Day 1
After breakfast at the hotel, we proceed to Kunming Railway Station for our high-speed rail journey to Dali.
As the railroad system is one of China’s major modes of transport, the station is huge. Do note that you have to pass through airport-style security checks. So, do not bring any prohibited items.
We booked our tickets through the Trip.com website; no physical tickets were issued. All we needed to do was to scan our passports at the manual lane.
Popular destinations do get rather crowded. Do arrive early and make sure you are in the correct lane.
You are allowed to eat and drink on the high-speed rail.
Head to the correct car when the train arrives.
Views along the way. Can you see our favorite Wind Turbines in the distance?
The speed of the train was displayed overhead.
After 2 hours, we arrived at Dali station.
At the station, we arranged for a Didi to bring us to our Home-stay location.
We arrived at the venue after 30 minutes.
We were allocated a unit on the 3rd Floor!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lucky for us, the owner helped us with the luggage.
Dining Area.
Breakfast will be served here in the morning.
Our Master Bedroom.
2nd bedroom.
And a huge bathroom with a long bath.
The view from the outdoor balcony.
There are also outdoor areas for BBQ or a picnic.
Dali Old City was next on the list.
A huge boulder greets you at the entrance.
Entrance is free. The inside of the old City was full of shops and restaurants.
There are wine shops, tea shops, silver shops, and many more.
We tried out one of their specialties here, fried milk cheese.
It seems that insects are popular here too.
This restaurant was highly recommended online.
It was delicious.
Near the middle of the Old City, there is a building, 五华楼.
And view the Old City from a different height.
As night falls, the whole place now has a different look.
It became a colorful City.
Day 2
Rise and Shine. Look at the breakfast prepared by the host.
Our Homestay was a short distance from the West side of ErHai (洱海) Ecological Corridor.
It is a scenic lakeside route that encircles the stunning Erhai Lake in Dali, Yunnan. Stretching over 115 kilometers, the corridor offers a peaceful blend of nature, culture, and sustainability.
We decided to walk the first part of the route.
View of the Lake.
This is a popular spot for couples to take their wedding pictures.
There are also homestays available here.
The place is crowded with people at all times of the day.
Only approved electrical mobility vehicles and bicycles are allowed within the Corridor. You will need a WeChat app to rent one of these.
We rented this Snoopy E-Bike, but it was heavy and difficult to control.
There are many spots like this.
And this, to attract people.
View of the popular S-curve from atop a Cafe.
We found this popular Cured Pork Chop Hotpot and decided to try.
It was not as good as I expected. Leaning toward the salty side.
After lunch, we headed to the next popular destination on the West Coast – LangQiao (朗桥).
It is a picturesque covered bridge that blends traditional Bai architecture with tranquil natural surroundings.
It is also a popular place for photo taking.
See what I mean.
In the evening, we came to XiZhou Old City (喜洲古镇).
But the place was quiet.
We found this restaurant and decided to try it.
The food was delicious.
This was our dessert.
Day 3
On day 3, we shifted over to the east side of ErHai (洱海). The owner of the new Home-Stay apartment came to the Train Station to pick us.
We checked into a 2-bedroom unit. There is even a bathtub in the master room. Both rooms overlook ErHai (洱海). Overall, the stay was very comfortable. The owner is very friendly and helpful with all our needs.
We started our day with Shuanglang Ancient Town (双廊古镇)
The place was much quieter and smaller than Dali Old Town.
There were a few very nice photo spots facing the lake within the old town. Some are free, and some you need to pay for the props.
I love this signage the most.
After checking with the apps, we decided on this restaurant.
It has a very nice old-fashioned set-up.
And the food was delicious.
You will find many bikes for rental like this. Be careful when you use it.
After lunch, we moved over to the Santorini of Yunnan – 理想邦
As it was built on a hill, we decided to take the electric buggy instead of walking.
It cost ten Chinese yuan per person, and it was worth it.
We arrived at the top of the hill after a 5-minute ride.
There is a Guide map of the place for your reference.
There are hotels, restaurants, and many sea-facing cafes.
The hotels are built with the same architectural theme as Santorini in Greece.
Many cafes require you to purchase overpriced drinks before you are allowed to take photos of their well-decorated place.
Photo props are available for rent.
Many hotels come with a sea-facing pool.
Or a sea-facing sitting area to attract customers’ bookings.
In the evening, we went back to Dali Old Town for dinner.
We will be trying out the Peacork Feast – 孔雀宴。
After a short wait, our food was served. It came with fried fish, roast chicken and pork, assorted vegetables, crackers and 3 different types of rice.
With that, we ended our 3-day free and easy trip around Dali. Next, we will be proceeding to Lijiang for our next adventure.
