I wouldn't have known about this place if my friend hadn't tricked me into coming here

Here's a travel guide to Erhai Lake in Dali, including route planning, accommodation, food recommendations, and more: Route Planning - One-day tour around the lake: Recommended to go counterclockwise, starting from the Ancient City, passing through Longkan Pier (for sunrise viewing), Xindi Coffee, Chongyi Village, Xingsheng Bridge in Xiaguan, Santorini Ideal Town, Wenbi Village, Little Putuo (lunch), free flower sea swings, Luowo Mountain, Shuanglang, Xizhou (large wheat fields outside the ancient town), and Haishe Park. - Two-day tour around the lake: Day one covers the east side, starting from Xingsheng Bridge, passing through Yunxiang Mountain, Wenbi Village, Little Putuo, Luowo Mountain, and arriving at Shuanglang Ancient Town (stay overnight in Shuanglang); Day two covers the west side, departing from Shuanglang, taking a taxi to Zhoucheng or Xizhou Ancient Town, then visiting Haishe Park, Corridor Bridge, Lower Bopi, Fumeiyou, Majiuyou Village, Cai Village, Longkan Pier, and finally returning to Dali Ancient City. Accommodation Recommendations - Luxury options: Dali Songyun Cliff Hotel, located on a cliff with stunning views of Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake; Arcadia Anyin Li's Mansion Seaside Resort Hotel, an elegant Chinese-style luxury resort by the lake; Dali Yuewan VILLA Hillside Sea View Hotel, with stylish design and rooms facing the sea. - Budget options: Consider guesthouses around Dali Ancient City, such as Dali Ancient City Cenglin Hotel, a traditional Bai minority residence with authentic local atmosphere. Food Recommendations - Local flavor restaurants: Huotang Impression Wild Mushroom Courtyard Hot Pot (Dali Ancient City Main Store), featuring delicious soup bases made with quality mushrooms; Dali Ark Fatty "I'm Waiting for You in Dali" Store, offering outstanding traditional Yunnan cuisine; Duan Gongzi Condor Heroes Store, a martial arts-themed restaurant with local flavors. - Special snacks: Pangding in Dali Rose Cottage's freshly baked rose flower cakes; Zaihuishou Chicken Rice Noodles (Renmin Road Store 1) for cold chicken rice noodles; Yunnan Braised Chicken Rice Noodles (Dali Main Store) for their signature black chicken rice noodles. - Seaside restaurants: Six Reading Forten Seaside Coffee Western Restaurant (Shuanglang Ancient Town Store), extremely popular with beautiful Erhai Lake views; Dali Muxi Dali Hotel's Muxi Dali Restaurant (Erhai Store), offering quality Western cuisine with views of Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake. Attractions Introduction - Dali Ancient City: The ancient capital of the Dali and Nanzhao Kingdoms, where you can stroll through the old city, browse small shops, visit bars, and experience the slow life under Cangshan Mountain. - Chongsheng Temple Three Pagodas Cultural Tourism Area: One of Dali's landmarks, featuring three uniquely shaped pagodas that complement the surrounding landscape. - Fanxi: A super popular S-shaped bay, perfect for cycling along Erhai Lake, enjoying the scenery, and feeling the lake breeze. - Shuanglang: Known as "the best of Cangshan and Erhai scenery is in Shuanglang," it's the ancient town closest to the lake in all of Dali. You can visit Yang Liping's Sun Palace and Moon Palace here.