3-Day, 2-Night In-Depth Dali Tour | Avoid 90% of Pitfalls! Explore Dali's "Wind, Flower, Snow, Moon" for 800 RMB per person 🌙

Seriously, guys! You get it! I just got back from Dali last week. When I was planning my trip, I was so scammed by posts like "2000 RMB per person to visit Dali" that I wanted to curse. This time, I've stepped on all the landmines myself and put together a pure-play guide for 800+ RMB per person. I've laid out all the details for food, accommodation, and transportation, so beginners can just copy this itinerary. You'll want to visit again! 👏 Day 1: Arrive in Dali → Explore Ancient City for Food → Stargazing at Night 1. **Transportation Pitfalls to Avoid:** If you fly into Dali Airport, don't take unlicensed taxis! The airport shuttle bus is 50 RMB and goes directly to the Ancient City, which is half the price of a ride-hailing service and you can enjoy the Erhai Lake scenery along the way 🌊. If you're coming from Kunming, the high-speed train takes 2 hours directly to Dali Station. From there, take bus No. 8 to the Ancient City, super convenient. 2. **Where to Stay:** Don't stay in the center of the Ancient City! It's noisy and expensive. Choose a "guesthouse near the South Gate of the Ancient City." For 150-200 RMB/night, you can get a room with a small courtyard. Waking up to birdsong is 100 times more comfortable than an alarm clock! 3. **Must-Eat List:** * For lunch, head straight for "Xinghui Xiaoxiannv." Their sour and spicy wild mushroom rice noodles are only 28 RMB, with so many toppings it overflows 🍜. * In the evening, buy grilled rubing (Dali cheese) from a small stall at the entrance of the Ancient City. Sprinkled with rose sugar, the milky fragrance mixed with floral scent is sweet but not cloying, absolutely amazing! * Don't miss "Apo La Paigu" (Grandma's Cured Pork Ribs) for dinner. For about 50 RMB per person, you can enjoy as many cured pork ribs as you want. Cooking some local greens with it is divine! 4. **Night Tour Bonus:** After 9 PM, go to Wuhua Tower in the Ancient City. There are fewer people, the lights are beautiful, and you can look up to see a sky full of stars. Your photos will look great even without filters ✨. Day 2: Erhai Lake Day Trip | Instagrammable Spots + Hidden Gems **Important! Don't join a tour group for Erhai Lake!** Rent an electric scooter for 80 RMB/day. You can stop whenever you want, which is 100 times more freedom than a tour group (remember to wear a helmet, or the traffic police uncle will stop you!). 1. **Morning Route:** Ancient City → Panxi Village S-bend → Xizhou Ancient Town * Don't go to Panxi Village S-bend too early! Before 9 AM, it's full of tour groups. After 10 AM, there are fewer people. Stand by the road and take photos of Erhai Lake + the road; any pose looks like a movie screenshot 📸. * Two must-dos in Xizhou Ancient Town: Eat freshly baked Xizhou Baba (try both sweet and savory, 10 RMB/each), and take photos at "Zhuanjiao Lou" (Corner Building). The white walls, black tiles, and blue sky are so healing you'll want to just zone out. 2. **Afternoon Route:** Shuanglang Ancient Town → Xiaoputuo * Don't just walk the main street in Shuanglang! Walk into the small alleys by the sea; there are many niche cafes. Order a 25 RMB "dirty" (coffee drink), sit by the window, and gaze at Erhai Lake. Spending an afternoon zoning out is totally worth it ☕. * Xiaoputuo is perfect to visit at 3 PM. You can see flocks of seagulls (only in winter!). Sit by the lake and feed the seagulls; any casual shot turns into a healing masterpiece. 3. **Evening Surprise:** From Shuanglang, head towards Wase Town. You'll encounter "Wenbi Village" along the way. The sea view here is less crowded than Shuanglang and great for photos. In the evening, the sunset sprinkles golden light on the sea, sparkling like scattered diamonds, so beautiful it leaves you speechless 🌇. Day 3: Cangshan Light Hike → Departure 1. **Cangshan Guide:** Don't buy the large cable car ticket! It's crowded, and queuing starts at 2 hours. Choose the "Gantong Cableway" for 80 RMB/person, which goes directly to the mid-mountain. The hiking difficulty is low, and you can see streams and ancient trees along the way. The air is so fresh it feels like cleansing your lungs! 2. **Must-Bring Items:** Wear comfortable sports shoes, bring a light jacket (Cangshan mountain top is 5-8℃ cooler than below), and pack a bottle of local mineral water. Water on the mountain is super expensive! 3. **Must-Eat After Descending:** You must try "Yangbi Juanfen" (rice noodle rolls) at the foot of the mountain! 15 RMB/serving. The rice noodle rolls are covered in a secret sauce, sour, spicy, and refreshing. You'll feel fully revived after eating it! 4. **Departure Tip:** If you have an afternoon flight/high-speed train, descending the mountain before 10 AM is enough. Don't rush too much; leave half an hour to buy souvenirs in the Ancient City. Local flower cakes are cheaper than in scenic spots, 20 RMB/box is super cost-effective! **Pitfall Summary (Key Points!)** * Don't buy the "3 skewers for 10 RMB" grilled squid on the roadside. It's not fresh and overpriced. If you want seafood, go to the seafood market in the city and buy it yourself for processing. * Don't believe in "free photos" around Erhai Lake. After taking photos, they'll make you buy retouched pictures, 50 RMB per photo is a huge scam! * Don't book accommodation too far in advance. Check the rooms on-site before booking to avoid discrepancies between pictures and reality.