Snag a Travel Deal: 3-Day 2-Night Tour & Property Viewing in Dali, Yunnan – Experiencing Erhai Lake’s Charm
I’ve always longed to visit Yunnan, but time and work always got in the way – each time it was just talk, and such a pity!
Recently, my bestie spotted a Dali, Yunnan travel-and-property-viewing group online and asked me to join her. Having just quit my job, I had nothing but free time at home, so we quickly agreed and embarked on a 3-day, 2-night property-viewing trip.
PS: We’re both level-headed and won’t be sweet-talked by property salespeople. As long as the travel part is real and well-organized, we’re sure to have a great time!
We arrived in Dali on an evening flight. The local guide met us right on time, and we checked into a guesthouse right by Erhai Lake – which left a really good first impression.
On the first morning, the driver called to let us know we’d be heading to Erhai Lake, Shuanglang, and Dali Ancient Town.
By the lakeside, you can splash in the water – so refreshing! Dali’s climate is wonderful, with an average temperature around 25°C. It’s breezy and sunny, so a friendly reminder: don’t forget sunscreen!
We spent a long, leisurely morning by Erhai Lake. In the afternoon, we rested back at the hotel, and it wasn’t until 5 or 6 p.m. that we headed to the ancient town. The old town at dusk has a charm all its own.
Even at night, it was bustling. We had dinner in the old town and strolled around. Dali Ancient Town shares similarities with many old towns, but I’ve also been to Lijiang. The two are a bit different – Lijiang has more out-of-town visitors, while Dali’s old town feels deeply lived-in. Right inside, we even spotted a primary school. Since it was the winter/summer break, we missed the lively after-school scene, but you could easily imagine many local residents living nearby.
When the driver came to pick us up, we realized our guesthouse was very close to a place called Lixiangbang (Ideal Utopia). So we popped over for a look. Lixiangbang is nicknamed ‘Santorini of Yunnan,’ and the exotic vibe is really strong. There are plenty of trendy hotels here; spending a night would have made the trip perfect.
PS: To be honest, we had our little scheme. According to the itinerary, the next day we’d be visiting properties. If we just toured them without buying, we figured the organizers might not be so accommodating about the sightseeing part. Haha.
Day 1 summary: The driver accompanied us the whole time and had a great attitude. If you had any special preferences, the itinerary could be adjusted – that really suited me.
Day 2, the property viewing began. Before heading out in the morning, my bestie and I agreed: we must not get brainwashed by the developers. We’d stick to our principles – we were here to snag a free tour, a classic ‘wool-pulling’ experience.
At the sales office of Erhai Fumen (Erhai Gate of Fortune), the property consultant started briefing us on the project. To sum up: it’s a development by Erhai Lake with several advantages over others: 1. It’s a home-away-from-home with full city amenities – surrounded by municipal facilities, universities, and parks, enjoying urban comforts. 2. Buy one floor, get another free – it’s a LOFT apartment layout, which feels like a solid deal. 3. Rarity: high-rises are no longer permitted near Erhai Lake, so the complex is quite precious.
Bored in the sales office, we headed to the show flat. This one was a 69-square-meter unit. Seeing it, my bestie got a bit excited: a panoramic large balcony, 270-degree views of Erhai Lake. With the ‘buy one floor, get one free’ deal, a 69 sqm unit becomes more than 100 sqm of usable space. Priced at 12,000 per sqm, that’s just over 800,000 yuan – not bad. And supposedly, it’s in a top school district.
I thought it over. I’m not as impulsive as my bestie, but the layout was satisfying. Considering the amenities, it sidesteps the usual trap of tourist properties lacking proper infrastructure. Price-wise, it’s not too expensive.
Ahhh, now I’m a bit torn. Help me figure this out, would you?
