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大理South-West China25.69° N · 100.16° E
An old walled town between the Cangshan mountains and Erhai Lake, with Bai villages, slow lakeside days and pagodas older than a thousand years. Here is what to see, eat and expect.
Dali lies at about 2,000 metres in western Yunnan, on a strip of land between the Cangshan range and the long, blue Erhai Lake. It was the seat of the Nanzhao and Dali kingdoms long before it became part of China's south-west, and it is the heartland of the Bai people, whose whitewashed houses with painted gables line the villages along the lake shore.
Today most visitors stay in or near Dali Old Town, a walled grid of stone streets, gates and courtyard guesthouses, about 30 minutes from the modern city of Xiaguan where the station is. The old town is busy and commercial in the evenings, but step out to Xizhou, cycle along the lake or ride up into the Cangshan forests, and Dali becomes one of the most relaxed places in China.
Our Dali journeys are private and tailor-made, usually combining the old town and the lake with Lijiang, Shangri-La or a quieter village stay.
We tailor every trip. Want more time in Dali, a different pace or a mix of places? Design my trip →
The experiences our travellers enjoy most, in order of what we would not miss.
Three tall pagodas, the largest from the Nanzhao era more than a thousand years ago, stand in front of a large rebuilt temple complex. Allow time to walk up through the halls to the views at the top.
A walled town of stone streets, gates and courtyard houses. Walk the walls at the South Gate, then explore the quieter lanes away from the main shopping streets.
A long highland lake fringed by villages and fields. Cycle a stretch of the shore, take a boat, or simply sit by the water in the late afternoon as the light changes on the mountains.
A Bai village known for its grand old merchant houses, carved gateways and a lively morning market. Try the local baked bread fresh from the stall.
Cable cars lift you into the forests above Dali, where a long, level path traces the slopes with views down over the town and the lake.
A village known for its indigo tie-dye cloth. Watch the process in a family workshop and see how the patterns are tied and dyed by hand.
A traditional welcome of three teas, bitter, sweet and lingering, often served with music and dance. A simple way to learn about Bai hospitality and customs.
A quieter stretch of the lake with small fishing villages and views back across the water to the Cangshan range, best visited in the morning before the day traffic.
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Customise My TripLocal specialities worth seeking out, and when the locals eat them. Your guide will know the best places to try each one.
Add a food experience →Each neighbourhood has its own rhythm. Pick the one that sounds like you, or let us surprise you.
Inside or near the old walls, close to restaurants, gates and evening walks. Busy at night, with many courtyard hotels.
A Bai village about 30 minutes north, with old courtyard houses, a morning market and quiet evenings.
Small hotels in villages along the shore, with lake views but fewer places to walk to in the evening.
Tell us your style and our consultants will hand-pick a stay you would never find on your own.
A restored heritage house, a quiet lakeside villa or a family-run boutique: we match the hidden gem to you, and reveal it with your itinerary.
Ask for a surprise stayDali station is in Xiaguan, the modern city at the southern end of the lake. Dali Airport also has flights from Kunming and other large cities, about 45 minutes to 1 hour from the old town by road.
The best way to link the old town, Xizhou, the pagodas and the lake shore; included on our journeys.
Best for: Lake loopElectric and regular bikes are easy to rent for a ride along flat parts of the lake shore.
Best for: Erhai LakeThe old town is compact and easy to explore on foot, though the streets are cobbled.
Best for: Old townPlaces that pair well with Dali, with approximate travel times.
Spring and autumn bring clear skies and comfortable days, with flowers in March and April. The rainy season runs roughly from June to September, when showers are frequent but the hills turn green. Winter is dry and sunny by day but cold at night, and the lake can be windy.
A general guide. Weather varies from year to year, and we plan each route around the season.
Quick answers from our local team. Anything else, just ask your travel specialist.
Ask us on WhatsAppYes, especially if you enjoy a slower pace. Dali combines an old walled town, Bai village culture and a large lake framed by mountains. The old town itself is busy and commercial, so the real highlights are in the villages, the lake shore and the Cangshan mountains around it.
They suit different moods. Dali feels more open, with a lake, villages and room to cycle, while Lijiang has a larger, more intricate old town and is closer to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Many travellers visit both, as they are only about 1.5 to 2 hours apart by train.
Two or three nights is ideal. One day for the old town and the Three Pagodas, one for Xizhou and the lake shore, and a third if you want to ride up into the Cangshan mountains or visit the quieter eastern shore.
You can cycle sections of it, and the flat stretches near Xizhou and Caicun are popular. The full loop is long, so most people ride part of the shore and let a car carry the bikes for the rest. Avoid weekends and holidays, when the lake road gets crowded.
Dali Old Town sits at about 2,000 metres. Most people feel fine, though you may notice the thinner air on stairs or when climbing in the Cangshan mountains. Drink water, wear sun cream and pace your first day. It is also a good place to adjust before higher Shangri-La.
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