A小众 Day Trip to Binchuan, Dali: Enjoy 2 Meals and 3 Experiences, Returning Fully Loaded!
A小众 day trip to Binchuan, Dali: savor 2 hearty meals, experience 3 different activities, and return fully loaded!
Binchuan County in Dali is a place rich in produce, known as the "Highland Grape City, Southern Turpan," "Hot Zone Treasure," "Land of Oranges," and "Fruit Village." Its natural scenery is stunning, with Mount Jizu being the most famous. Mount Jizu is a national 4A-level scenic area, a Buddhist sacred site renowned in South and Southeast Asia, and one of China's top ten famous Buddhist mountains. Binchuan is also home to countless culinary delights, most notably Binchuan small-grain coffee and Binchuan Haishao fish.
Preface to the Binchuan小众 Day Trip:
As a recorder of美好 life, I am honored and proud to capture and share with more travelers the rich and wonderful moments of their Binchuan小众 day trip.
2. Enjoying Pickled Vegetable Fish Feast: Time flew by while picking pomegranates in the orchard, and soon it was 12:30. We drove to Binchuan town to eat at a particularly delicious restaurant. I thought our local guide would take us to taste the most authentic and famous Binchuan Haishao fish, but at the restaurant, we learned its specialty was pickled vegetable fish. The restaurant, Ling Xia Yi Du Fish Restaurant, is located on the middle section of Baita Road in the county. Though the decor was ordinary, its name was quite literary, and the owner focused more on the taste. Our group of eight adults and one child ordered a 5.5-jin large fish, along with deep-fried ribs, stir-fried beef, "two acres of land" (a dish of green beans and corn), and vegetable soup. Soon, a large pot of pickled vegetable fish arrived. Once all dishes were served, we began to eat. The midday focus was on the pickled vegetable fish—the fish slices were tender and fresh, with pickled vegetables, potatoes, small chili peppers, and Sichuan pepper. The flavor was intense, and the fish soup with rice was also excellent.
After 1:00 p.m., more guests arrived for lunch. During peak hours, even more people come to eat here. Overall, the food recommended by locals was clean, hygienic, delicious, and affordable.
3. Internet-Famous Leisure Spot "Xing Han Jia": After eating and drinking our fill, it was already 2:00 p.m. Led by the local guide "Tie Hanhan," we went to the Xing Han Clay Pot Red Wine Coffee House on Jianqing Lane in the county. Entering the courtyard, we were greeted by birdsong and floral fragrance—a clean, literary, and internet-famous vibe. From the photos on the walls, it was clear that most visitors here were artistic types. It's a great spot for internet-famous check-ins and small gatherings of friends.
In a room on the second floor, we sipped the owner's homemade clay pot sweet stewed plum wine and enjoyed special snacks, chatting leisurely through a pleasant weekend afternoon. Later, we learned the owner was also a bearer of the county's intangible cultural heritage for the traditional craft of clay pot stewed plums. During our visit, the owner added many special souvenir gifts for us to taste. Since I don't drink and had to drive, I didn't try them. But seeing the smiles on my companions' faces, I knew they were very satisfied.
The peaceful, Zen-like courtyard was filled with various green plants. A cat lazily lounged on a sofa in the hallway, indifferent to the coming and going of people. Only a wooden carving at the entrance caught the eye, inscribed with: "A simple and plain life, handmade by Xing Han Jia."
Enticed by photos of delicious food and fun, a friend named "Xiao Mie" from Xia Guan, 60 kilometers away, drove over with two children to taste the food. This shows how powerful the appeal of internet-famous scenery and cuisine can be!
4. Visiting the Grape Research Institute: At 5:00 p.m., we drove to the Grape Research Institute behind "Er Dui Coffee" for a visit. I had been to Er Dui Coffee many times before but missed the institute due to lack of advance booking. This time, thanks to our leader's prior arrangement, we successfully visited.
Inside the grape-growing greenhouses, various grape varieties filled the space, with ripe fruit hanging from the vines. Without a professional guide, we had only a cursory look at a few exhibition sheds before hurrying out. Instead, the roadside flowers and plants attracted much attention. The adults admired the greenery, while three children played with sand by a rockery and fish pond, thoroughly enjoying themselves.
As the scheduled dinner time approached, we moved on to the next stop—time for a delicious evening meal.
5. Internet-Famous Sai Jie Qiao Wei Yuan: I had visited this internet-famous restaurant several times before. Each time, it was crowded with tourists, but luckily we always booked ahead. Qiao Wei Yuan is quite famous locally and is said to have appeared on some TV shows. It's a great choice for tasting the "Qiao flavor" on the tip of your tongue.
After dinner, it was past 7:00 p.m. The people from the other two cars planned to visit Binchuan's night market. Since we had already played so much and were quite tired, we drove directly back to the Yuan Wuwei B&B in Xia Guan using GPS.
Summary of the Binchuan小众 Day Trip:
1. Transportation: Dali to Binchuan is about 60 km, about 45 minutes by highway. Driving is essential for visiting so many places in one day.
2. Expenses: ① Pomegranate picking: no extra cost; ② Lunch for 9 people: about 300 yuan; ③ Internet-famous spot experience: 300 yuan; ④ Grape Research Institute visit: no cost; ⑤ Dinner for 12 people: 300 yuan.
3. This Binchuan小众 day trip, led by locals, included two hearty meals and three experiences: fruit picking, a visit to an internet-famous spot, and a tour of the Grape Research Institute. We savored delicious food, enjoyed beautiful scenery, made new friends, and returned fully loaded.
Thank you for reading! Wishing you all the best! I am Wuwei Travel, who loves traveling and sharing. To learn more about travel guides for Dali attractions, follow me—more travel highlights await you!
