A Comprehensive Travel Guide to the Romantic Scenery of Erhai Lake

🤔 Still wondering where to go for your holiday? Why not come and encounter Erhai Lake, the pearl of the Yunnan plateau in Dali. It offers sparkling lake views and ancient towns full of Bai ethnic charm. Whether you want to relax, 🤳 take photos and check in, or explore cultural history, Erhai Lake can satisfy you 🤗. Take this guide and let it lead you to experience the infinite charm of Erhai Lake! Transportation Guide ✈️ Airplane: After arriving at Dali Fengyi Airport, there are airport shuttles to Dali Ancient Town, Xiaguan, and other places, 🎫 with ticket prices ranging from 15 to 25 yuan; you can also take a taxi, about 40 to 60 yuan to Dali Ancient Town, and about 80 to 100 yuan to Shuanglang Ancient Town. 🚂 Train/High-speed Rail: Dali Station has trains 🚂 and high-speed trains 🚄 to various destinations. From Dali Station to the Erhai Lake area, you can take a bus (such as Route 8 to Dali Ancient Town), 🎫 ticket price 1 to 2 yuan; taxis are also available, about 20 to 30 yuan to Dali Ancient Town, and about 60 to 80 yuan to Shuanglang Ancient Town. City Transportation: 🚕 Car Rental and Self-driving: You can book vehicles in advance on major car rental platforms. The daily rental for a standard economy car is about 100 to 300 yuan. The road conditions on Huanhai East Road and Huanhai West Road around Erhai Lake are good. Driving yourself 🚗 allows you to arrange your itinerary freely and stop anytime to enjoy the scenery. 🚌 Chartered Car: Find a local licensed travel agency or book a charter service through a reliable platform. The daily cost for a chartered car is about 300 to 500 yuan. The driver will plan the route according to your needs and can provide introductions to the attractions. 🛵 Electric Scooter Rental: There are many electric scooter rental points around Erhai Lake. The daily rental fee for a standard electric scooter is 50 to 100 yuan, with a range of 60 to 100 kilometers. Pay attention to battery life and charging; suitable for short-distance travel. 🚌 Bus: Dali buses can reach some attractions around Erhai Lake, such as Route 4 to Dali Ancient Town and Caicun Pier, 🎫 ticket price 1 to 2 yuan, but the frequency is low and travel time is longer. Travel Routes 😇 One-day Tour: Head to Longkan Pier in the morning to watch the sunrise and enjoy the stunning light and shadow; then go to Panxi Village’s popular S Bay, cycling along the ecological corridor to feel the leisurely time; have lunch in Xizhou Ancient Town tasting local delicacies and admiring 👀 Bai architecture; in the afternoon, visit Shuanglang Ancient Town, check in at ✌️ Yang Liping’s Sun Palace, and enjoy the views of Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake; finish the day watching the sunset at Little Putuo Island. 🥳 Two-day Tour: On the first day, start from Caicun Pier, cycle along the ecological corridor, visiting Panxi Village’s S Bay, the covered bridge, and Xizhou Ancient Town, then stay overnight in Shuanglang Ancient Town; on the second day, watch the 👀 sunrise in Shuanglang, then go to the Luwoshan Ruins for photos 🤳, next visit Wenbi Village to check in at the Rainbow Road, and finally head to Ideal Village to experience the romantic "Santorini" style. Attraction Highlights ✨ Longkan Pier: An excellent spot to watch the sunrise, with morning sunlight sparkling on the water. In winter, you can also see red-billed gulls. Perfect for 🤳 taking photos of the sunrise, seagulls, and dawn redwoods. 🤗👉 Panxi Village’s Popular S Bay: Part of the Erhai ecological corridor, cycle along the lakeside to enjoy the lake and mountain scenery. There are many cafes along the way to rest and take photos. ☺️ Xizhou Ancient Town: Preserves many Bai ethnic ancient buildings, including Yan Family Courtyard and Sifang Street. The corner towers, yellow walls of Xilin Garden, and rice fields make for beautiful photo spots 🤳; you can also taste local specialties like Xizhou Baba and Rushan cheese. 👉👀 Shuanglang Ancient Town: Known as "the top town of Cangshan and Erhai scenery," offering magnificent views of Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake. Check in at ✌️ Yang Liping’s Sun Palace and Moon Palace, and take a boat to Nanzhao Style Island. 😃 Little Putuo Island: A tiny island in Erhai Lake with a Guanyin Pavilion. In winter, many seagulls gather here; you can feed the seagulls and take lake view photos. 🎉 Wenbi Village: Features the Rainbow Road leading directly to the seaside, artistic and fresh, perfect for Japanese-style photos. The sunset views here are stunning. ❤️ Ideal Village: White walls and blue roofs full of Greek style, known as "Dali Santorini," a popular spot for 🤳 photo check-ins, with many unique guesthouses and restaurants. Food Recommendations 🥰 Xizhou Baba: Available in sweet (rose filling, red bean paste) and savory (meat filling) flavors. The crust is crispy, the filling soft and glutinous. The Xizhou Baba from Suxiangyuan is very popular. 😻 Rushan Cheese: Made from milk, can be eaten directly or grilled. Dip it in rose sauce to blend the milky and floral flavors. Available at roadside stalls. 🐟 Dali Sour and Spicy Fish: Made with fresh fish from Erhai Lake, combined with pickled vegetables and chili. The fish is tender, and the soup is sour and spicy, appetizing. The sour and spicy fish at Shaba Fish Restaurant is worth trying. 🍵 Bai Three-Course Tea: Bitter, sweet, and aftertaste, consisting of bitter tea, sweet tea, and aftertaste tea. It is a traditional Bai ethnic hospitality custom, which you can experience in Xizhou Ancient Town. Accommodation Suggestions 🤗 Dali Ancient Town: Many inns and guesthouses with prices ranging from tens to thousands of yuan. You can choose inns near Erhai Gate or Foreigner Street for convenient travel and dining; suitable for visitors who like lively atmospheres and want to experience ancient town life. 👉🤠 Xizhou Ancient Town: Many guesthouses with Bai ethnic characteristics, quiet environment, and relatively affordable prices. You can enjoy views of rice fields and countryside scenery; ideal for visitors seeking tranquility and a rural atmosphere. 😉 Shuanglang Ancient Town: Many sea view inns that offer direct views of 👀 Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake, but prices are higher. For example, Mingyue Songjian Erhai Hotel has good room facilities and attentive service; suitable for visitors who enjoy sea views and leisurely time. 😊 Caicun: Close to Erhai Lake, with many cost-effective guesthouses. You can see Erhai Lake from your room or courtyard. Convenient for travel, suitable for visitors on a budget who want to stay close to Erhai Lake.