Dali Travel Beyond Erhai Lake: These Hidden Gems Are Stunningly Photogenic

What makes you fall in love with a place? Sometimes it's just the name. Those names are no longer mere labels—they become a landscape, a story, and a warm memory.

Dali, Dali, the land of wind, flowers, snow, and moon—a place you must visit at least once in your life. Cangshan and Erhai nurture elegance; ink and literature scent the air. Artists retreat here, cultivating an artistic life in this spiritual soil.

On that trip, my best friend and I traveled from Lijiang to Dali. The train ride was less than two hours, so convenient.

I've lost count of how many times I've been to Dali, but this was the first time with my bestie, and the travel experience felt different. We didn't do what first-timers often do—rent a car to circle Erhai Lake.

Xizhou, Shuanglang, Wase, Wenbi, Zhoucheng, Fengche Mountain... I'd been to all these places, even Jizhao Nunnery has my footprints.

This time, we explored Dali Old Town and some lesser-known spots nearby. You won't get lost in Dali Old Town; it's neatly laid out in a grid, unlike Lijiang Dayan Old Town where you might lose yourself in a maze of narrow alleys.

During the Tang and Song dynasties, Dali was the seat of the Nanzhao and Dali kingdoms, serving as Yunnan's political, economic, and cultural center for over 500 years.

Stalls on Renmin Road, cozy little bars late at night, restaurants serving mushroom dishes... The leisurely time we two women spent wandering Dali Old Town was simply delightful.

Dali Old Town also has many charming little shops—perfect for couples, close friends, or a slow-paced getaway in small groups.

This time, let me take you to a few off-the-beaten-path, picturesque spots so you can experience a different side of Dali. Some are even unknown to locals.

These places have one thing in common: they're incredibly photogenic! Our cameras were soon bursting with photos of my bestie and me.

The most beautiful life experience is coexisting truthfully with nature. Dali Mingli Commune was absolutely the most unexpected delight of this trip. A couple from Harbin in northeast China rented a patch of empty land in Dali and transformed it into a farm.

The farm is planted with all kinds of flowers and greenery, and they keep piglets and ducklings. They grow their own vegetables and fruits, living a self-sufficient farming life that so many people dream of.

Such a wonderful existence at the foot of Cangshan Mountain.

We booked the farm dinner at Mingli Commune a day ahead. That night back at our guesthouse, my bestie smiled and said, "This experience was beyond worth it."

Freshly grilled chicken legs, prawns, steak... plus an array of fruits and vegetables from the farm. After dark, we gathered around the fire, roasting corn, figs, and marshmallows... Looking up, a full moon hung above—a night deeply etched in my memory.

The steak was grilled in a very special way, inside a wooden cabin tent, and we could ask for it medium or medium-well.

As night fell, the wooden tent lit up with warm lights. Even a casual snapshot was full of romance.

Go for dinner at Dali Mingli Commune. Sit by the fire, listen to the farm owners talk about how they built this place. You'll discover that some people live in ways you could never imagine.

Price: Lunch 158 RMB/person; Dinner 258 RMB/person. Distance from Dali Old Town: about 7 km.

This is a hidden English-style garden along National Highway 214. It's a secret garden no woman can resist, satisfying every ounce of your girly heart.

Its name is Maomi Garden.

The afternoon air is filled with the scent of wild strawberries and lemon balm. Maomi Garden doesn't have cats—it's just bursting with flowers.

It's said the owner spent several million yuan to create it. Over 20,000 varieties of plants and flowers are planted, and every corner shows the owner's meticulous design.

Maomi Garden has a transparent glasshouse. If you prefer indoors, you can sip coffee there. No reservation needed—just ring the doorbell.

From Maomi Garden, you can see Dali's Three Pagodas. Cangshan is lush green, birds sing, and flowers perfume the air. My bestie and I planned to return when the roses bloom next time.

In September, the garden was filled with big, beautiful clusters of hydrangeas in stunning colors. The flowers vary with each season; there are so many varieties that each visit feels different.

Enjoy afternoon tea with your bestie and take photos of each other—easily spend an entire afternoon here. It's well worth it.

By the way, when visiting Maomi Garden, wear light-colored clothes—white, blue, or pastels—for better photo results.

Price: 88 RMB/person (includes one drink).

Opening hours: 10:00–20:00 daily.

Distance from Dali Old Town: about 3 km.

On a girls' trip, why not while away an afternoon in a lovely café? That afternoon, this Dali café completely charmed us.

Harvest Coffee has three branches in Dali, and we visited the Cangshan shop.

Pure white ceilings, pure white walls, pure white tables and chairs—it looks beautiful from every angle.

My bestie and I chose to sit outdoors. It's not sunny in the afternoon and you can watch the traffic pass by—so relaxed.

Harvest Coffee's Cangshan store is actually quite spacious, not a tiny café. The coffee is delicious, the staff are handsome, and the photos turn out amazing.

Those three reasons alone are enough.

Drink prices: 30–50 RMB.

Distance from Dali Ancient City: about 6 km.

On this Dali trip with my bestie, we stayed at a beautiful guesthouse: Dali Boxin Yun She · MCA. Just a few dozen steps away lies the thousand-year-old city wall of Dali, yet it's a tranquil haven amidst the bustle.

"Boxin Yun She, the homeland of the soul." That line captivated me at first sight.

Boxin Yun She · MCA's predecessor—Dali MCA Hotel—was the top recommendation in Global Traveler and China Travel guides. Not only was its MCA Art Center a hot spot in Dali's art scene, but it also pioneered China's guesthouse culture.

The renovated Boxin Yun She · MCA blends Bai ethnic residential features with the elegance of a Chinese garden.

We woke up naturally every day and had breakfast with my bestie in the courtyard. Looking down at the plants, listening to birdsong and smelling the flowers, the empty space felt full. The infinity pool mirrored the blue sky and white clouds—so pure, so calm.

"Where shall we go today?" my bestie asked. Traveling without a fixed plan was perfect.

Where do the mountains and waters finally lead? Here at Boxin, this is our home.

From Lijiang Boxin Yun She · Wenyuan to Dali Boxin Yun She · MCA, an ancient city, a courtyard—this is Mr. Xiang's pastoral dream between Cangshan and Erhai.

Gathering the romance of wind, flowers, snow, and moon in a room; preserving the memory of an old town in a bedchamber.

The room we stayed in for those nights was named "Erhai." It had blue drapes and a huge terrace. Standing on the terrace, we could see Erhai Lake.

Details define quality. Boxin Yun She uses De Rucci mattresses, Fuanna Egyptian cotton bedding, imported Shiseido toiletries... Even more thoughtful, every guest receives exclusive bamboo fiber towels, bath towels, linen slippers, and a peach wood comb.

These personal items can be taken home when you leave—a first in China.

Thatched trees and slanting sun, ordinary lanes. Strolling in this poetic dwelling, the beauty in my heart is beyond words.

I loved the rooftop terrace of Boxin Yun She · MCA most. Here you'll find a mirror of the sky, blooming flowers, and the poetry and distant horizons you yearn for.

I loved the blossoms falling all over the courtyard, every plant, every tree.

Back in my own city, flipping through photos, I remembered the pomegranates and jujubes ripening in the Boxin Yun She · MCA courtyard. Did someone secretly pluck a fruit?

A simple retreat, a home for the soul. Choosing a room you love, then daydreaming or sipping tea—nothing could be more wonderful.

Boxin Yun She · MCA price: 1400–2500 RMB.

Distance from Dali Old Town's South Gate: about 100 meters.

Inside Dali Old Town, there's an art zone that used to be the Dali Bed Sheet Factory—now called Dali Bed Sheet Factory Art Zone. On Cangping Street No. 56, the road narrows and quiets down; at the end lies this place.

I recommend it not only because photos look great here, but also for the "Eternal Light: A Century of Dali Photography Exhibition," which displays many historical photos of Dali.

To understand Dali's past, go here!

There are walls covered in graffiti, plenty of cute spots for posing, and I even found a few favorite outfits at an original design shop.

It's really worth a leisurely stroll. The art zone isn't large; an hour or two is enough.

Inside the art zone, there's also the Dolphin Ade Bookstore, an indie bookstore. There's another branch in Haishe Park, which I once visited—I wonder if it's still there.

You can buy a copy of "Under Cangshan," pet the cats, or sit by the window with a cup of coffee.

The old staircase makes a perfect photo backdrop.

This place is hailed as "Dali Old Town's most artistic spot," retaining the original industrial buildings from the 1990s. The overall vibe is retro yet full of modern flair.

Admission: free. Distance from Dali Old Town: 0 km.

At the foot of Cangshan, by the shores of Erhai, that romance of wind, flowers, snow, and moon. Some trips don't require rushing to famous spots just to check them off a list. Only by slowing down can you truly feel the essence of a place.

Staying three nights at Dali Boxin Yun She MCA felt too short. Although I've been to Dali several times, each visit leaves me with different memories.

Save this article. This upcoming holiday, invite your special someone and go to Dali together.