Erhai Lake with white sea-flowers, a red pavilion and the Cangshan mountains

Tour 1 of 4

Classic Erhai Loop

Old-town landmarks, a Bai old town and both shores of Erhai in one trip — the safest choice for a first visit to Dali.

See it all in one unhurried loop — without the zig-zagging.

Three days that string together Dali's landmarks, its best-preserved Bai old town and both the west and east shores of Erhai. The route flows in one direction with no backtracking, the corridor stretches are walked at an easy pace, and the second day ends with the sun setting over the lake at Shuanglang, facing Cangshan.

All the essentials

Old town, Bai towns, both shores

Corridor walk

Walk a stretch, regroup at the next

Shuanglang sunset

Facing Cangshan across Erhai

Smooth route

One direction, no backtracking

Day-by-day itinerary · 3 days / 2 nights

Day1

Old-town landmarks & first impressions

  • MorningArrive in Dali and stroll Dali Old Town — Renmin Road, Foreigner Street and the old city walls — easing into the slow pace.
  • AfternoonThe Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, Dali's thousand-year landmark and a superb photo stop → Sanwenbi Village by the pagodas' exit, a creative little village loved by digital nomads, for independent shops and a café break.
  • EveningBai specialty dinner · overnight in Dali Old Town
Dali Old TownThree PagodasSanwenbi Village
Day2

Bai old town & the Erhai corridor

  • MorningXizhou Old Town — the Yan Family Compound and the golden rice fields → a Bai tie-dye workshop where you dye a piece to take home.
  • MiddayBai lunch in Xizhou, including the famous Xizhou baba flatbread.
  • AfternoonThe best stretch of the Erhai Eco-Corridor: our car drops you at one access point and you stroll to the next to regroup, with Cangshan and the lake beside you.
  • EveningTransfer to Shuanglang for an Erhai sunset facing Cangshan · overnight in Shuanglang
XizhouTie-dye DIYEco-corridorShuanglang sunset
Day3

East-shore lake light & farewell

  • MorningFrom Shuanglang, a boat out to Nanzhao Fengqing Island / Xiaoputuo — or head south to Wase for east-shore lake views.
  • Early afternoonDeparture
Nanzhao IslandXiaoputuoWase
A small wooden boat on Erhai Lake in Dali beneath towering summer clouds
Cloud harvest on Erhai
The gate tower of Dali Old Town lit up at night
Dali Old Town
The Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple in Dali before the Cangshan mountains
The Three Pagodas
The historic wooden corner tower of Xizhou old town near Dali
Xizhou
Sunlight through willows on the shore of Erhai Lake
The corridor shore

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