Back from Dali, here's some honest truth

Dali is the "City of Romantic Scenery" on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. The nineteen peaks of Cangshan Mountain resemble emerald screens, Erhai Lake shines blue like spilled ink, Bai ethnic houses tell stories through their murals, and even the air carries the sweet aroma of grilled rushan cheese～🌄 Must-Visit Attractions 1. Erhai Ecological Corridor Rent a rainbow e-bike and ride from Longkan Wharf to Caicun Village, passing reed marshes, metasequoia forests, and tie-dye workshops. Don't miss the aunties selling grilled erkuai - try the rose jam version!🛵 2. Xizhou Ancient Town The carved gateways of Bai-style houses will take your breath away! The famous Corner Building has photo queues, but the golden rice fields behind it (especially stunning in September) look straight out of a painting～🌾 3. Shuanglang Ancient Town Dubbed "Little Santorini" by Erhai Lake, this is where Yang Liping's Sun Palace stands! Sip lime soda at seaside cafes while watching seagulls soar - pure bliss～☕ 4. Cangshan Mountain's Ximatan Take the cable car to 3,920m where clouds swirl beneath your feet. Summer brings rhododendron blooms, while winter may gift you with "Cangshan Snow" - bring a down jacket!❄️ 5. Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple Millennium-old pagodas mirrored in Erhai Lake. Wear Bai ethnic costumes for photos at Juying Pool to transform into a "Dali Princess". The Rain-Copper Guanyin Hall behind glows with golden Buddha light～🗼 6. Shaxi Ancient Town Hear the echoes of caravan bells under Yujin Bridge! Friday markets sell fresh goat milk, while at Pioneer Bookstore, cats nap atop poetry collections in Bai-style houses～🐎 7. Zhoucheng Tie-Dye Workshop Hand-dye fabric with indigo! Master craftsmen will teach you to tie "little elephant" patterns - your creation makes meaningful souvenirs like scarves or cushions～🎨 8. Zhemo Mountain Dali's "La La Land"! Drive up at dusk to watch Erhai turn pink under sunset, with windmills spinning overhead - bring bubbly for extra romance～🌃 Food Recommendations 1. Grilled Rushan Milk stretched into thin sheets, grilled until bubbly, then rolled with rose or chocolate jam. Aunties sell these fragrant skewers for 5 yuan～🥛 2. Sour-Spicy Fish Erhai carp stewed with plum vinegar - addictive! "Zai Hui Shou's" version with bean rice will have you drinking every drop of broth～🐟 3. Ersi Noodles Softer than rice noodles! "Weishan Pa Rou Ersi" simmers pork bone broth - add chili oil for a perfect breakfast～🍜 4. Cold Chicken Rice Noodles Shredded chicken + rice noodles + peanuts + sweet soy sauce - summer perfection! "Zai Hui Shou's" balanced version costs just 10 yuan～🐔 5. Bai-Style Raw Pork Local specialty! Straw-smoked pork skin and tenderloin dipped in plum-chili sauce. Adventurous eaters will find it resembles salmon～🐷 Transportation • Flights: Dali Fengyi Airport connects to Kunming/Chengdu/Chongqing. Taxi to Old Town ~80 yuan. • High-speed rail: Dali Station (2hrs from Kunming). Take Bus 8 to Old Town. • Local transport: • E-bikes: ~50 yuan/day around Erhai - check battery! • Buses: Old Town-Caicun 2 yuan (infrequent) - use "Che Lai Le" app for schedules～🚌 • Private cars: ~300 yuan/day for Erhai tours with driver-guides (ideal for families)～🚗 Accommodation • Sea-view: "Moonlight Through Pines" in Shuanglang (1,500+ yuan/night) with bathtubs facing Erhai - worth it!🌊 • Old Town guesthouses: "Dali Courtyard No.1" (~300 yuan) features tea terraces and nightly folk music～🏡 • Cultural stays: Xizhou's "Harvest Collection" farmstay (~200 yuan) in century-old houses - wake to rooster crows!🌾 Tips 📝 • SUNSCREEN! High-altitude UV demands hats, sunglasses, and SPF50+ reapplied every 2 hours!☀️ • Rent vehicles from licensed vendors - those cute Beetles by Erhai need brake/fluid checks!🚗 • Colorful braids cost ~10 yuan/6 strands. Politely decline pushy aunties with "Bu yong le" (No thanks)～🌈 • Respect Bai customs: Remove hats in temples, don't step on thresholds, ask before touching children's heads～🙏 • Pack a jacket! Temperatures near Cangshan/Erhai can drop to 10°C at night～🧥