2020 51-Day Autumn Self-Drive Tour of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan: (8) Dali, Weishan, Chuxiong, Kunming, Dongchuan

2020 51-Day Autumn Self-Drive Tour of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan, divided into 10 parts:

(1) Zhijiang, Maotai Town, Chishui, Luzhou, Zigong.

(2) Chengdu, Dujiangyan.

(3) Wenchuan, Li County, Barkam, Jinchuan, Danba, Xinduqiao.

(4) Xinduqiao, Yajiang, Litang, Daocheng.

(5) Daocheng Yading.

(6) Shangri-La, Lijiang.

(7) Jianchuan.

This is (8) Dali, Weishan, Chuxiong, Kunming, Dongchuan.

(9) Panzhou, Qianxinan, Ziyun, Duyun.

(10) Qiandongnan, Fuzhou, Quzhou.

This self-drive tour, from October 9 to November 28, lasted 51 days and covered 8,780 km.

Starting from Shanghai, passing through Quzhou (Zhejiang), Zhuzhou (Jiangxi), Zhijiang (Hunan), Maotai Town and Chishui (Guizhou), Luzhou, Zigong, Chengdu, Dujiangyan, Wenchuan, Li County, Barkam, Jinchuan, Danba, Xinduqiao, Litang, Daocheng (Sichuan), Shangri-La, Lijiang, Jianchuan, Shaxi, Dali, Weishan, Chuxiong, Kunming, Dongchuan (Yunnan), Panzhou, Qianxinan, Ziyun, Duyun, Qiandongnan (Guizhou), then via Loudi (Hunan), Fuzhou (Jiangxi), Quzhou (Zhejiang), back to Shanghai.

Day 28, November 5, from Shaxi Ancient Town to Shuanglang Ancient Town

4. Shuanglang: The best place to view Erhai Lake. Yuji Island, Nanzhao Customs Island, altitude 1,985 m.

Stayed at Yunqi Pishi Sea View Garden Inn, an inn facing the sea:

After checking in, sat by the sea at the inn, facing the sea, drinking Yunnan coffee, watching clouds roll and waves surge, until sunset, then went out for dinner:

Nanzhao Customs Island, need to take a boat to get there:

Dinner had fish hot pot, could resume drinking alcohol:

After eating and drinking, walked to see the ancient town at night:

Day 29, November 6, Dali, 10:40--16:15

Erhai morning:

Hotel breakfast:

Yang Liping's Moon Palace:

Yang Liping's Sun Palace:

From Shuanglang Ancient Town to Butterfly Spring:

5. Butterfly Spring:

4A, ticket 15 yuan, round-trip shuttle 20 yuan.

Visited for the second time. A clear spring under a crooked tree. Famous because of the movie "Five Golden Flowers".

The market at the exit made everyone go around eight or nine times, really annoying. Inside the scenic area, there were many people promoting renting Bai ethnic costumes, taking photos, selling food, etc., tirelessly recommending.

Brother Apeng and Jinhua, deep affection between brother and sister:

6. Xizhou Ancient Town:

7. Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple:

5A, ticket 37 yuan. Visited for the second time.

The pagodas are even-numbered, said to represent equality between men and women.

Stayed at Vienna Hotel Dali Ancient City Branch. Encountered a power outage at night, fortunately the hotel had its own generator.

Day 30, November 7, Dali, 9:30--

8. Dali Ancient City: 4A

Visited for the second time.

Dali Ancient City had too many people, even more than Lijiang Ancient City.

Inside the city: Ancient city wall, Foreigner Street, Dali City Museum, Wuhua Tower, Renmin Road, Wumiao Temple (now an antique market).

One Pagoda (Hongsheng Temple, not open).

Stele of Kublai Khan Pacifying Yunnan (not open, photographed through the door crack):

9. Nanzhao Dehua Stele:

10. Xiaguan:

Dali Prefecture Museum

From Xiaguan to Weishan County.

Stayed at Yunzhishang Hotel in Weishan County.

1,300 years ago, the birthplace of the Nanzhao Kingdom, founded in the 22nd year of Hongwu (1389). The ancient city maintains the chessboard layout from when it was built over 600 years ago. It is a relatively well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasty architectural complex.

Gongchen Tower, Xinggong Tower, Menghua Old Residence, Jinshi Archway, Qunli Gate, Mengyang Park, Yuanjue Temple (white pagoda in front from Ming dynasty), Confucian Temple.

Weishan County is not on the main road, fewer tourists, more authentic.

Day 31, November 8, Weishan County to Chuxiong, 8:40-16:15

From Weishan County to Weibao Mountain: 14 km, 0:25

Ticket 18 yuan. 9:10--11:50

One of the 14 famous Taoist mountains in China, with nearly twenty Taoist temples, mostly built in early Qing dynasty, with an ancient atmosphere. Also the birthplace of Nanzhao. Altitude 2,230 m.

We only visited the Yuhuang Pavilion area, which concentrated about half of the temples, about a 20-minute walk from the entrance.

Visitors seemed to be only the two of us; we encountered fewer than twenty people on the way. Birds chirping constantly, a truly quiet fairy mountain.