Dali "You see the scenery through the car window, and the mountains and lakes are looking at you"

🌿Dali City In-depth Tour Guide: 5 Days 4 Nights Immersive Experience (2025 Latest Edition) 📅 Itinerary Overview - Route: Dali Ancient City → West Coast of Erhai Lake → Cangshan → Double Corridor → Xizhou - Features: Fusion of natural scenery, non-heritage handicrafts, authentic cuisine, pit avoidance guide - Suitable for: photography enthusiasts, cultural experiencers, slow life seekers 🌟 Daily itinerary details Day 1: First experience of the fireworks of the ancient city - morning Head straight to the North Gate Vegetable Market! This is a local procurement paradise, 10 dollars/pound of blueberries all you can eat, the price of dried wild mushrooms is half cheaper than in the ancient city. It is recommended to try freshly baked fresh flower cakes ($15/pound) and roasted bait blocks to feel the pleasure of carbohydrates. - Afternoon Navigate to Hongsheng Road near "Dali University", take pictures of the celebrity highway, and shoot the blockbuster of Cangshan and Erhai in the same frame. Pay attention to traffic safety, it is recommended to go after 3pm, soft light more out of the film. - Evening Stroll around the stalls on Renmin Road and listen to wandering singers playing and singing. Recommend the 4th floor terrace of "Big Bowl Island Coffee", order a cup of Yunnan small grain coffee ($35), and wait for the shocking screen of the sunset of Cangshan Mountain and the roof of the ancient city in the same frame. Day 2: Eco-ride on the western line of Erhai Lake - Early morning 6:30 Arrive at Dragon Niche Pier to watch the sunrise, rent a small electric donkey ($30/day) in Cai Village in advance, navigate to “Heart Dining Coffee” for free use of landscape seats for photos. It is recommended to wear a light-colored long skirt, with a straw hat, the backlight silhouette is stunning. - morning Riding the Ecological Corridor (Cai Village → S Bay), there are few people along the way and the scenery is beautiful. Bike rentals ($10/day) are recommended to avoid shared bike return restrictions. It is recommended to arrive early to avoid peak crowds at S Bay. - Afternoon Head to Xizhou Rice Field to experience tie-dyeing (RMB 80/person, including finished product) at the "Jia Yu Ji" art gallery, and make a unique blue and white square scarf. When the corner building is crowded, turn into the rice field in the alley to avoid the crowd to shoot "There is a Wind" and the same. Day 3: Exploration of the Secret Land of Cangshan - morning Arrive at Jishoan before 8:00 and enjoy the $20 all-you-can-eat fast food (meal at 11:30, advance reservation is recommended). The nunnery is full of succulent plants, taking pictures is like breaking into a fairyland. - Afternoon Take the Sentong Cableway (RMB 50 one way) up the mountain and hike the Yudai Cloud Tour Road, overlooking the panoramic view of Erhai Lake. Those with weak physical strength can take the Wa Ma Tan Cableway ($200 round trip). Tickets for Benefit Day are half price on Wednesday. Remember to make an appointment in advance. Day 4: Lazy time in the double gallery - morning Take a taxi to the double corridor "Hushan Yunyin" B&B, 298 dollars afternoon tea package includes Er seafood flower photo shoot, Yang Yang's same garden super good photography. It is recommended to wear a solid color long dress with a shawl. - evening Walk to Little Putuo to feed the seagulls (November-March only), bringing your own European bread is more popular than scenic bread. Take the photo and leave immediately. No need to purchase a boat ticket. In May, you can watch the sunset at a nearby cafe, and we recommend "Muyudari". Day 5: Non-heritage crafts and return journey - morning Head to the North Gate Vegetable Market again to purchase milk fans (old lady stall across from the post office, $5/piece) and carved plums ($10/bag). The handmade tie-dye square scarves from Wenwen Road in Nanmen can be bargained for up to $30, suitable for gifting to friends and family. - Afternoon Experience the art of tie-dye at the Zhoucheng Puzhen Tie-Dye Museum ($30 tickets), or try on Bai costumes for a photo shoot at Xizhou’s “Yunzuo Silver Embroidery Workshop” ($198/hour). 🍜 Red and black list of must-eat food - ✅ Must-eat list 1. Grilled milk fan: North Gate Vegetable Market "Yang Kee", sprinkled with white sugar than rose sauce more authentic, rich milk flavor. 2. Bai ethnic stone slab grill: the ancient city "old fisherman's house", five pieces of meat + pulp tofu combination, 50 dollars per person to eat full. 3. Sour and spicy fish: double corridor "corner eat light", live fish immediately killed, soup mixed with rice can eat 3 bowls. 4. Xizhou Dumplings: Four Square Street "Broken Pastry Dumplings", sweet and salty two flavors, 5 dollars / piece. - ❌ Pit avoidance tips 1. The ancient city "Net Celebrity Bamboo Milk Tea" is full of fragrance, recommend "Tang Coffee" Yunnan small grain coffee + snow mountain view package. 2. Reject low-priced tours! It is more reliable to choose "Ji Zhao An + Bacteria Collection One-Day Tour" (198 dollars with vegetarian fasting + tour guide). 🏠 Accommodation Recommendations (Value for Money) - Ancient city: Ark Bath House (100+ per capita), Bai courtyard + starry sky terrace, butler free hand-drawn map. - West coast of Erhai Lake: Cai Village "Yun Sail Sea Stay" (280 yuan/night), push the window to see the sea, half cheaper than a double gallery sea view room. - Double gallery: Muxi Dali (500+ in off-season), strong sense of design, suitable for photography. 🚗 Transportation Guide - Departure evenly 1. High-speed rail: Duyun East Station → Guiyang East Station (40 minutes), transfer to Guiyang → Dali high-speed rail (5 hours), the total cost is about 500 yuan. 2. Driving: Duyun → Kunming → Dali, the whole journey is about 13 hours, the toll is about 300 yuan, suitable for 2-4 people. - City transportation 1. Ring Erhai Light Rail T1 line: 5 dollars / time, directly to Long Ni Pier, Fengxi S Bay and other popular stations, operating hours 7:00-21:00. 2. Chartered car: 400 dollars/day, suitable for families or multi-person travel, can flexibly stop for photo spots. 📌 Practical tips 1. Sunscreen three treasures: sunglasses + sunscreen + sunscreen cream, Dali UV rays are extremely strong, the average temperature in May is 20-28 °C, need to do good protection. 2. Ticket discounts: Tickets are half price for attractions such as Cangshan and Xizhou Yanjia Courtyard on Huimin Day on Wednesday, and some scenic spots are free for tourists in the state on China Tourism Day (May 19). 3. Cultural Experience: Zhoucheng Tie-dye (RM80/person), Xizhou Three-Way Tea (RM68/person), Puzhen Tie-dye Museum (RM30/person). 4. Budget reference: 5 days 4 nights about RM2,000 per person (including accommodation, meals, tickets, excluding round-trip transportation). 📸 The place where popular products are released - Lonely Tree on the Gallery Bridge: Navigate the “Sea Sea No. 1 Seaview Inn” and shoot silhouettes against the light in the afternoon. - Luwo Mountain Ruins: Climb 5 minutes of earth slope, use the cave frame composition, seconds become a magazine blockbuster. - Night view of Zhemo Mountain: Dali version of "Star Sound Dream People", charter car 200 yuan / car, winter closure period (January-June) can not go. 🌟 Locals have private collection of gameplay - Intangible cultural heritage handicrafts: Xizhou "Yunzuo Silver Embroidery Workshop" Experience Bai embroidery, the same clothing production place in the TV series "Going to the Windy Place". - Small hiking: Cangshan "Huadian Dam" route, April azalea sea is beautiful, need to be led by a guide ($200/person). - Local markets: Handmade tie-dye, ethnic jewelry, etc. can be purchased at the March Street market on the fifth and fifteenth day of the lunar month every month. 💰Budget Details (5 Days 4 Nights) form Item Cost (per capita) Remarks Accommodation 800 dollars Ancient City B&B + Erhai Inn 2 nights each Meals $600 including specialty meals and snacks Transportation 700 dollars high-speed rail round trip + city transportation Tickets 300 dollars Cangshan Cableway, tie-dye experience, etc Other $200 sunscreen, souvenirs Total 2600 dollars excluding airfare, economical consumption 📍 Guide to avoiding pitfalls 1. Rent a car trap: Reject the convertible! The west line of Erhai cannot be entered by car, and the east line is narrow and easy to scratch. It is recommended to charter a car or rent a small electric donkey. 2. Shopping bargaining: tie-dyed square scarves, fresh flower cakes, etc. can be bargained 30%-50%, the North Gate Vegetable Market early market price is lower. 3. Alpine response: Cangshan is higher altitude, 3920 meters above the station of Ximatan Cableway, weaker body prepare oxygen bottles in advance. 🌅 Written at the end The beauty of Dali is hidden in the early morning birdsong, hidden in the twilight glow, blended in the tie-dye blue and white. It is recommended to reserve 1-2 days of "daze time", sit by the window in the cafe, watch the clouds roll and feel the slow life of the wind and snow. Before departure, you can follow the "Dali Culture and Tourism" public account to get the latest event information. May this guide help you reap a journey without regrets!