Dali Erhai Lake In-Depth Travel Guide | Encountering the Romance of Wind, Flowers, Snow, and Moon

| Encountering the Romance of Wind, Flowers, Snow, and Moon. 1. Itinerary Planning Idea Centering on Erhai Lake, connect the ancient towns, natural landscapes, and cultural hotspots along the route, using 4 days to deeply experience the romance of Dali. Explore traditional ancient towns to feel Bai culture, visit popular and hidden gems, switch flexibly between cycling and chartered cars, and slowly enjoy the beauty of Erhai Lake. 2. Daily Itinerary Arrangement Day 1: First Encounter with Dali, Enchanted by the Ancient City’s Atmosphere - Morning: Arrive in Dali and head straight to Dali Ancient City. Stroll along Renmin Road, visit artistic shops, overlook the entire ancient city from Wuhua Tower, check in at the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, and see the millennium-old pagodas framed with Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake. - Noon: Have Bai cuisine inside the ancient city; must-try dishes include sour and spicy fish and water caltrop, which are appetizing and perfect with rice. - Afternoon: Visit the West Gate of the ancient city (Cangshan Gate), cycle along Cang’er Avenue to Hongsheng Road’s popular park, capture healing scenes of the road and Erhai Lake; on the way, visit the Tianlong Babu Film City for an immersive "martial arts world" experience. - Evening: Return to the ancient city to explore Fuxing Road Night Market, eat grilled milk fan and rice cakes, listen to street singers, and feel the lively atmosphere of the ancient city. Day 2: Xizhou Countryside and Panxi Romance - Morning: Head to Xizhou Ancient Town, visit well-preserved Bai residences, check in at the Corner Tower, try Xizhou crispy pancakes (both savory and sweet!); stroll through Haituo Park, enjoy the Erhai wetland scenery, and take photos with the "Lonely Tree." - Noon: Find a Bai courtyard restaurant in Xizhou to enjoy the traditional "Tu Ba Wan" feast and experience the lively banquet atmosphere. - Afternoon: Cycle to Panxi S Bay, shoot cycling photos on the popular S Bay road by Erhai Lake; visit Zhoucheng on the way, experience Bai tie-dyeing, and make a tie-dye souvenir by hand. - Evening: Return to the ancient city or stay at a Xizhou guesthouse, enjoy stargazing at night, and listen to the sound of Erhai Lake’s wind. Day 3: Shuanglang Arts and Hidden Gems - Morning: Charter a car to Shuanglang Ancient Town, visit Yang Liping’s Sun Palace and Nanzhao Style Island, stroll through seaside alleys, check in at the best sea-view spots, and admire the sparkling waves of Erhai Lake. - Noon: Dine at a seaside restaurant in Shuanglang, try seaweed soup and sour-spicy shrimp while enjoying panoramic views of Erhai Lake. - Afternoon: Visit the Wolushan Ruins (Lover’s Cliff is super romantic), Wase Pier (see dawn redwoods and abandoned fishing boats with a full Japanese vibe); take a boat to Little Putuo Island, feed the small fish in the lake, and feel the tranquility of this tiny island. - Evening: Stay at a seaside guesthouse in Shuanglang, fall asleep to the sound of Erhai Lake, and watch the stars reflected on the lake surface. Day 4: Poetic Ending, Check in at Ideal and Sunset Spots - Morning: Depart from Shuanglang, visit Wenbi Village (a popular artificial scenic spot with high photo success rate), Tianjing Pavilion to overlook Erhai Bay; then head to Ideal Town, check in at the "Dali Santorini," where blue and white buildings meet Erhai Lake for a full exotic feel. - Noon: Have Yunnan specialty dishes inside or near Ideal Town, such as steam pot chicken and wild mushroom hotpot. - Afternoon: Cycle to Longkan Pier to watch the sunrise at San Sheng Island (if you get up early, you can adjust this to the morning of Day 1); visit Erhai Moon Park on the way, and finally go to Fengyangyi Village, walk along the sunset avenue like "Youfeng Courtyard," have vegetarian meals at Jizhao Temple, and admire succulents to end the trip. 3. Transportation and Accommodation - Transportation: For short trips within the city, choose electric scooters (60-80 RMB/day, good for riding around the ancient city, Xizhou, Panxi, etc.); for cross-region travel (such as from the ancient city to Shuanglang), charter a car or carpool (about 50 RMB/person), flexible and time-saving. - Accommodation: Stay in Dali Ancient City on Day 1 and 2 (choose characteristic guesthouses for convenient dining and sightseeing); stay in Shuanglang on Day 3 (seaside guesthouses with Erhai Lake views from the window); there are many options for different budgets—choose the ancient city for cost-effectiveness, Shuanglang for the ultimate sea view. 4. Must-Experience List - Wear Bai ethnic costumes to take photos at Panxi S Bay and Shuanglang seaside, blending into the beautiful Erhai scenery. - Participate in tie-dyeing experience in Zhoucheng, create intangible cultural heritage works by hand, very meaningful. - Get up early to watch the sunrise at Longkan Pier, the Erhai sunrise with Cangshan Mountain is breathtaking. - Have vegetarian meals and admire succulents at Jizhao Temple, feel the peaceful Zen atmosphere of the "most beautiful temple." Follow this guide to check in at the treasure spots along Erhai Lake. Whether you are an artsy youth, a couple, or a family traveler, you can find your own Dali romance and fully embrace the wind, flowers, snow, and moon!