Healing Dali Travel Guide

1. Accommodation Recommendations – Immersive Experience of Cangshan Mountains and Erhai Lake
1. Suyin Countryside Designer Homestay (Caicun Village)
• Highlights: Standalone field-view room (Room 101 is the top pick), 60㎡ smart home, terrace with panoramic views of Cangshan and Erhai, includes breakfast + afternoon tea; 20-minute walk to Erhai Ecological Corridor, night e-bike rides through rice fields for an immersive "Rice Fragrance" MV vibe.
• Extended stay tip: 3-4 nights, weekly discounts available (~¥150-200/night per person).
• Nearby: Xiajiyi Village Market (fruits/halal snacks), stroll village paths for cloud-watching.

2. Haiyu No.1 Seaview Homestay (West Erhai Road)
• Highlights: Ocean views right outside your window, garden leading straight to Erhai, better value than Old Town options (peak season: ¥500-800/night); recommended for just 1 night to avoid visual fatigue.

2. Itinerary – Nature and Culture Intertwined
Day 1: Kunming Layover (Deep Dive into Dianchi Lake)
• Stay: High-rise lakeside hotel (e.g., Dianchi Resort) with lake + city views, walk to Dounan Flower Market (Asia's largest, best visited at night).
• Activities: Cable car across Dianchi to Xishan Mountain, hike Longmen Grottoes; must-try dinner dishes: Xuanwei stir-fried pork, fried ribs, and stir-fried "water spinach" (Kunming home-style classics).
• Transport: Kunming Station → Dali Station (2hr high-speed rail, ¥140).

Day 2: Light Cangshan Hike + Old Town Vibes
• Morning: E-bike from homestay to Zhonghe Cableway (20min from Caicun), arrive by 9am to skip crowds! Ride up for alpine flora + Erhai panoramas, optional Yudai Road hike downhill.
• Afternoon: Food hunt in Dali Old Town → Yangji Clay Pot Rice Noodles (Renmin Road, rich broth + generous toppings).
• Evening: Return for sunset rice field cycling, watch twilight paint Cangshan.

Day 3: West Erhai Cycling (Ecological Corridor Hidden Gems)
• Route: Caicun Pier → Xizhou (12km one-way), rent e-bikes inside corridor (¥20/hr), stop at Xiajiyi Wetlands (serene + uncrowded) and ancient banyan tree photo ops.
• Pro tip: Full sun protection! Long sleeves + face cover + gloves (extreme UV); Xizhou is skippable – rice fields pale vs. homestay surroundings.
• Dinner: Wild mushroom hotpot near Suyin Homestay (July = fresh matsutake season).

Day 4: Niaodiaoshan Alpine Meadow Trek
• Tour: Group day trip (~¥200/person, includes pickup/guide), depart 7am (2hr drive); light 5km hike through flower meadows + streams, optional horseback return.
• Gear: Light down jacket (windy summit), trekking poles, high-energy snacks.
• Evening: Soak in tub post-7pm return.

Day 5: Overnight in Shaxi Ancient Town (Where Dreams Meet filming location)
• Transport: Carpool to Shaxi (¥80/person, 2hr), stay at A Cloud Homestay (tranquil courtyard, ¥200-300).
• Return: Book carpool back to Dali 1 day ahead.

Day 6: Dali City Walk
• Morning: Switch to Haiyu No.1, lounge by window or coastal stroll.
• Afternoon: Taxi to Longwei Pass (Nanzhao-era gateway), café balcony for old-street people-watching; 1hr walk to Shengxing Bridge (European arches, epic sunset) – arrive by 5pm.

Day 7: Departure
• Transport: Stay near Dali Station (e.g., Dali Yunzhu Hotel), 10min to gates.