Healing Dali Travel Guide

1. Accommodation Recommendations – Immersive Experience of Cangshan Mountains and Erhai Lake 1. Suyin Countryside Designer Homestay (Caicun Village) • Highlights: Standalone field-view room (Room 101 is the top pick), 60㎡ smart home, terrace with panoramic views of Cangshan and Erhai, includes breakfast + afternoon tea; 20-minute walk to Erhai Ecological Corridor, night e-bike rides through rice fields for an immersive "Rice Fragrance" MV vibe. • Extended stay tip: 3-4 nights, weekly discounts available (~¥150-200/night per person). • Nearby: Xiajiyi Village Market (fruits/halal snacks), stroll village paths for cloud-watching. 2. Haiyu No.1 Seaview Homestay (West Erhai Road) • Highlights: Ocean views right outside your window, garden leading straight to Erhai, better value than Old Town options (peak season: ¥500-800/night); recommended for just 1 night to avoid visual fatigue. 2. Itinerary – Nature and Culture Intertwined Day 1: Kunming Layover (Deep Dive into Dianchi Lake) • Stay: High-rise lakeside hotel (e.g., Dianchi Resort) with lake + city views, walk to Dounan Flower Market (Asia's largest, best visited at night). • Activities: Cable car across Dianchi to Xishan Mountain, hike Longmen Grottoes; must-try dinner dishes: Xuanwei stir-fried pork, fried ribs, and stir-fried "water spinach" (Kunming home-style classics). • Transport: Kunming Station → Dali Station (2hr high-speed rail, ¥140). Day 2: Light Cangshan Hike + Old Town Vibes • Morning: E-bike from homestay to Zhonghe Cableway (20min from Caicun), arrive by 9am to skip crowds! Ride up for alpine flora + Erhai panoramas, optional Yudai Road hike downhill. • Afternoon: Food hunt in Dali Old Town → Yangji Clay Pot Rice Noodles (Renmin Road, rich broth + generous toppings). • Evening: Return for sunset rice field cycling, watch twilight paint Cangshan. Day 3: West Erhai Cycling (Ecological Corridor Hidden Gems) • Route: Caicun Pier → Xizhou (12km one-way), rent e-bikes inside corridor (¥20/hr), stop at Xiajiyi Wetlands (serene + uncrowded) and ancient banyan tree photo ops. • Pro tip: Full sun protection! Long sleeves + face cover + gloves (extreme UV); Xizhou is skippable – rice fields pale vs. homestay surroundings. • Dinner: Wild mushroom hotpot near Suyin Homestay (July = fresh matsutake season). Day 4: Niaodiaoshan Alpine Meadow Trek • Tour: Group day trip (~¥200/person, includes pickup/guide), depart 7am (2hr drive); light 5km hike through flower meadows + streams, optional horseback return. • Gear: Light down jacket (windy summit), trekking poles, high-energy snacks. • Evening: Soak in tub post-7pm return. Day 5: Overnight in Shaxi Ancient Town (Where Dreams Meet filming location) • Transport: Carpool to Shaxi (¥80/person, 2hr), stay at A Cloud Homestay (tranquil courtyard, ¥200-300). • Return: Book carpool back to Dali 1 day ahead. Day 6: Dali City Walk • Morning: Switch to Haiyu No.1, lounge by window or coastal stroll. • Afternoon: Taxi to Longwei Pass (Nanzhao-era gateway), café balcony for old-street people-watching; 1hr walk to Shengxing Bridge (European arches, epic sunset) – arrive by 5pm. Day 7: Departure • Transport: Stay near Dali Station (e.g., Dali Yunzhu Hotel), 10min to gates.