Dali Travel Guide: Endless Scenery to Capture, Endless Stories to Tell

Travel: endless scenery to photograph, a journey you can't stop talking about, stories without end.

Every landscape has someone who lingers for it; every story has someone who holds it dear. Everyone carries a different mood, a different feeling from their journey.

Travel is an experience—venturing far to seek another way of living, broadening your horizons, and encountering more beautiful scenery. Only through rich experience can you truly understand life’s lessons. Life brings many hardships, but also abundant joy. Nowadays, life and work pressures are mounting; the fast pace often keeps us running nonstop. A short trip to unwind is perhaps another way to truly experience life. Someone once said: all encounters in this world are reunions long overdue. On our travels, let’s go out and meet those beautiful landscapes and fascinating souls!

Some say travel is a directionless search, a flight with no orientation—seemingly free, yet tangled with constraints. Dali is a city people yearn for. To many, autumn feels lonely, but in Dali, it brims with poetic charm and deep autumn atmosphere. The autumn breath, the fallen leaves and drifting catkins all over Dali Ancient Town, become a different kind of scenery; Cangshan Mountain shrouds itself in mist, and Erhai Lake turns into a fairyland.

I love Dali in autumn. In the early morning, there’s a hint of chill, the sunlight grows softer and lazier. The streets aren’t as crowded as usual, feeling more peaceful. Leaves drift in the wind, bringing an ease like that of a pastoral poet. Time slows, moments soften—this is Dali in autumn.

Dali is a city of 'wind, flowers, snow, and moonlight'—a place of romance. It has the flavor of an ancient town, Bai ethnic customs, unique Dali delicacies, the natural scenery of Cangshan, and leisurely moments by Erhai. Dali is a perfect place for leisure, relaxation, unwinding, and enjoying a slow-paced life. Located in northwest Yunnan at around 1,800 meters above sea level, Dali boasts beautiful scenery and pleasant weather all year round, ideal for short stays. It’s an internationally renowned tourist city with many worthwhile spots: Dali Ancient Town, Cangshan Mountain, the Three Pagodas Temple, Erhai Lake, Xizhou Ancient Town, Wase, and more.

1. Preparations Before Traveling to Dali

(A) Check the weather online based on your travel dates.

(B) Pack your luggage and daily necessities before departure.

(C) Search for accommodation online in advance and book a guesthouse in a style you like. Once you arrive in Dali, you can check in straight away, put down your bags, and start exploring. Don’t think you can find a guesthouse after arriving—you’ll be dragging your suitcase over the ancient town’s cobblestone paths, which is very inconvenient.

(D) After researching travel information online, roughly draft an itinerary. Then you’ll know how to explore and have clear destinations once you’re in Dali.

(E) Look up food information—which local dishes and snacks to try—so you can enjoy the cuisine as soon as you arrive.

2. Important Tips for Dali

(A) Dali sits on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, averaging around 1,800 meters above sea level. Morning and evening temperatures vary greatly, so wrap up warm!

(B) Dali is a famous tourist city, so peak season crowds swell during national holidays and summer vacation. Other times are off-season with fewer visitors—plan according to your own schedule.

(C) UV radiation is strong in Dali; be sure to protect your skin from the sun and keep moisturized.

3. Accommodation in Dali

Guesthouses are a highlight of Dali, and the best way to experience the soft, slow-paced life here. Settle into a guesthouse, quiet your mind, and let your thoughts settle. In your spare time, sip tea, read a book, enjoy flowers in the courtyard, or watch the sunset from the rooftop—all wonderful ways to live. Our choice in Dali was: Waiting for You in Dali · Ark Mu Residence.

Waiting for You in Dali · Ark Mu Residence is on the lower section of Renmin Road in Dali Ancient Town—a prime location that’s easy to get around, a quiet spot amid the bustle. It’s just a few minutes’ walk into the ancient town, and the guesthouse even has its own parking lot, so parking is very convenient. The architectural style is just what I like: minimalist and understated luxury.

The guesthouse atmosphere is relaxed and carefree, letting you travel and live in a state of ease. Every corner brims with poetry. In the early mornings, I most love having a cup of coffee in the courtyard, reading a book, and finding the perfect travel mood.

Dali’s evening glow is stunning. At dusk, from the rooftop garden, you can gaze at distant views and watch the afterglow of the setting sun. The evening sunlight isn’t harsh but very soft. Up in the rooftop garden, you can look out at the scenery, watch the sunset, and take photos to capture Dali’s most beautiful moments. The rooftop garden is full of marguerite daisies—so beautiful. At night, the rooftop garden gets a bit chilly with a cool breeze, so you need thicker clothes. You can enjoy the night view and gaze at the starry sky. Under the stars, Dali glitters dazzlingly, revealing another kind of beauty.

The guesthouse rooms are simple yet tasteful, with soft lighting that feels very comfortable. The bed and linens are clean and hygienic, giving peace of mind. The mattress is wonderfully soft and cozy; lying down is especially comfortable, letting a tired body get a good rest.

Overall, the guesthouse impressed me greatly. The environment is elegant, with a sense of deep, secluded courtyards. There’s a tea lounge, a poetic courtyard, and a rooftop viewing platform. The rooms are highly comfortable. All in all, it’s a lovely guesthouse, with excellent value for money.

Dali Food: Waiting for You in Dali · Ark Fatty’s Kitchen

A must-visit internet-famous restaurant in Dali: Waiting for You in Dali · Ark Fatty’s Kitchen. Especially in the evening, a long queue forms outside. On the first day, I planned to go but found the wait would be too long. So the next day, I placed an order through a certain food platform, then called the restaurant to reserve a spot for a specific time slot. Only then did I finally get to taste the delicious wild mushroom cuisine.

Speaking of wild mushrooms, matsutake, termite mushrooms, morels, etc., are famous nationwide, but rare in other cities because wild mushrooms require specific growing conditions. Yunnan is known as the 'kingdom of wild mushrooms.' So Dali’s specialty food naturally includes wild mushroom dishes. Open any food app and you’ll find many wild mushroom restaurants, but very few have outstanding reputations. Waiting for You in Dali · Ark Fatty’s Kitchen alone enjoys exceptional word-of-mouth and rave reviews; I saw its charm from the very first day.

Wild mushrooms are highly nutritious and deliciously fresh and tasty. They pair well with many ingredients and are natural culinary treasures. Ark Fatty’s Kitchen has a simple, unpretentious design, where you chew the flavors of food in a bright, open space. Slowing down during your travels to savor life’s pleasures—isn’t that a form of happiness? I love the restaurant’s second floor best, where the breeze is gentle, time feels light, and the food is wonderfully fragrant, giving a pavilion-like feel. Sipping delicious mushroom soup, eating fragrant mushroom fried rice, and pairing it with a drink—life is just that simple and gentle.

Time is soft, moments are beautiful. Deep within time, using an appreciative eye to discover nearby beauty is a treat. In turbulent days, seek a touch of warmth from food. Choose a satisfying meal set with great value, and even the most troubled days can be soothed by good food. What impressed me most about Waiting for You in Dali · Ark Fatty’s Kitchen is finding a sense of happiness in life through dining. On the second-floor pavilion, you feel the softness deep in time, a light breeze, faint clouds, and a relaxed, comfortable existence.

4. Recommended Dali Attractions

When in Dali, the Ancient Town is a must-see. It’s not large, and in autumn, it takes on an extra beauty, like the scene in Jay Chou’s song 'Maple Leaf': ‘slowly drifting maple leaves like longing.’ The Ancient Town is steeped in history, with cobblestone streets, bridges over streams, old walls, and city towers—as if walking through time. The best time to visit is at night, to see the evening scenery, experience the bar culture, and sample Dali’s nightlife. Autumn nights in Dali are a bit chilly though, so don’t wander too late; daytime weather is very comfortable for a stroll along Erhai Lake.

Autumn Erhai is incredibly beautiful, with many red maple leaves along its shores. The best spot to wander by Erhai is Shuanglang, and the best time is afternoon. Your first visit will captivate you with Erhai’s gentle beauty. As Lin Qingxuan said: 'May every traveler see the most beautiful scenery, and may every returner eventually wait for the most beautiful view.'

I love Erhai’s tranquility and beauty. When night falls, the red clouds and lake water reflect each other—perhaps what the poet meant: 'The setting clouds and lonely wild duck soar together; the autumn water shares a single hue with the vast sky.' Strolling along the fresh, serene lakeshore, feeling the breeze, recounting past and future, sighing over worldly vicissitudes. The sunset’s afterglow spreads on the shimmering lake surface, small boats drift slowly, and distant mountains tinged with rosy light resemble an elegant ink wash painting. Watching time pass, people come and go, sunrise and sunset—this is travel.

Before I had time to visit Cangshan and the Three Pagodas Temple, the next leg of my journey already began, which also leaves a reason to return to Dali a second time.

What truly heals your soul isn’t the stories of life, but setting off on a journey where you meet another version of yourself. Dali alone might seem a bit lonely at first, but gradually you’ll discover that going solo, pausing and moving as your heart wishes, following your inner desires for the journey you want, is perhaps more meaningful. The best state for a person is never envying others, never caring about others’ opinions, and living exactly as you want to be.