Live Your Best Lives
This is the hometown of the Five Golden Flowers
This is the romantic town described by Jin Yong
Everywhere is a scene, every place has a story
Dali’s scenery is by the Erhai Lake, on the other side of the water
You can take in the panoramic view of Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake
Whether it's the ancient city or the shores of Erhai Lake, each place is blessed with unique natural advantages.
Historically, Dali has been a crucial channel for cultural and economic exchange between the East and the West.
It was a key distribution center for the Bonan Ancient Road and the Tea-Horse Road, known as the Southern Silk Road.
Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture is known as a famous literary state.
During the Tang and Song dynasties, both the Nanzhao and Dali Kingdoms were established here.
The Cangshan Mountains are like a screen, Erhai Lake is like a mirror, the morning bells and evening drums of Chongsheng Temple sound, and the simple elegance of Foreigner Street.
Unlike Lijiang, Dali's altitude is not that high.
The beauty of Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake are Dali's greatest features.
Climb to Ximatan Lake at 3,999 meters above sea level and experience the alpine beauty brought by the high altitude.
Descend to Erhai Lake and cycle or rent a car to explore the surrounding area and experience the slow pace of life that feels like spring all year round.
In Dali, as long as it is a sunny day
Light and shadow are never absent
This is nature's best gift to this city
The wind makes the clouds dance
The clouds in Dali can change in 365 ways
Dali has a magic that makes you never want to leave
You can find a spot anywhere by the Erhai Lake and take photos all day long
March, April, September and October are especially beautiful in Dali
Dali is known for its vibrant cherry blossoms and azaleas in the mountains in spring, and golden autumn colors in the fields.
Even in winter, Dali offers beautiful blue skies and white clouds, ensuring a pleasant mood.
Dali tie-dyeing, Bai embroidery, Xiaguan Tuo tea, and Jiama woodblock prints are just some of the traditional crafts that have been passed down to this day.
Nowadays, I like the feeling of slowing down and doing things quietly.
Without the hustle and bustle of Lijiang Ancient Town
Without the commercial atmosphere of Dali Ancient Town
This secret place hidden in the city is Shaxi Ancient Town
Nowadays, transportation to Dali is becoming more and more convenient. You can take a train, a plane, or drive here.
Plane: In addition to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chongqing, direct flights to Dali have recently been opened to Changsha, Hangzhou and other places.
(If direct flights are not convenient, you can consider flying to Kunming or Lijiang, and then taking a train to Dali.)
Train: There are trains from many places in the province to Dali, and there are also multiple trains from Chongqing, Guangzhou and other places outside the province every day.
✈️One airport 🚆 One train station
🚌Bus stations: East Station (opposite the train station), North Station (Dali Road), Express Passenger Transport Station (South Huancheng Road), Xingsheng Passenger Transport Station (Xingsheng Road)
🌈The airport is close to Haidong, and the train station is close to Haixi
📎From the airport, the airport bus goes directly to the ancient city, or the Dali through bus. I have taken it several times. It is cleaner than ordinary buses, the service is better, and it departs on time. It stops at Lei Cuiyuan in Dali Ancient City (near the Boai Gate of the ancient city, about 1 km away)
📎In addition to the airport and bus shuttle buses, it also has buses to Shuanglang, Xizhou, Lijiang, and Shangri-La
📎The transportation in the Dali Ancient City is convenient, and there are many buses
📎It is not recommended to charter a car around Erhai West Road. You can rent a bicycle or walk
📎It is recommended to share a car around Erhai East Road. It is not very convenient to take a taxi
1. Dali flower cakes must be made on the same day they are bought. The taste is much better than those bought online. I personally like to eat classic and oatmeal ones.
2. Rice noodles: I eat them basically every morning. I recommend crossing the bridge and small pot. People’s tastes vary.
3. Rushan: They can be baked, fried, or made into desserts. They are a local snack extracted from milk.
4. Baikuai: A snack made of rice. Baked Baikuai can be added with shredded potatoes, pickles, fried dough sticks, grilled sausages, etc., and then brushed with seasonings such as fermented bean curd and crushed peanuts. It can be eaten for breakfast.
5. Fruit: Before leaving, I often went to the supermarket. The prices in the supermarkets in Dalizhou City are cheaper, and the things are better. For example, Wogan, ginseng fruit, and dragon fruit are all very cheap. 3 kilograms for 10 yuan can be eaten for a week. You can't buy this in the city.
6. Both Dali and Weishan Ancient Towns have a wealth of delicious food. Weishan's braised pork rice noodles, one root noodles, thin bean powder, rice cakes, and candied fruits are all worth trying.
🌈Two-Day Tour
Day 1: Dali Ancient Town ➡️ Chongsheng Temple Three Pagodas ➡️ Cangshan Mountain
Day 2: Tour around Erhai Lake (Yang Liping Grand Theatre➡️Xizhou Xilinyuan Rice Fields➡️Shuanglang➡️Utopia➡️Internet celebrity S Bay);
·
🌈Four-day tour
Day 1: Dali Ancient Town➡️Chongsheng Temple Three Pagodas➡️Cangshan Mountain
Day 2: Tour around Erhai Lake (Yang Liping Grand Theatre➡️Xizhou Xilinyuan Rice Fields➡️Shuanglang➡️Utopia➡️Internet celebrity S Bay);
Day 3: Jianchuan Ancient Town➡️Southern Silk Road National Local Chronicles Museum➡️Shaxi Ancient Town
Day 4: Yujin Bridge➡️Xingjiao Temple➡️Beilong Village Pioneer Bookstore
·
🌈Five-day tour
Day1: Dali Ancient Town➡️Chongsheng Temple Three Pagodas➡️Cangshan Mountain
Day2: Tour around Erhai Lake (Yang Liping Grand Theater➡️Xizhou Xilinyuan Rice Fields➡️Shuanglang➡️Ideal Country➡️Internet celebrity S Bay;
Day3: Jianchuan Ancient Town➡️Southern Silk Road National Local Chronicles Museum➡️Shaxi Ancient Town
Day4: Yujin Bridge➡️Xingjiao Temple➡️Beilong Village Pioneer Bookstore
Day5: Fengyu Ancient Town➡️Tuibutang➡️Tianma Thatched Cottage➡️Zeng Zeng Bookstore➡️Sky Rice Field Theater➡️Guang Art Museum
·
🌈Six-day tour
Day1: Dali Ancient Town➡️Chongsheng Temple Three Pagodas➡️Cangshan Mountain
Day 2: Tour around Erhai Lake (Yang Liping Grand Theatre➡️Xizhou Xilinyuan Rice Field➡️Shuanglang➡️Ideal Country➡️Internet-famous S Bay;
Day 3: Jianchuan Ancient Town➡️National Local Chronicles Museum of the Southern Silk Road➡️Shaxi Ancient Town
Day 4: Yujin Bridge➡️Xingjiao Temple➡️Beilong Village Pioneer Bookstore
Day 5: Fengyu Ancient Town➡️Tuibutang➡️Tianma Thatched Cottage➡️Zeng Zeng Bookstore➡️Sky Rice Field Theater➡️Light Art Museum
Day 6: Nanzhao Cultural Square➡️Mengyang Park➡️Confucian Temple➡️Xinggong Tower➡️Jinshi Square➡️Nanzhao Museum➡️Yuhuang Pavilion and Cultural Academy➡️Gongchen Tower➡️Shijia Courtyard➡️Diguan Square➡️Wenxian Square➡️Weibao Mountain
Starting from Yangnan Creek, there is a wooden plank road that stretches for more than 40 kilometers around Erhai Lake. You can walk all the way to Taoyuan Village. If you want to save energy, you can also ride a bicycle or take an electric car
Ecological Sightseeing Bus
Yangnan River - Sansheng Island / Sansheng Island - Longkan / Longkan - Cai Village: 15 yuan / Yangnan River - Sansheng Island - Longkan / Sansheng Island - Longkan - Cai Village / Yangnan River - Sansheng Island - Longkan - Cai Village, these routes
The greenery along Yangnan Creek is very well done.
There are tall fir trees along the beach.
If the Metasequoia trees turn red after a while, it will look even better for photos.
The water quality of Erhai Lake is getting better and better.
Seaweed flowers can be seen everywhere, swaying in the water with the waves.
There are many S-shaped bays along the Erhai West Ring Road. You don't have to go to Panxi Village. Longkan Wharf is also beautiful and a good place to watch the sunrise.
It is a blessing and a relief to be able to see the sunrise. When the first rays of sunlight shine on Erhai Lake in the morning, the sparkling water surface sparkles with dazzling light.
A day full of energy begins.
When the first rays of sunlight rise from Haidong in the morning
At around 8 or 9 o'clock, the sun gradually sets over the Three Pagodas
At this time, the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple seem to be sprinkled with golden light, which is particularly dazzling.
And every evening, the sun gradually sets over Cangshan Mountain
The sunlight filtering through the clouds creates the Tyndall effect, lending the three towers an even more mysterious aura.
The Three Pagodas consist of three pavilions: one large, two small. The Grand Pagoda, also known as the Qianxun Pagoda and locally known as the "Wenbi Pagoda," stands 69.13 meters tall, with a base of 9.9 meters and 16 stories. Built during the Nanzhao Kingdom period of the Tang Dynasty, it is a typical hollow, square brick pagoda with dense eaves in the Dali region. The North and South Small Pagodas, each 42.17 meters tall and ten stories tall, were constructed during the reigns of Duan Zhengyan and Duan Zhengxing of the Dali Kingdom. They are octagonal, hollow brick pagodas with dense eaves. The three pagodas stand in a triangular formation, with the Qianxun Pagoda in the center and the two smaller pagodas flanking it to the north and south. 
Xizhou Old Town is especially popular. Compared to Dali Old Town, Xizhou doesn't have many tourists, and even fewer people live here. In the evening, Xizhou becomes even quieter, with rice paddies, Bai ethnic minority dwellings, and delicious Xizhou baba. Of course, my favorite is the savory kind. You can't buy freshly made Xizhou baba even in Dali Old Town, but you can find several on Sifang Street. If you're tired, just have a small pot of rice noodles at a small restaurant.
I've previously experienced hand-tied dyeing in Xizhou.
This time, I visited the Jiama Woodblock Print Experience Hall.
I learned how this mysterious folk woodblock printmaking technique was formed and developed.
Jiama painting is a general term for various woodblock prints that are burned or pasted during Chinese folk customs, such as sacrifices, prayers, disaster prevention, and home protection. Jiama, commonly known as paper horse, paper fire, divine horse, or divine horse paper, got its name from the locals in Baoshan and Dali in western Yunnan, where it was first discovered.
The production of Bai Jiama paper in Dali is a traditional craft with rich ethnic characteristics.
First, the text and pattern are written backwards on a wooden board, followed by fine carving.
The engraved board is then painted with the desired pigment.
Finally, the painted pattern is overprinted on paper.
After air drying, a piece of exquisite Jiama paper is completed.
On the first floor of the exhibition hall, there is also a studio where you can experience Jiama printmaking. Professional printmaking technicians will teach you how to choose different pigments and print out different patterns of Jiama. It is a very meaningful experience.
Shuanglang is the most famous of the Haidong area
A hike through Shuanglang Ancient Town is quite strenuous
Of course, there are electric carts available for easy transportation
In Shuanglang, you can relax and unwind, or find a B&B to enjoy a few days of leisurely life
You can also take a boat to the Nanzhao Island
Shuanglang in the afternoon, warm as spring, with an autumn breeze
Find a place to have afternoon tea
The terrace has its own scenic view and many popular check-in spots
When it comes to ancient towns in Yunnan, it’s no longer just Shuhe and Dayan in Lijiang.
It’s no longer just Lijiang Old Town and Xizhou in Dali.
Shaxi, a small town, still retains a lot of historical flavor.
Shaxi Town in Jianchuan County, Yunnan, is a salt distribution center for northwestern Yunnan and Tibet. As the salt capital on the ancient Tea-Horse Road, it served as the final supply stop and rest stop for caravans embarking on the snowy plateau. This strategic location once made this remote town prosperous. Located between Dali and Lijiang, Shaxi Ancient Town has long been a vital hub connecting southern Yunnan and Tibet.
In 2001, the World Heritage Foundation included Shaxi Sideng Street on its 2002 list of 101 World Heritage Sites Worthy of Attention. They also noted that Shaxi is the only surviving ancient market on the ancient Tea-Horse Road. Every Friday, Shaxi Town is bustling with people. Residents from just a few hilltops away arrive with their horses and cattle, displaying their tea, furs, and cloth on the streets. Locals also bring their own specialties. This is the largest and most extensive market in northwest Yunnan. 
"Drinking coffee and basking in the sun"
Walking along the streets, many of the cafes and bookstores here are semi-open. In the afternoon, when the sun is just right, you can sit on a cushion under the window, basking in the lazy sun while holding a book you don't have time to read on weekdays, or just drinking coffee or making a cup of tea. This kind of life is part of Shaxi's slow life. Quietly enjoy the present moment, the beautiful moment, let time pass, and the years are quiet and peaceful.
This is the now-protected ancient market: Sifang Street. Its ground is paved entirely with large stone slabs. Having weathered many vicissitudes, the market moved out of Sifang Street in 1992. Although it has lost its former bustle, its former glory can still be seen. It was the center of ancient market cultural activities.
During my two-day trip to Shaxi, I stayed at the Yundu B&B. The hostess drove a car to help with the luggage. There was a pond and a coffee table in the yard. It was so cozy to sit in the yard and drink tea in the afternoon. The Yinshan room I stayed in also had tatami and a separate small balcony. I really didn't want to leave after staying there for a night.
Speaking of delicious food, I recommend Chujian Shaxi and the Shaxi Fire Pond. In the middle is a wild mushroom hot pot. Yunnan's mushroom hot pot is truly delicious and nutritious, and surrounded by teppanyaki grilled meats. This kind of experience can only be found in Shaxi.
Fengyu Town is located in the southwest of Eryuan County, Dali.
It has beautiful scenery and is home to "Niaodiao Mountain" where hundreds of birds pay homage to the phoenix.
It is also a post station on the Ancient Tea Horse Road.
With an average altitude of 2,100 meters, it is now very convenient for eating, staying and playing.
In Fengyu Town, besides exploring the ancient village, you can also visit [Tuibutang], [Tianma Thatched Cottage], [Zeng Zeng's Book House], [Sky Rice Field Theater], and [Light Art Museum]
These new attractions are worth checking out one by one
Walking into Zeng Zeng Bookstore, I felt as if I were in another world.
On one side, the old Bai ethnic minority courtyards are preserved, while on the other side, there is a modern cafe.
History and modernity, and directly opposite is Zeng Zeng Book House, this palace of knowledge, open to visitors free of charge
Away from the hustle and bustle of the ancient city, and without the crowds of tourists on the edge of Erhai Lake
Here is a collection of over 10,000 books, allowing you to immerse yourself in the ocean of knowledge
When the bright sunlight shines into the house
How I wish time could stand still
Coming out of Zeng Zeng's bookstore
In the dam of Fengyu Town, at the foot of Tianma Mountain
stands an aerial rice field theater
The hollowed-out building perfectly blends the architecture with the natural environment
It's golden wheat season now
Walking through the golden wheat fields, we enter the center of the rice field theater
Here, we can connect with the sky, the earth, the rice fields, and the birds
and enjoy a local feast~
Delicious dishes such as wasabi shrimp balls, seaweed flowers, cold bark vegetables, mushroom hot pot, etc.
I've been to Dali many times, but this is my first time in Weishan
It was sunset when I arrived at Weishan County
When the setting sun shone on the square
This clean and vibrant town
made me feel the peace and tranquility of life
Located at the foot of the Ailao Mountains in western Yunnan, this is the source of the Red River.
With a profound history and culture, it is also the birthplace of the Nanzhao Kingdom.
At the same time, it is also the hometown of Zhao Linger in the memories of many people.
The streets of Weishan Ancient City are built in a standard crisscross pattern, centered around the Arch Tower. There are 25 streets and 18 alleys, stretching 14 kilometers. The houses within the city essentially maintain a traditional Chinese structure, fully preserving the architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties. This, combined with the best local lighting methods, compensates for the poor lighting conditions of the "Sihewutianjing" (four-sided courtyards and five-courtyard courtyards)."
When visiting Weishan, the most important thing you can't miss is the local food.
There are various small restaurants and street food stalls, all of which are cheap and good.
Many shops are only open from the afternoon to the evening. At night, the street stalls are particularly lively.
We came to a long-established restaurant specializing in local cuisine. The owner has developed many of his own dishes. As he introduced them to us, we tasted them and felt that each dish was unique.
Compared to the daytime, the Weishan Ancient City adds a touch of mystery at night.
The lights on the two towers at night add a touch of charm and artistic conception.
Weishan Ancient City is mainly known for its Gongchen Tower and Xinggong Tower. With four gates in the east, west, south, and north, the ancient city is square and crisscrossed with 25 streets and 18 alleys in a checkerboard pattern. While Gongchen Tower is imposing, Xinggong Tower is more graceful and elegant.
When you come to Weishan, you must try the local Ba Rou Er Si, a famous local dish called Guo Jiang Long. It consists of a bowl of cooked rice noodles and a bowl of rosy, rich broth soaked with pork elbow and hind leg meat. Er Si is not made of ordinary rice, but the famous "Huangpi Gu" rice in Weishan, so it is more chewy.
Wenhua Academy is an important part of Weishan Ancient City
It has a history of a hundred years and is named after its location at the foothills of Wenhua Mountain
Wenhua College covers an area of more than 4,000 square meters and consists of the main gate, the second gate, the Panchi, the arch bridge, the Yanta Square, the Kuixing Pavilion, the library and the front and rear wing rooms
The ancient buildings that are still preserved include Yantafang, Kuixing Pavilion, library and some wing rooms. This is both an academy and a teahouse. When you come here, you have to slow down and just want to read quietly here and be in a daze...
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