Dali Travel Guide

Dali is a historic Bai city on the shores of Erhai Lake, a highland lake in western Yunnan. Ringed by the peaks of the Cangshan range, it keeps lake, mountains, and an old town all within a short distance of one another. The gentle scenery formed by the basin and the lake is the foundation of the city's charm.

The center of sightseeing is the Old Town of Dali, enclosed by walls first built in the Ming dynasty. White-walled houses in the traditional Bai 'three rooms and a screen wall' style still remain, and cobbled streets are lined with cafes, souvenir shops, and Bai restaurants. Sightseeing boats cruise Erhai Lake, and from the water you can take in the Cangshan range and the old town at one glance.

In the suburbs, the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple are the city's emblem, with a history of more than a thousand years. The ancient town of Xizhou, to the north, preserves Bai architecture especially well, and its quiet lanes offer a feel for everyday life. Bai food culture is another pleasure of the trip, from Three-Course Tea to milk fan and clay-pot fish.

In earlier times Dali prospered as the capital of the Nanzhao and Dali kingdoms and was a meeting point of trading routes on the Tea Horse Road. It can be reached from the provincial capital Kunming by rail or air, and riding the cycling path along the lake is a popular way to spend the day. It is a city where the time of lake and old capital can be savored slowly.