Erhai Lake's stunning sunset glow, Dali's stunning scenery (Day 3 of the annual Tibetan region trip: Lufeng to Erhai Lake in Dali)

Number of days：23 days
Time: September
Average cost: 350 yuan
With whom：a person
Updated: 2024.01.13

Today is the third day of our journey, September 25th. The approximate itinerary is Lufeng County - Chuxiong City - Nanhua County - Xiangyun County - Erhai Lake in Dali.

After finishing our mutton noodles this morning, it started to rain, not heavily, so we set off without a raincoat.

For most of the way from Lufeng to Cangling Town, National Highway 320 is split into two lanes, with traffic on the right being the only way. Less than half an hour into the drive, the road on my side was closed, forcing me to drive the other way. Oncoming traffic, apparently unprepared for the oncoming traffic, was driving very fast. Helplessly, I drove forward cautiously, and the other side didn't have time to let me brake and pull over. The road maintenance department is incredibly irresponsible.

The road closure began a little before this village.

A village just outside of National Highway 320 in Lufeng County.

I drank too much soy milk this morning and urinated a lot, so I stopped at a so-called mountaintop viewing point to relieve myself.

A mountain beside National Highway 320.

This large, relatively flat area at the foot of the mountain is some kind of development zone in Chuxiong. It was like this when I visited years ago, and I haven't seen much change since. These days, if a county or even a township doesn't establish a development zone, it seems out of step with the times. While the idea is to attract talent, in reality, it's a waste of resources and resources, leaving good land uncultivated. Not only does it fail to attract talent, it also doesn't attract a single chicken. The employees who pursue this kind of empty promise often stay long enough to be promoted and then leave, leaving behind a mountain of unfinished projects. An abandoned development zone in Chuxiong. It wasn't even lunchtime, but the heat was already unbearable, so we had to stop by a reservoir to rest.

Reservoir by the highway

I checked in at the first high wall on the highway, and then it started to rain. Fortunately, it wasn't heavy and stopped about ten minutes ahead.

First high wall on the highway

I had lunch at a restaurant called Suiyi in Tianshentang, and had a rice bowl. I've passed by here a few times, but never stopped. The streets look pretty clean on the surface. But it's quiet and almost deserted.

Tianshentang Street 1

Tianshentang Street 2

Tianshentang also has a highway entrance. If I weren't worried about the bad road on National Highway 324 when passing through Kunming, I would still prefer to take the national highway.

Besides being a popular check-in spot for tourists, this memorial archway at the entrance to Dali has become a popular place for drivers to stop and rest.

Dali City Boundary Archway

After entering Dali, the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau presents a completely different landscape.

One of the mountains on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau

Two of the mountains on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau

We climbed this mountain before entering Dali City, and finally had the chance to stop and go to the observation deck to look at the stunning township houses below.

Overlooking the residential houses in Midu County (Part 1)

Overlooking the residential houses in Midu County (Part 2)

This photo seems to have been taken with a wide-angle lens, and the effect is average.

Overlooking the residential buildings in Midu County (Part 3)

My only reason for staying in Dali was Erhai Lake. After entering Xiaguan Town, I looked for the Dali Maternal and Child Health Hospital and found the same inn I stayed at last year. It had been renovated, and the price had increased from 80 yuan last year to 90 yuan.

After settling in, we headed straight for Erhai Lake, which was two or three hundred meters away. It was around four in the afternoon, so the light was good and it was a good time to view the lake.

Erhai Lake Scenery 1

Erhai Lake Scenery 2

The third scenery of Erhai Lake

The fourth scenery of Erhai Lake

Taking a boat tour to view Erhai Lake is also one of the options, but it is not an option for poor people like us. Erhai Lake Cruise: "A clean Erhai Lake brings prosperity to Dali" is the slogan of the Dali Municipal Government, and it seems quite true. Erhai Lake nourishes Dali.

Erhai Lake Houses (Part 2)

One of the residential houses by Erhai Lake

Erhai Lake in the evening is quite interesting to see. Many people who are doing health preservation by Erhai Lake are running or walking along the edge of Erhai Lake. It seems that Erhai Lake is an ideal place for many people to do health preservation.

Erhai Lake scenery

Erhai Lake B&B

Erhai Lake scenery

We stayed by the Erhai Lake until the sun was about to set before returning to the inn to rest.

Erhai Lake in the evening (Part 1)

Erhai Lake sunset glow

Erhai Lake in the Evening

After returning from Erhai Lake, it was time to eat. Dali is actually quite expensive. Eating out is difficult everywhere. There were a lot of snack bars not far from the inn last year, but when I went there last night, they were all demolished to make way for high-rise buildings. So, we had no choice but to eat fish at this fish shop next to the inn. A two-pound fish (this one was the smallest) and two bowls of rice cost 100 yuan per person.