Don't Say Dali Is Enchanting; It's Different from Lijiang. Don't Skim Through. 9 Things to Do on a Vacation in Dali
Are you not quite satisfied with life,
Haven't laughed for a long time without knowing why?
Since you're unhappy and don't like it here,
Why not head west to Dali?
Having grown up in Pingyao Ancient City, I've always had a special attachment to ancient cities, wanting to visit them all over the world to experience their different cultural heritages. I wanted to find a butterfly that flew to Dali, so I stepped through the gates of Dali Ancient City. Unlike the bold and rugged ancient cities of the north, Dali Ancient City is delicate and handsome, like a shy, modest maiden.
Before coming here, you need to empty yourself and let go of distractions. Only when you are an empty basket can you hold Dali's wildflowers, vegetables, and fruits; only then can you embrace the drifting clouds, gentle breeze, and bright moon. Once you enter Dali's territory, the gentle light of Erhai Lake to the east and the misty shadows of Cangshan Mountain to the west become the backdrop of a romantic film.
This city will never have rushing subways or crowds dashing to work; even bicycles are rarely ridden. Instead, it has elderly people playing chess in courtyards, mothers washing vegetables by the stream, and young people strolling at an incredibly leisurely pace.
Dali Ancient City holds too many legends! History is condensed here. A splendid painting spreads the tales of the Dali Kingdom far and wide. When your eyes meet Dali, your heart instantly opens up.
Here are the things you must do during a vacation in Dali:
Whenever you arrive somewhere, you must first settle on accommodation. In Dali, you can choose a guesthouse. This time I chose Yuying Luyue Inn in Dali Ancient City. It's very convenient for transportation; you can stroll around the ancient city from the inn. You can rent a bicycle or an electric scooter at the door, or you can call a car to pick you up at the intersection.
As soon as you enter the courtyard, you feel relaxed. The yard has flowers and a rocking chair. Sitting in the yard, holding a book, casually flipping through a few pages, listening to some songs, thinking of old friends, daydreaming, writing something—just this alone makes a wonderful day.
Enjoy a homestay that immerses you in local culture. It's not just a comfortable bed and a table of delicious Dali local dishes, but also leaving behind the hardships and noisy city life. At Yuying Luyue Inn, you can enjoy a slow holiday life, share the local people's lifestyle interests, and feel the joy brought by every flower, every scene, every blade of grass, and every tree.
Dali might be the best place to find a sense of belonging. Leaving the noise of city life behind and releasing inner stress, perhaps at Yuying Luyue you can find your true self.
This artistic guesthouse has an unwritten rule: painters and musicians can show their works to the innkeeper. If he approves, they can stay for free for up to a year or so, living and creating slowly here.
Yuying Luyue Inn is clean and elegant. Here you can feel the spring-like beauty of Dali all year round. The inn pays great attention to details; there is always a corner that can touch you. Some inconspicuous small decorations in the yard I really like, as if in an instant of lifting my foot, my heart rested. It feels like the noise of the world has nothing to do with me; everything becomes slow, peaceful, and distant.
The central courtyard is spacious and leisurely. Every resting area seems to satisfy your beautiful imagination of an ancient city. Everywhere you see pictures—rock, cartoon, oil painting—every decoration shows their care. This inn is an excellent stop for art lovers.
Coming here, perhaps admiring the scenery is no longer important; savoring and experiencing it with someone is the most memorable thing. The charming inn is like a sentimental tavern, hiding all kinds of delicious things. What I like most are the two large courtyards. At night, enjoying a small drink at Yuying, the intoxicating wine enters the mouth, letting thoughts slowly wander.
The most indispensable thing in travel is a comfortable bed and a romantic sentiment. Then, Yuying Luyue Inn might be the best choice. Every flower and scene makes you marvel silently. It is not only a place to stay but also an experience of a lifestyle, a prose poem written for life.
Enjoy a slow holiday life, share the local people's lifestyle interests. The clean walls are decorated with personalized line frames as ornaments, and the gentle space instantly makes you fall in love.
Brew a cup of kung fu tea, taste tea and admire flowers. No need to visit any scenic spots or rush around; everything relaxes slowly in nature.
Here, slow down together. Remain indifferent to favor or disgrace, watch the flowers bloom and fall in the front yard; have no intention to stay or leave, gaze at the clouds rolling and unrolling in the sky. Time freezes here. Whether alone, with a few friends, or a close couple, people who escape from the city to Dali Yuying never want to go back.
Address: No. 398, Lower Section Renmin Road, Dali Ancient City, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province
Now that the lodging is settled, you must first stroll around Dali Ancient City to feel it.
For a while, I often dreamed of Dali at night, like flowers in a mirror, the moon in water, a mirage. Sometimes it felt distant and blurry; its outline could only be found in paper media with the fragrance of ink or in casually browsed web links.
Coming here is not to seek the so-called wind, flowers, snow, and moon, but to be alone, quietly wandering among the blue bricks and green tiles of the thousand-year-old city, feeling its past prosperity, savoring its depth and simplicity. Walking through the ordinary alleys of Dali, unintentionally stepping into an ordinary courtyard, you might be touched and gain unexpected rewards.
The people living in this city seem like those in the Peach Blossom Spring described by Tao Yuanming. They don't know how serious the changes of seasons are; cold and heat seem to be just nouns in books or from outsiders.
The most flavorful is Yangren Street (Foreigner Street). Many foreigners make handmade craft decorations and sell them on the ground. Many young men and women love them, scanning the dazzling array of goods and buying a lot.
The famous Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple are a symbol of Dali. These three pagodas were built during the Nanzhao Fengnuo period, more than 2,000 years ago.
The three pagodas have stood tall through wind and rain, solemn and majestic. Just like the inscription on the main pagoda's base, "Eternal Peace to the Mountains and Rivers," they exude a magnificent momentum that shakes all directions.
About 100 meters north and south of Chongsheng Temple, there are reflection parks, which are the best places to photograph the reflection of the three pagodas.
Cangshan Mountain, the most famous landmark in Dali, is worth visiting again and again.
Located in Dali, Yunnan, Cangshan is the main peak at the southern end of the Yunling Mountains. Nineteen peaks form a whole from north to south, starting from Eryuan Dengchuan in the north and reaching Xiaguan Tiansheng Bridge in the south.
Cangshan is a wonderful spot for hiking experiences and has an excellent environment. Moreover, from Cangshan, you can see the most beautiful scenery of Dali from a high vantage point. That's the meaning of "ascend high and see far." Cangshan is a paradise for the eyes.
In spring, wildflowers cover the mountains; in autumn, fallen leaves drift down the hillsides; in the early morning fog, peaks and green trees appear faintly; mountain streams, clear springs, strange rocks, and picturesque pines—walking in Cangshan, you feel the rapidly changing and incredibly beautiful mountain scenery. One can only sigh that even the fairyland of Jiangnan's mountains and waters is no more than this.
There is a sea in Yunnan, at the foot of Cangshan, called Erhai Lake. It is a beautiful plateau lake, elongated in shape, like a crescent moon, lying quietly between Cangshan and the Dali basin. Because it resembles an ear, it is named "Erhai" (Ear Sea).
Erhai has excellent water quality and rich aquatic resources. It is also a scenic area with charming landscapes. Erhai gives a feeling of romance and a sense of mystery.
Here, leaves are vividly colored, clouds float gently, and plants have subtle meanings. Guesthouses by the water, where the tide gently strokes the stone shore, morning light shines on seabirds, sunset spills leftover rays, and water light sways in the hall—all scenes are wonderful and dreamlike.
Here, take a slow walk, stop and go, feel the warm sunshine and soft sea breeze. In the early morning by Erhai Lake, feel the gentle breeze and warm sunshine. Everything about a good life is here.
The beauty of Zhoucheng lies not only in the scenery, nor just in the Butterfly Spring and its poignant legend; more importantly, there is a dynamic woven by intelligence and wisdom, a simple and solid feeling that touches the heart.
Tie-dye is a traditional folk craft of the Bai people in Zhoucheng since the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Tie-dye handicrafts integrate culture and art. The tie-dye cloth is hand-sewn and stitched, repeatedly cold-dyed, producing a blue color with a hint of green, dignified and elegant, finely made, with fresh patterns and bright colors, exported overseas. We went to the Dali Puzhen Bai Tie-dye Museum to make our own tie-dye fabric.
The various patterns on the blue background are elegant and refined, full of life, reflecting the simple and elegant character of the Bai people, leading people back to a quiet life in nature.
Tie-dye seems effortless for them, yet they display blooming camellias, plum blossoms, dancing butterflies, fresh grass, flying bees, as well as mountains and rivers, ethnic customs, flowers, birds, fish, insects, geometric patterns, etc., all under their needlework stitches.
Over thousands of years, the ancient art of dyeing has taken root among the people with its unique and wonderful beauty, adorning and beautifying their lives. Simple and unadorned, naturally charming—may this ancient dyeing art shine brightly again in the Central Plains and become even more splendid.
Santorini is a romantic destination in many people's hearts. Dali also has a "Little Santorini," where you can see sea-view guesthouses on cliffs similar to the Aegean style of Santorini, Greece.
Dali has many beautiful sights: blue sky, white clouds, Erhai Lake, white walls—experience its idyllic beauty.
The guesthouse is nestled between Cangshan and Erhai, with Cangshan at its back and Erhai in front. At a glance, you can see a romantic sea view. Under the warm sunshine, you can't help but want to fall in love.
Address: 50 meters north of Dali Huanhai East Road, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province
Dali Maomi Garden is full of flowers, like a dreamy, innocent, and beautiful place. It attracts countless bees and butterflies to enjoy the joy of picking flowers and making honey.
In just two years, at the foot of Cangshan Mountain, a 10,000-square-meter garden was planted with over 20,000 kinds of flowering plants, making it the most beautiful natural ecological garden in Dali.
It is known that the entire Maomi Garden is divided into a rural garden, a circular rose garden, an island rose garden, a white garden, a rose corridor, a mirror pool, a hydrangea garden, a vegetable garden, etc., as well as a glass flower house café, camping tents, a big banyan tree white house, etc.
Visitors who like to take photos should bring several sets of clothes to have a good photo session in the garden.
Snow spray, daisies, anemones, tulips, lilies, agapanthus, hydrangeas—pick fresh flowers at will and put them in a vase. No need to worry about technique; let the colors of the seasons freely change in the vase.
Will Maomi Garden become a business card of Dali in the future?
Address: Opposite Yongsen Wood Industry, Dali 214 National Highway. You can navigate directly to "Maomi Garden."
In Dali Ancient City, it's not just about visiting the ancient city and seeing Cangshan and Erhai. Stay at Yuying Luyue Inn, sleep until the sun naturally wakes you up, then stroll out of the ancient city gate. You can take a taxi or rent an electric scooter to find a secret garden.
Mingli Commune, a leisurely mountain estate in Dali, offers a new pastoral life under Cangshan. Chinese and Western cuisine, bonfire tents, charcoal barbecue, Angus steak, and dessert is even roasted marshmallows, surrounded by flowers and greenery.
The owner is a northeastern uncle wearing suspenders. Every plant in every corner is cultivated with care, full of greenery greeting you. Eating here is truly feast for the eyes.
At night, it's very romantic. There are various rooms to check in and take photos, perfect for posting on social media. Girls who love taking photos should not miss it.
Such a delicate garden restaurant—quickly invite your girlfriends and your sweetheart to spend a refreshing summer together.
As night deepens, red lanterns are lit. The mystery of Dali Ancient City is elusive, as if it can no longer hold back the stories buried for so long. Now, this ancient city finally meets you, and the longings and concerns become clearer.
Don't say Dali is enchanting; it's just wind, flowers, snow, and moon. Dali of wind, flowers, snow, and moon—how beautiful it is. Just hearing its name intoxicates people. I believe every flower, every wisp of wind, every snowflake, and every ray of moonlight here has a romantic name. I also believe every story here is related to happiness.
Seek a story of wind, flowers, snow, and moon in Dali—with mountains, water, people, emotions, rough winds, and bright moons. Leave a simple and poetic chapter in the pages of our lives!
At this time, Dali Ancient City is splendidly illuminated. For thousands of years, the bustling glamour seems never to disperse. Yet that mist is but a fleeting dream for every passerby: coming to dream of her beauty, leaving to dream of her splendor. Throughout the ages, nature has forged her diverse and beautiful dreams.
Dali is always peaceful. It is still, like the starry sky, deep and distant. This small town is perfect for you to let go of all emotions, seek dreams, be a listener of time, slowly under moonlit nights, gently telling through the wind.
