[Around Erhai Lake]

... My first encounter with Erhai Lake was during a group tour to Yunnan in 2012, when it was just one of many attractions on the itinerary, which is why it didn't leave a deep impression on me. Ten years later, I decided to travel independently to properly appreciate Erhai Lake, which has now become an internet sensation. When I arrived in Dali, I realized that Erhai Lake is not actually a sea, but a lake on the western Yunnan plateau. However, there are many attractions around the lake, each with its own charm and unique flavor. Erhai Lake is shaped like an ear, with attractions mainly concentrated on the east and west shores, so I explored them in separate trips. In the summer of 2022, during my time off work, I visited Dali and explored Erhai Park, the S-Bay Scenic Area in Fanxi Village, Shuanglang Ancient Town, Nanzhao Cultural Island, and Lixiangbang Tourist Town. In the winter of 2023, I returned from my stay in Xishuangbanna and stopped by Dali for a few days, where I visited Cai Village Pier, Longkan Pier, and the Erhai Ecological Corridor in Wanqiao Town along Erhai Lake. In the fall of 2024, I ended my stay in Kunming and traveled west to Dali, where I explored Luwo Mountain, Wase Town, Wenbi Village, and Xiao Putuo on the eastern shore of Erhai Lake, as well as Haishe Park on the western shore. Every time I see Erhai Lake, I discover a different surprise. The magnificent Erhai is the soul of Dali, the spiritual home of the Bai people, an ideal winter destination for migratory birds, a vacation paradise for Chinese people, and a place you'll want to visit again and again.