River Wonders Stunning Scenery

—— Circle Erhai Lake, climb Cangshan Mountain, explore the ancient city, enjoy a Bai ethnic style slow life for about 3500 RMB per person!

📅 Itinerary Overview
Theme: Erhai Lake Circuit + Cangshan Hiking + Ancient City Exploration
Suitable for: Couples / Photography Enthusiasts / Artsy Youth
Budget Allocation: Transportation 35% + Accommodation 30% + Food 20% + Entertainment 15%

🗺️ Daily Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: First Experience in Dali Ancient City | Budget 1500 RMB

Morning: Arrive in Dali, check into a boutique guesthouse inside the ancient city (recommended "Jixia Mountain" or "Dali Ancient City No.1 Courtyard", about 600 RMB/night)
Afternoon:

Dali Ancient City (free): Stroll along Renmin Road, Foreigner Street, check in at "Da Bing’s Little House"
Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple (75 RMB/person): Best reflection photo spot is outside the scenic area at the Three Pagodas Reflection Park

Evening:

Duan Gongzi Restaurant (about 100 RMB/person): Try Dali specialty "Wind Flower Snow Moon Fish"
Night tour of the ancient city: Listen to folk songs at a bar (about 80 RMB/person)

📸 Photo spots: Sunset at the South Gate city wall, reflection of the Three Pagodas

Day 2: West Line Cycling around Erhai Lake | Budget 1200 RMB

Morning: Longkan Pier (free) to watch sunrise, rent a bicycle (20 RMB/day)
Cycling route: Longkan → Caicun → Panxi S-bend (10 km, coffee breaks along the way)
Noon: Bai ethnic farmhouse meal in Panxi Village (about 60 RMB/person)
Afternoon:

Xizhou Ancient Town (free): Photograph yellow walls, rice fields + corner towers
Yan Family Courtyard (25 RMB/person) to see Bai architecture

Evening: Stay at a countryside guesthouse in Xizhou (recommended "Xilin Garden", about 500 RMB/night)

🚴 Cycling tips: Use sunscreen, choose an electric bike for easier riding (50 RMB/day)

Day 3: East Line Self-driving around Erhai Lake | Budget 1800 RMB

Transportation: Rent a convertible Beetle (300 RMB/day, fuel 100 RMB)
Route: Shuanglang → Wase → Xiaoputuo → Wenbi Village
Must-stop spots:

Shuanglang (free): Yang Liping’s Sun Palace afternoon tea (128 RMB/person)
Wase Pier (free): Take photos of abandoned fishing boats
Wenbi Village (free): Rainbow Road for wedding dress photos

Dinner: Shuanglang Corner Time (about 80 RMB/person): Mint fried ribs
Accommodation: Shuanglang sea view room (recommended "Mingyue Songjian", about 800 RMB/night)

Day 4: Light Hiking on Cangshan Mountain | Budget 1000 RMB

Morning: Jizhao Nunnery (free): China’s most beautiful nunnery, vegetarian meal (20 RMB/person)
Afternoon: Cangshan Gantong Cableway (80 RMB/person):

Hike Yudai Road (4 km flat trail)
See waterfall at Qingbi Stream

Evening: Dali University Night Market (about 30 RMB/person): Grilled milk fan + Erkuai rice cake

⛰️ Alternative: If physically fit, take Ximatan Cableway (310 RMB/person) to the summit

Day 5: One-day Tour of Shaxi Ancient Town | Budget 1500 RMB

Transportation: Chartered car round trip (600 RMB/car, can share with 4 people)
Highlights:

Ancient Theater Stage (free): The only surviving market on the Tea Horse Road
Xianfeng Bookstore (free): Poetry tower in the rice fields
Horse riding experience (100 RMB/30 minutes)

Return: Bring souvenirs (flower cakes 30 RMB/box, tie-dye scarves 80 RMB)

💰 Total Budget Breakdown (for 2 people)

Item
Cost

Major Transportation
2800 RMB (estimated for round-trip direct flight from Beijing)

Local Transportation
1200 RMB (car rental + chartered car)

Accommodation
2500 RMB (4 nights including 2 nights of light luxury)

Food & Entertainment
1500 RMB

Total
7000 RMB

⚠️ Key Tips

Money-saving tips:

Rent a car at "Shenzhou Car Rental" Dali Ancient City branch, first day free for new users
Vegetarian meal at 11:30 AM, queue 1 hour in advance

Avoid pitfalls:

Photo fee of 5 RMB per shot for the popular glass balls by Erhai Lake
Be cautious when buying "Snowflake Silver," look for old brands like "Cunsi"

Best seasons: March-April (cherry blossoms), November (black-headed gulls)

✨ The magic of Dali lies in—
Waiting for a pink sunrise at Longkan Pier in the early morning, sipping hand-brewed coffee in the rice fields of Xizhou in the afternoon, chasing the shimmering waves of Erhai Lake in a convertible at dusk. With a 7000 RMB budget, you can turn "going to a windy place" into reality!
If you want to add Nuodeng Ancient Village or adjust hiking intensity, leave a message for customization~