Dali · Dali Ancient Town
Dali Ancient Town & Xizhou Ancient Town: Places and Local Life
Dali Ancient Town sits between Cangshan and Erhai, where a historic street grid, city gates and Bai cultural life define the old settlement.
View itinerary →Tailor-Made Travel in Dali
Dali opens out between the slopes of Cangshan and the waters of Erhai. Courtyard houses, lakeside paths and the old streets of Dali and Xizhou invite a slower journey; further afield, Shaxi and Weishan bring different chapters of western Yunnan into view.
Discover places to explore, from Dali Ancient Town to Binchuan. Seek out the attractions that define the region, including Erhai Lake and Cangshan Mountain. Or follow our hidden gems towards Fengyu Ancient Town and quieter discoveries. Three ways to see Dali, brought together in a trip shaped around you.
Discover Dali with WhyYunnan
Leave time for Dali Ancient Town, Xizhou and Shaxi: places where a walk through the streets can become the centre of the day. Add Weishan or Jianchuan for a journey shaped around architecture, markets and local life.
Look beyond the familiar lakeshore to Fengyu, Donglianhua and the quieter lanes around Sideng Street. These are starting points for an unhurried exploration, with time to ask questions and follow your interests.
Begin with the places that interest you. The journey ideas below are suggestions that can be adjusted around your dates, interests and preferred pace.
01 — PLACES TO EXPLORE
Leave time for Dali Ancient Town, Xizhou and Shaxi: places where a walk through the streets can become the centre of the day. Add Weishan or Jianchuan for a journey shaped around architecture, markets and local life.
02 — ATTRACTIONS
Erhai Lake and Cangshan give Dali its sense of space. Bring lakeside time together with the Three Pagodas, or plan a separate excursion around Jizu Mountain and the surrounding countryside.
03 — HIDDEN GEMS
Look beyond the familiar lakeshore to Fengyu, Donglianhua and the quieter lanes around Sideng Street. These are starting points for an unhurried exploration, with time to ask questions and follow your interests.
Explore our top Dali trips
A few ideas to start your journey. Each can be shaped around you.
6 suggested journeys · Tailored to your pace
Dali · Erhai Lake
Erhai Lake & Cangshan Mountain: Landscapes in Focus
Erhai is Dali's plateau lake, with Bai settlements around its shores and Cangshan forming the western mountain backdrop.
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Dali · Nuodeng Ancient Village
Nuodeng Ancient Village & Fengyu Ancient Town: A Slower Discovery
Nuodeng in Yunlong County is a hillside Bai village whose salt-trading history, traditional houses and ham-making heritage reward a slow visit.
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Dali · Shaxi Ancient Town
Shaxi Ancient Town & Jianchuan: Heritage and Countryside
Shaxi in Jianchuan County preserves a former Tea Horse Road trading centre, with Sideng Square, Xingjiao Temple and Yujin Bridge.
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Dali · Binchuan
Binchuan & Jizu Mountain: A Regional Journey
Binchuan occupies a warm agricultural basin east of Erhai, with fruit-growing country and access to the Buddhist mountain of Jizu.
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Dali · Weishan Ancient Town
Weishan Ancient Town & Donglianhua Village: Beyond the Main Stops
Weishan's historic centre preserves an old street axis and traditional buildings associated with the wider history of the Nanzhao homeland.
View itinerary →Experiences to make your own
A closer connection to Dali, one experience at a time.
Discover Erhai Lake
Give Erhai Lake time of its own in your Dali journey. Explore at your preferred pace, with local arrangements shaped around your interests.
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Discover Cangshan Mountain
Give Cangshan Mountain time of its own in your Dali journey. Explore at your preferred pace, with local arrangements shaped around your interests.
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Discover Dali Ancient Town
Give Dali Ancient Town time of its own in your Dali journey. Explore at your preferred pace, with local arrangements shaped around your interests.
Enquire Now
Discover Fengyu Ancient Town
Give Fengyu Ancient Town time of its own in your Dali journey. Explore at your preferred pace, with local arrangements shaped around your interests.
Enquire Now
Discover Taoxi Valley
Give Taoxi Valley time of its own in your Dali journey. Explore at your preferred pace, with local arrangements shaped around your interests.
Enquire NowWhat to see and do in Dali
Old Towns & Living Courtyards
Leave time for Dali Ancient Town, Xizhou and Shaxi: places where a walk through the streets can become the centre of the day. Add Weishan or Jianchuan for a journey shaped around architecture, markets and local life.
A Lake, a Mountain & Three Pagodas
Erhai Lake and Cangshan give Dali its sense of space. Bring lakeside time together with the Three Pagodas, or plan a separate excursion around Jizu Mountain and the surrounding countryside.
The Smaller Roads of Dali
Look beyond the familiar lakeshore to Fengyu, Donglianhua and the quieter lanes around Sideng Street. These are starting points for an unhurried exploration, with time to ask questions and follow your interests.
The best of Dali
Old Towns & Living Courtyards
Leave time for Dali Ancient Town, Xizhou and Shaxi: places where a walk through the streets can become the centre of the day. Add Weishan or Jianchuan for a journey shaped around architecture, markets and local life.
A Lake, a Mountain & Three Pagodas
Erhai Lake and Cangshan give Dali its sense of space. Bring lakeside time together with the Three Pagodas, or plan a separate excursion around Jizu Mountain and the surrounding countryside.
The Smaller Roads of Dali
Look beyond the familiar lakeshore to Fengyu, Donglianhua and the quieter lanes around Sideng Street. These are starting points for an unhurried exploration, with time to ask questions and follow your interests.
A Journey Shaped Around You
Combine Dali Ancient Town, Erhai Lake and Fengyu Ancient Town in a route that leaves room for the things you enjoy. Share your dates and preferred pace with WhyYunnan.
FAQs
A few things to know before discovering Dali with WhyYunnan
Lakeside walks, mountain outings and village visits call for different plans. Tell us which experiences matter most, and we can shape your dates around local weather and access.
A first visit can start with Dali Ancient Town and Erhai Lake. Add Cangshan Mountain or Fengyu Ancient Town according to the time available. The three collections above help you choose a route around your interests.
Yes. Places to Explore, Attractions and Hidden Gems are complementary ways to discover Dali. Combine a town-focused stay with a landscape outing and a quieter village visit; the exact route will depend on access and your dates.
The journey cards suggest short stays of three or four days as starting points, rather than fixed itineraries. A wider route through Dali needs more time between stops. Share the places you hope to visit so we can propose a realistic pace.
Choose a journey card and select Plan this trip to open our enquiry form. Your Dali destination and chosen journey are included in the link. Share your dates and interests so the itinerary, availability and any costs can be confirmed. Background references: China Ministry of Culture and Tourism: Dali heritage route · Dali heritage and landscape guide
