Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture
Land of wind, flowers, snow and moon between Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake, rich in Bai culture, with old towns that suit slow travel and longer stays.
Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture lies in west-central Yunnan, and Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake are its signature landscapes. Dali Old Town, Xizhou, Shuanglang and cycling around Erhai Lake are all popular with visitors, while the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple are a historic landmark. Weishan Old Town, the birthplace of the Nanzhao Kingdom, keeps its traditional streets and lanes; Nuodeng Ancient Village in Yunlong is known for its thousand-year-old salt wells and ham; and Jizu Mountain in Binchuan is a sacred Buddhist mountain. The climate is spring-like all year. March–May and September–November are the best times to visit, and black-headed gulls can be seen in winter. Dali Airport is the air gateway, high-speed trains run conveniently from Kunming to Dali, and a railway also leads to Lijiang.
Destinations
Itineraries
- Ancient Tea Horse Road: Weishan, Nuodeng, and Shaxi – An off-the-beaten-path slow route from Dali to Lijiang via the Nanzhao ancient town, a Bai ethnic salt village, and the…
- Classic Yunnan: Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La – Connect Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La by high-speed rail—the most established route for first-time visitors to…
- Naxi Culture and Slow Travel in Shaxi Ancient Town – Stay in Shuhe, visit Baisha murals and Yuhu Village, and add a day in Shaxi, the Tea Horse Road ancient town, for a slo…
- In-Depth Dali Old Town, Erhai Lake, and a Day in Weishan – Stay in the Old Town and explore Cangshan and Erhai Lake at a slower pace, cycle through Bai villages on the western sh…
- In-Depth Dali Trip with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang – Base in Dali Old Town to explore Cangshan, Erhai Lake, and Jizu Mountain, then take the high-speed train to Lijiang for…
- Weibao Mountain, Cangshan & Jizu Mountain Hiking – Stay in the Old Town and hike Weibao Mountain and the Jade Belt Trail on Cangshan, climb to the Golden Summit of Jizu M…
- Lijiang Old Town and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Highlights – Stroll Lijiang Old Town, visit the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Glacier Park and Blue Moon Valley, then see Black Dragon P…
- First Visit to Dali Old Town, Erhai Lake, and Cangshan – Stay in Dali Old Town and cover the Old Town's Three Pagodas, both western and eastern shores of Erhai Lake, and Cangsh…
- Tiger Leaping Gorge High Route Trek and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain – Base in the Old Town, warm up with a hike from Yuhu to Wenhai, spend two days on the Tiger Leaping Gorge high route, th…
- Lijiang, Lugu Lake & Shangri-La Loop – A self-drive loop starting from Lijiang, connecting Mosuo villages at Lugu Lake, Shangri-La, and Baishuitai.
- Lijiang, Lugu Lake, and Liming Danxia – Beyond Lijiang's Old Town and snow mountain, stay two nights at Lugu Lake to circle the lake, then add a day at the Fir…
- Daocheng Yading to Shangri-La & Lijiang Overland – Enter Daocheng along Highway 318 from Chengdu, cross into Yunnan via Xiangcheng, and conclude in Shangri-La and Lijiang.