Dali Old Town
An old-city base distinct from the lake and shoreline villages.
- Half a day
- No booking
Our takeUse the old town as your cultural stop, then give the Erhai shore its own time.
Dali 大理
A Yunnan city with Bai old towns, Erhai Lake and the Cangshan mountains.
The 6 places most first visits are built on
Erhai Ecological Corridor
Lake views, fields and villages along Erhai's west shore.
- 2–3 hours
- No booking
Our takeStart at Caicun with a short out-and-back ride and return to the same rental base.
Xizhou Ancient Town
Bai courtyards, local snacks and fields at the town edge.
- 2–3 hours
- No booking
Our takeCombine the courtyard lanes with a walk to the fields and a freshly cooked Xizhou baba.
Three Pagodas and Chongsheng Temple
Dali's pagodas and a larger Buddhist temple precinct behind them.
- 2–3 hours
- No booking
Our takeSee the pagodas first, then choose how far uphill your group wants to go.
Shaxi Ancient Town
Tea Horse Road lanes, a town square and a bridge beside the fields.
- 1 day
- No booking
Our takeGive Sideng and Yujin Bridge a slow loop and leave time for courtyard tea.
Weishan Old Town
Old streets and towers with food as much a draw as the buildings.
Our takeMake breakfast or lunch part of the visit; skip a second distant town and linger here.
Things to do
Ways to spend your days
In DaliOnly this city
Dali + moreItineraries that include Dali
4 areas, 4 different trips
Dali Old Town East Side
First visits, old-town evenings and flexible sightseeing
- Old-town food and cafés
- Historic streets
- Useful base for Cangshan outings
Trade-off: Busy lanes can be noisy; the railway station is a separate transfer.
Caicun / West Erhai
Lakeside mornings and relaxed cycling outings
- Lakefront walks
- West-shore villages
- Guesthouses near the water
Trade-off: Meals and transport vary by lane; confirm the luggage drop-off point.
Xizhou
Bai architecture, markets and slower rural days
- Bai courtyards
- Village markets
- Nearby field roads
Trade-off: Less convenient for Old Town evenings and onward travel.
Shuanglang
A deliberate lakeside stay and slow mornings
- Lake-facing stays
- Lakeside cafés
- Views toward Cangshan
Trade-off: Longer transfers to Old Town and the station; some lanes require carrying bags.
Our takeOne check before you book: Check the exact shore and vehicle drop-off point before booking a lake-view stay.
Landing in Dali, and moving around
The station is in Xiaguan, not the old town: plan about 35 minutes and around ¥55 by taxi, or about an hour and ¥3 on bus 8 to the East Gate.
For the old town, allow about 40 minutes and ¥80–100 by taxi. Airport buses also run directly to the old town: standard fares are ¥15 to Dali station and ¥25 to the old town. Ask the arrivals desk for that departure’s old-town stop so your hotel can meet you there.
- Cycle a short out-and-back along Erhai’s west shore for lake and mountain views. Corridor rental points offer pedal and assisted bicycles; agree the return point and time there. Outside electric rentals have separate access rules.
- For local buses, select Dali in Alipay and activate 大理支付宝公交卡 before boarding.
Our takeOne move after you land: keep your hotel's address in Chinese to show the driver. Make an address card →
Dali practical card →Best: Mar–May · Oct–Nov
Spring and autumn offer comfortable lake and village outings with less rain than midsummer.
Jan15°2°10% wet
Feb17°4°12% wet
Mar19°7°15% wet
Apr22°10°15% wet
May23°13°25% wet
Jun24°16°44% wet
Jul24°16°65% wet
Aug24°15°63% wet
Sep23°14°52% wet
Oct21°11°34% wet
Nov18°6°10% wet
Dec16°2°5% wet
Typical daytime high, night low and share of wet days (1991–2020 averages, not a forecast). Golden Week (1–7 Oct 2026): expect crowds; check the official dates for other years.
Coming up in Dali
No published sessions in the next weeks. Ask what fits your dates.
Dali questions travellers ask
Plan your Dali days with us.
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