CN · Yunnan · 25.68°N 100.30°E

dali

Laid-back old town between Erhai Lake and the Cangshan mountains, made for slow days.

Best time
March to May and September to November are dry and bright. Summer is the rainy season, and winter days are sunny but the nights get cold.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
Fly from KL to Kunming, about 3.5 hours, then take the high-speed train to Dali, about 2 hours. Dali station is in Xiaguan, the new town, about 30 minutes from the old town. Trains also link Dali and Lijiang in about 1.5 hours.
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CN · Yunnandali25.68°N 100.30°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Laid-back old town between Erhai Lake and the Cangshan mountains, made for slow days.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingDaliCN, Yunnan
KLdali
≈ 2,511 km from KL, as the crow flies
Chongsheng Temple (Dali)

Photo: Andrew and Annemarie · CC BY-SA 2.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Dali Old Town sits between the Cangshan mountains and Erhai Lake in western Yunnan, the heartland of the Bai people. It's a place for slow days: cycling by the lake, exploring old villages and sitting in courtyard cafés.

Makan

  1. RushanBai cheese stretched into thin sheets, then grilled or fried, often with rose jam.Map ↗
  2. Xizhou babaCrisp flatbread, sweet or savoury, baked fresh in Xizhou.Map ↗
  3. Bai three-course teaA tea ceremony of three cups: bitter, sweet and lingering.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Dali Old TownStone-paved streets, old city gates and Bai-style houses, liveliest in the evening.Map ↗
  2. Three Pagodas of Chongsheng TempleThree tall white pagodas just north of the old town, with the mountains behind.Map ↗
  3. Erhai LakeRent an e-bike or bicycle and ride a stretch of the lakeside path through Bai villages.Map ↗
  4. XizhouAn old Bai village of carved courtyard houses, known for its baba flatbread.Map ↗
  5. CangshanTake a cable car up the mountains for forest trails and views over the lake.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Dali sits at about 2,000 metres, and the sun is strong. Pack sunscreen, a hat and a jacket for the evenings.
  • An e-bike is the easiest way to get around the lake villages.
  • Most places expect Alipay or WeChat Pay. Link your card to one before you fly and keep some cash as a backup.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.