Horse Road, whose Sideng Street is the only surviving caravan market square, with a Qing-dynasty opera stage and the Ming-era Xingjiao Temple.1–2 days (best with an overnight stay)新华村（银都水乡）Xinhua silversmith villageA Bai village in Heqing where families have hammered silver for over 500 years; the craft is national intangible heritage and you can watch smiths at work in open workshops.2–3 hours海舌生态公园Haishe Park (the “Sea Tongue”)A narrow, wooded spit of land reaching into Erhai near Xizhou, with reed beds, clear water and some of the widest views of the lake and Cangshan.Booking required1.5–2 hoursTaoist gateway with yin-yang paving on Weibao Mountain巍宝山Weibao MountainA forested Taoist mountain near Weishan with more than twenty Ming and Qing temples along a stone path, linked in legend to the founding of the Nanzhao kingdom.Half a dayBuddhist niche carvings in the Shizhong Temple grottoes at Shibaoshan石宝山（石钟寺石窟）Shibaoshan GrottoesA forested red-sandstone mountain above Shaxi with Buddhist cave carvings from the Nanzhao and Dali kingdoms at Shizhong Temple, plus cliff-hugging Baoxiang Temple.Booking recommendedHalf a dayLuoquan Pagoda on its hilltop above Erhai Lake罗荃半岛Luoquan PeninsulaA small peninsula on Erhai’s east shore with Luoquan Temple, the Tianjing Pavilion and a pagoda you can ride up for a view across the lake to Cangshan and the Old Town.1–1.5 hours

Map

Further out, not on this map: Shaxi Ancient Town, Xinhua silversmith village, Shibaoshan Grottoes

What to eat here

喜洲粑粑Xizhou baba flatbreadCrisp wheat flatbread baked between two charcoal fires, sweet (rose sugar) or savoury (pork and scallion).
乳扇Rushan (grilled milk fan)Thin sheets of Bai cheese, grilled on a stick and brushed with rose jam or condensed milk.
酸辣鱼Sour and spicy Erhai fishBai-style fish stewed in a clay pot with sour papaya, chilli and herbs.
饵丝Ersi rice noodlesFlat noodles cut from pounded rice cake, served in broth or stir-fried; a local breakfast.
雕梅Carved plumsGreen plums carved into lace-like spirals and candied in honey; a traditional Bai sweet.

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Routes that include Dali

Black Dragon Pool with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain behind, LijiangKunming → Dali → LijiangYunnan: Kunming, Dali and Lijiang in 8 daysSpring-like weather, old towns, Erhai Lake and snow mountains, with minority cultures all along the way.8 days · best Mar–May, Sep–Nov

Nearby cities

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Green Lake (Cuihu) Park in Kunming under blue sky1–2 daysKunming昆明Mild weather all year and the gateway to Yunnan.good all year
Dai-style Buddhist temple hall in Manting Park, Jinghong2–3 daysXishuangbanna西双版纳Tropical rainforest, Dai culture and the Mekong.best Nov–Mar
Jiaxiu Pavilion on the Nanming River in central Guiyang2–3 daysGuiyang贵阳Gateway to Huangguoshu Waterfall, Miao villages and the karst hills of Guizhou.best Apr–Oct

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