5-Day Dali Tour | Classic Combination of Erhai Lake and Ancient Town・Suitable for All Groups

Dali is the romance between Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake, featuring the ancient town’s blue tiles and white walls, the rippling waves of Erhai, and the millennium Zen charm of the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple. Listen to stories by Butterfly Spring with the elderly, accompany children learning tie-dyeing in Xizhou Ancient Town—here, every day offers a gentle embrace of mountains, water, and poetry. 🗓️Itinerary Overview D1: Arrive in Dali → Dali Ancient Town → Foreigner Street → Wuhua Tower D2: West Bank of Erhai Lake (Caicun Pier → Xizhou Ancient Town → Haishi Ecological Park) D3: East Bank of Erhai Lake (Shuanglang Ancient Town → Nanzhao Style Island → Wase Little Putuo Island) D4: Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple → Butterfly Spring → Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils Film City D5: Cangshan Mountain (Ximatan Cableway → Gantong Temple → Return) 🏮Day 1: Explore the Ancient Town’s Charm・Savor the Slow Life 📍Dali Ancient Town (Free, City Tower 35 RMB) Highlights: A millennium imprint of a renowned cultural city, winding bluestone paths, landmarks like Wuhua Tower and South City Gate. Early mornings are less crowded, perfect for authentic photos. Elderly can enjoy tea and sunshine at Yuer Garden, children can buy tie-dye souvenirs on Fuxing Road (20 RMB each). Don’t miss the grilled milk fan at the People’s Road night market (5 RMB per serving) in the evening. 🕙Recommended visiting time: 14:00-20:00 📸Photo spot: South City Gate (capture the “Dali” inscription on the city tower; wearing Bai ethnic costumes makes photos stand out) 💡Tips: The ancient town is large; renting an electric scooter (30 RMB/day) saves effort. Avoid buying overpriced silverware; better deals are outside the scenic area. 📍Foreigner Street (Free) Highlights: A blend of Chinese and Western artistic streets with cafes and craft shops. Elderly can watch Bai grandmothers embroider, children can collect stamps at “Mao Kong Bookstore,” perfect for afternoon tea breaks. 🕙Recommended time: 16:00-17:30 📍Wuhua Tower (Free to climb) Highlights: The highest point in the ancient town, offering panoramic views of blue-tiled roofs. At night, lights complement the starry sky. Elderly can listen to Bai folk tunes in front of the tower, children can count the snowy peaks of Cangshan, creating a great atmosphere. 🍜Recommended dining: “Bai Family” in the ancient town, must-try sour and spicy fish (60 RMB/serving) and Shui Xing Yang Hua (20 RMB/serving), about 50 RMB per person, courtyard dining is very pleasant. 🏨Recommended stay: “Dali Canghai Mizong Inn” inside the ancient town (family rooms available, breakfast included, 5-minute walk to main street), priced 300-500 RMB/night, terrace views of Cangshan. 🌊Day 2: West Bank of Erhai Lake・Pastoral Elegy 📍Caicun Pier (Free, boat ride 150 RMB/person) Highlights: A natural pier on the west bank of Erhai Lake, ideal for boat rides to watch the sunrise (best from 6:30-7:30). Elderly can stroll on the boardwalk, children can play with water guns in the shallows. In spring, rapeseed flowers bloom along the fields. 🕙Recommended time: 8:00-10:00 📸Photo spot: Pier boardwalk (capture people by Erhai Lake with Cangshan’s snowy peaks in the background) 📍Xizhou Ancient Town (Free, Yan Family Courtyard 25 RMB) Highlights: A living fossil of Bai ethnic residences, featuring “Three Lanes and One Screen Wall” architecture with blue tiles and white walls. Experience tie-dyeing (50 RMB/person, take your own work home). Elderly can listen to ancient music at Sifang Street, children can run in wheat fields (golden in autumn). Must-try Xizhou Baba (sweet/savory 8 RMB each). 🕙Recommended time: 11:00-14:00 📍Haishi Ecological Park (Free) Highlights: A wetland extending from Erhai Lake with reed beds and dawn redwood forests. Elderly can watch water birds on the wooden boardwalk, children can collect shells in the shallows. Perfect for natural and wild photography. 🕙Recommended time: 15:00-17:00 💡Tips: West bank is best explored by charter car (150 RMB/day) due to scattered spots; strong UV, everyone should apply sunscreen. 🏞️Day 3: East Bank of Erhai Lake・Endless Scenery 📍Shuanglang Ancient Town (Free) Highlights: “The top scenic town of Cang and Er,” with Yujiao Island and Nanzhao Style Island facing each other across the water. Elderly can daydream in lakeside cafes, children can check in at the “Sun Palace” ruins. The sunset at Yujiao Island is stunning. 🕙Recommended time: 9:00-12:00 📸Photo spot: Shuanglang Viewing Platform (capture people, Bai residences, and Erhai Lake in one frame) 📍Nanzhao Style Island (50 RMB ticket, including boat) Highlights: The second largest island in Erhai Lake, featuring the “Acuoye Guanyin Statue” (17.5 meters tall) and a beach. Elderly can take electric carts around the island (20 RMB/person), children can play in the sand. The island offers excellent panoramic views of Erhai. 🕙Recommended time: 13:00-15:00 📍Wase Little Putuo Island (Free, island entry 2 RMB) Highlights: The smallest island in Erhai Lake, shaped like a seal. Red-billed gulls rest here in winter (November to March). Elderly can buy gull feed (5 RMB/bag) to feed them, children can watch fishermen rowing pig trough boats by the shore. Ideal for a slow-paced experience. 🕙Recommended time: 16:00-18:00 💡Tips: The east bank coastal road is great for cycling (electric scooter rental 80 RMB/day). For elderly, some sections can be traveled by car. 🗼Day 4: Three Pagodas Zen Listening・Butterfly Tracing 📍Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple (5A, ticket 75 RMB) Highlights: Dali’s landmark, three ancient pagodas reflected in the “Three Pagodas Reflection Pool.” Elderly can listen to bell sounds and pray at Chongsheng Temple, children can count the layers of the main pagoda (16 floors). The filming location of “Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils” adds immersive charm. 🕙Opening hours: 8:00-18:00, recommended 9:00-11:30 📸Photo spot: By the reflection pool (capture the full view of the pagodas with people, fewer crowds in the morning) 📍Butterfly Spring (4A, ticket 40 RMB) Highlights: Famous from “Five Golden Flowers,” with a butterfly pavilion (butterflies year-round). The spring butterfly festival (15th day of the 4th lunar month) is lively. Elderly can hear the “Butterfly Tree” legend, children can feed fish by the spring. Don’t miss the Bai ethnic song and dance performance (11:00, free). 🕙Recommended time: 13:30-15:30 📍Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils Film City (ticket 40 RMB) Highlights: A martial arts-themed park where you can wear ancient costumes for photos (50 RMB/set). Elderly can watch the “Duan Family of Dali” performance, children can check in at the “Zhenlong Chessboard.” Great for family interaction. 🕙Recommended time: 16:00-17:30 ⛰️Day 5: Explore Cangshan Mountain・Cloudscape Viewing 📍Cangshan Mountain (Ximatan Cableway, ticket + cableway 280 RMB) Highlights: The “snow” of “Wind, Flower, Snow, Moon.” The Ximatan cableway reaches 3,900 meters altitude, offering views of glacial relics and alpine rhododendrons (May-June). Elderly can take the cableway to the mid-station (Gantong Temple station), children can play in the “Seven Dragon Maiden Pool,” overlooking Erhai like a sapphire. 🕙Opening hours: 8:30-17:00, recommended 8:30-13:00 💡Tips: High altitude, elderly should avoid fast walking; bring a jacket (large temperature difference at the summit). 📍Gantong Temple (Free, included in Cangshan scenic area) Highlights: A thousand-year-old temple, starting point of the “Jade Belt Cloud Tour Road.” Elderly can drink Gantong tea (30 RMB/cup) inside the temple, children can watch the “Qingbi Creek” triple waterfall outside. Quiet and perfect for ending the trip. 🕙Recommended time: 14:00-15:30 ✨Dali Survival Guide 1️⃣Transportation: From Dali Station to Ancient Town take bus No. 8 (2 RMB), taxi about 30 RMB; for Erhai Lake circuit, charter car recommended (200-300 RMB/day, including driver), suitable for elderly and children; electric scooter rental (30-80 RMB/day) suits young people, helmets required! 2️⃣Clothing: Spring and autumn wear long sleeves + light jacket (cool mornings and evenings), summer wear short sleeves + sun protection clothing (strong UV), winter wear down jackets (snow on Cangshan). Bring sports shoes + slippers (for water play), and definitely sun hats and sunglasses. 3️⃣Taboos: Don’t step on thresholds entering Bai residences; no loud noises or photography inside temples; fishing banned in Erhai from February to May; respect local “Three-Course Tea” etiquette (bitter first, then sweet, then aftertaste). 4️⃣Accommodation: Stay in the ancient town for the first 2 days (convenient for food and shopping), Shuanglang for the middle 2 days (lake views), choose rooms with balconies; for children, pick homestays with toys; for elderly, choose rooms with elevators (ancient town has many stairs). 🛍️Must-Buy Souvenirs ① Bai Tie-Dye (scarves 80-150 RMB each, tablecloths 100-200 RMB, intangible cultural heritage craft) ② Dali Milk Fan Cheese (vacuum-packed 30 RMB/bag, can be eaten directly or fried) ③ Pu’er Tea (raw/ripe tea 100-300 RMB/cake, tea shops in ancient town offer tastings) ④ Butterfly Spring Cultural Products (butterfly specimen photo frames 50 RMB each, ethnic style keychains 15 RMB each) The wind in Dali is the gentle breeze from Cangshan to Erhai; the moon in Dali is the poetic charm hanging from the ancient town’s eaves. Whether walking slowly by Erhai with your parents, chasing butterflies in the wheat fields with your children, or listening to music in the ancient town’s bars with friends, there are reasons here to make you want to stay. If you come to Dali, do you want to first see the Three Pagodas’ reflection or chase the wind on a boat ride across Erhai?