Dali

The story: Erhai is a high-altitude freshwater lake shaped like an ear — "er" means ear in Chinese — sitting at 1,972 m between Dali Old Town and the Cangshan Mountains. For centuries it was the economic lifeline of the Dali Kingdom, feeding fishing villages and trading towns along its shore.

Why it's a must-see: The classic Dali experience is to rent an e-bike or join a car and trace the lakeshore, stopping at fishing villages, cafés, and viewpoints. Sunrise from the east shore (Caicun) is spectacular, and the water turns from silver to deep blue as the day warms up.

💡 Kat's tip: The full loop is 130 km — doable by e-bike in one long day if the battery is good, but most people split it. Check your rental's range. The west side near the old town gets crowded; the east side is quieter and better for sunrise.

The story: Dali Old Town dates back to the Ming dynasty (1382), when the city was rebuilt with a square wall, four main gates, and a grid of streets. For 500 years before that, it was the capital of the Dali Kingdom, which ruled much of today's Yunnan and Myanmar before Kublai Khan's Mongol armies conquered it in 1253.

Why it's a must-see: The old town is pedestrian-friendly, packed with white-walled Bai houses, stone streets, courtyard cafés, and rooftop bars with mountain views. Yes, it's touristy, but the core grid and city walls are genuinely ancient, and the people-watching is excellent.

💡 Kat's tip: Visit the South Gate at sunset for the classic gate-and-mountain photo. For a quieter experience, walk the side streets east of Foreigner Street (Yangren Jie) early in the morning.

The story: Zhoucheng, about 20 km north of Dali Old Town, is known as the "hometown of Chinese tie-dye." The Bai people here have been practicing indigo resist-dyeing for more than 1,000 years, using natural indigo from locally grown plants and hand-stitched patterns that create the signature blue-and-white designs.

Why it's a must-see: This is one of the best places in China to see a traditional craft still practiced in daily life. You can walk past workshops where women stitch patterns by hand, watch cloth being dipped into deep indigo vats, and even try making your own scarf or tote bag.

💡 Kat's tip: Skip the quick souvenir shops and look for a family workshop that offers a hands-on class. Allow 1–2 hours. Zhoucheng pairs perfectly with a morning visit to nearby Xizhou.

The story: Xizhou was a wealthy trading town on the Tea Horse Road, the ancient network that carried tea from Yunnan to Tibet and beyond. The Bai merchants who made their fortunes here built elaborate courtyard houses with grey-tiled roofs, marble inlays, and hand-painted gates — many of which still stand.

Why it's a must-see: Xizhou feels less commercial than Dali Old Town and gives you a clearer sense of Bai daily life. The morning market is busy and authentic, and several historic courtyards are open to visitors. The famous "Xizhou baba" (stuffed flatbread) is worth the trip alone.

💡 Kat's tip: Get there before 10am for the morning market. Try sweet and savory Xizhou baba from a street vendor, and visit the Linden Centre if it's open — it's a beautifully restored courtyard cultural center.

The story: The Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple are the symbol of Dali — three towers standing in a triangle, with the tallest reaching 70 meters. Built between the 9th and 10th centuries during the Nanzhao and Dali kingdoms, they survived earthquakes that destroyed everything around them. Behind them rise the 19 peaks of Cangshan Mountain, which reach over 4,000 meters.

Why it's a must-see: The Three Pagodas are the postcard view of Dali, and the temple complex behind them offers lake-and-mountain panoramas. Cangshan itself has hiking trails and a cable car up to 3,900 meters for those who want altitude and alpine views.

💡 Kat's tip: Visit the Three Pagodas in the morning for the best light on the mountains behind them. The Cangshan cable car can close in high wind — check conditions. For hikers, the Cloud Pass trail (Yunyou Road) between peaks is stunning.