Dreamy, Wandering Days: A Romantic Journey to Dali
A long time ago, I read a quote online: 'In my opinion, if there is truly something in life that can be called living without regrets, it is having playful joy in childhood, drifting experiences in youth, and unforgettable memories in old age.' I wholeheartedly agree with this. Looking back on the places I've visited over the years, everything has been quite wonderful, broadening my horizons, enriching my life experience, and giving me more to talk about with friends. I have always had a dream of visiting Dali—a city of wind, flowers, snow, and moon. I'd postponed it many times due to time and distance, but this time I didn't want to miss it again.
When I was young, I had a dream about Yunnan. In the blink of an eye, I've stumbled into that dreamland, now with mountain songs accompanying my journey.
Before arriving, I booked a hotel online—Meili Xiangyue · Mengdiezhuang Hotel. When my flight landed, I saw my personal butler waiting with a car right outside the airport. As soon as he saw me, he quickly came over to open the car door. Riding in the hotel's private car, the butler chatted with me with a constant smile, sharing interesting tidbits about Dali's culture. It felt so warm and welcoming. After a smooth drive to the hotel, he bustled about with my luggage and escorted me to my room after I checked in.
Meili Xiangyue · Mengdiezhuang Hotel is located at the north gate of Dali Ancient Town. It has two sections: Cangshan Garden and Erhai Garden. I stayed in a Private Pavilion King Room in Cangshan Garden. The room features a large bathtub with a surrounding surface paved in marble tiles, simple and spotlessly clean. Filling it with hot water and sinking into a bath soothes the fatigue of travel—this is how an ideal getaway should be!
The room also has a spacious floor-to-ceiling window, offering a view of the beautiful courtyard right from the bed. Outside, there's a small wooden pavilion with a table and chairs in the center—perfect for sipping tea, enjoying the scenery, sunbathing, and unwinding completely.
After settling in, the butler brought a fruit platter and discussed my itinerary for the next few days. When I booked the hotel, the staff had told me they offer a 'one room, one car, one butler' personalized service. Each room comes with a private butler and a private car, which can be used for free within a 30-kilometer radius of the hotel. They also help with selecting and arranging travel routes based on my needs, offering timely and sensible suggestions—truly a thoughtful, human-centered service.
The next morning, the butler picked me up at the agreed time.
Our first stop today was Erhai Lake. We set out early, so the surroundings were quiet, with few tourists around. Standing by Erhai, feeling the lake breeze on my face and listening to the waves lapping the shore, everything was so harmonious. Now and then, a few seagulls flew across the water, as if welcoming visitors. In that moment, I hastily asked the butler to take some memorable photos. Afterward, I looked at them and thought, hey, the butler's photography skills are really good—I had to praise him.
'Climb Cangshan, stroll through Dali, and cruise Erhai Lake'—these are must-do activities for visitors. After visiting Erhai, it was naturally time for Cangshan. There are three cableways up the mountain: Gantong Cableway, Ximatan Cableway, and Zhonghe Cableway, each with different routes. I chose the Ximatan Cableway, the longest one, with its highlight being Ximatan, the highest alpine lake. On the return ride, there's also the Qilongnu Pool (Seven Dragon Maidens Pool). The scenery along the way is breathtaking and absolutely worth experiencing.
On the third morning, the butler and I went to Xizhou Ancient Town. It's only about a 20-minute drive from the hotel, very convenient. Xizhou is a perfect place to unwind. It preserves the world's largest and most intact ensemble of traditional Bai ethnic residences and is the 'Miraculous Xizhou' described by the writer Lao She. Once you step inside, you can't help but slow down and soak up the lazy, charming atmosphere of this ancient town.
Walking on, we reached Sifang Street, the town's central hub. Lined with shops, it offers all kinds of crafts and local snacks. I bought some famous Xizhou baba, a specialty snack made mainly from flour. It comes in both sweet and savory varieties. Crispy on the outside and soft inside, it's a beloved treat. I bought some and took a bite—delicious!
After exploring Xizhou, we went to the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple right near the hotel. Built against the mountain, the three pagodas are grand in scale. Even from afar, you can feel their majestic presence, leaving you in awe.
On the last day of my trip, I took advantage of the morning to wander around Dali Ancient Town. Nestled at the foot of the scenic Cangshan Mountain, it's only a two- or three-minute drive from the hotel. As the former capital of both the Nanzhao and Dali kingdoms, it's a historic and cultural city that pairs imposing outer walls with inner charm. The ancient town bustles with visitors and vibrant local life, especially at the southern gate—the largest in the town—where flocks of tourists come daily to take photos and soak up its rich heritage and artistic vibe. It's well worth a visit.
After strolling through the ancient town, I returned to the hotel to pack, and then the butler drove me to the airport. My journey came to a perfect end.
I was extremely pleased with the personalized service at Meili Xiangyue · Mengdiezhuang Hotel. It not only gave me a relaxed and delightful Dali trip but also showed me a different, unique beauty of Dali~
