A Visitor's Guide to Enjoying and Avoiding Pitfalls at Erhai Lake

After spending several days at Erhai Lake during the holidays, I've compiled a guide to help my fellow travelers avoid common pitfalls. ✅Highly Recommended 1. It's advisable to stay at different places as you travel around the lake, following a clockwise direction to experience the diverse local flavors. The west side of the lake has a stronger cultural atmosphere, while the east side boasts more enchanting natural scenery. On the west, consider staying in Dali Ancient Town or Cai Village, which are convenient for catching the sunrise at the pier the next morning; on the east, staying near Shuanglang might be pricier, but the sea view rooms are incredibly beautiful. 2. Xizhou Ancient Town on the west side of the lake is worth a visit, with many locals around, you can appreciate the Bai ethnic architecture with blue tiles and white walls, and experience the tie-dye craft. The nearby farmers' market is also worth a visit to pick up some local fruits, vegetables, and snacks. 3. Dali's purple radishes are incredibly delicious, and you can buy them at the Xizhou farmers' market. 🥕 4. The internet-famous S-curve walk is decent, but there's not much to see, half an hour is enough. 5. Chartering a car along the west side of the lake is also a good option, as most drivers will introduce local specialties. However, make sure you know which routes you can take, as some drivers have distance restrictions. 6. If you enjoy leisure and want to deeply experience nature, focus on the east side of the lake. The west side tends to be more crowded with tourists and more commercialized. 7. Renting a small electric scooter is the most convenient way to travel along the east side, stop and go as you please, for 80 yuan a day, with a range of about 100km (ask the owner about battery life and mileage). 🏍️ 8. The Little Putuo on the east side is a must-visit, where you can experience feeding seagulls. Wenbi Village is also quite distinctive. 9. The cherry blossoms along the east side starting from near Shuanglang are stunning in January. 10. Yunnan's bait silk and milk fan are worth a try, and the handmade flower cakes from Shihua Ji are quite good. 🌹 11. Dali has strong ultraviolet rays, and the temperature varies greatly between day and night, so be sure to take sun protection and keep warm. ❌Not Recommended 1. It's not recommended to go inside Shuanglang Ancient Town, as it's highly commercialized with severe homogenization of shop goods. Once inside, it's hard to reach the edge to enjoy the seascape. 2. If you're renting a car, make sure to check if it's insured with the five mandatory insurances, and record the condition of the vehicle before use to avoid being scammed. 3. Longkan Pier is said to be overcrowded; I didn't go there and chose the less crowded Cai Village Pier instead. From photos, the metasequoia trees are not as photogenic as those at Longkan Pier, but the sunrise at Cai Village Pier is equally beautiful. 4. Do not be easily convinced by those who say it only costs 5 yuan to get to Dali Ancient Town after getting off the high-speed train. Taking a taxi to Cai Village on the platform costs 60 yuan, and anything too cheap is likely to be a trap.