【Dali + Lijiang 4 Days 3 Nights Super Detailed Guide｜Mastering the Romance of Wind, Flowers, Snow, and Moon

Yunnan is the distant land of poetry and a feast for the taste buds. This tested version of the "Dali-Lijiang 4-Day Deep Tour" covers everything from grilled milk fan to cured ribs, from the Erhai Lake circuit to the slow life in Shuhe, including food, accommodation, transportation, and photography, with zero pitfalls! 🌄 Day 1｜Arrive in Dali · Immerse in the Ancient Town’s Lively Atmosphere 🛬 Land in Dali at 3:00 PM 🏨 Stay: Near Dali Ancient Town · Small House Guesthouse (high cost-performance, walking distance to the ancient town) 🍢 Street Food Checklist (best enjoyed while strolling) Grilled Milk Fan: sweet and sour milky flavor, a street staple Flower Cake: rose filling bursting with juice, recommended fresh and hot Fried Rice Cake: crispy outside, sticky inside, perfect with sauce Rose Yogurt: thick and smooth, both visually appealing and delicious 🍲 Dinner: Dian Master Wild Mushroom Hotpot Mushrooms so fresh they’ll make your eyebrows fall off! Chicken mushroom, boletus, matsutake served in rotation The broth is sweet and clear; you can even drink a bowl after cooking the vegetables 📸 Photo Spots Recommended July 8th Café: vintage industrial style + surrounded by greenery, 100% photogenic Wander the ancient town’s stone-paved streets, dappled light makes a perfect backdrop 🌅 Day 2｜Erhai Lake Circuit Walk · Freely Shuttle Between Sea and Sky 🕘 8:00 AM Head to the North Gate Market of the Ancient Town A local breakfast paradise, must-try four items👇 1️⃣ Xizhou Yang’s Crispy Pastry: rose & scallion oil combo, flaky to the core 2️⃣ Jiu Nang Rice Noodles + Fried Dough Stick: savory and warming, autumn-winter exclusive 3️⃣ Dali Old Dough Crispy Bun: white sugar + ham filling, a stunning sweet and savory mix 4️⃣ Weishan Pork Rice Noodles/Fried Rice Cake: strong flavor but fragrant, a spicy lover’s delight 🚐 10:00 Rent a car for the Erhai Lake circuit (¥400 all day, reliable driver negotiable) 🌊 Route: Haidong + Haixi highlights check-in line ✅ Dali Ancient Town → ✅ Ideal Village (Santorini-style buildings) → ✅ Wenbi Village (Sunset Mountain-Sea Café, facing Erhai Lake) → ✅ Little Putuo → ✅ Xizhou Ancient Town (Xiwa rooftop café for rice field shots) → ✅ S-bend internet-famous bridge → Return to Ancient Town ☕ Coffee Recommendations Along the Way Sunset Mountain-Sea Café: terrace facing Erhai Lake, a latte with sunset is worth the price Xiwa Rooftop Café: second-floor platform for shots of Xizhou Bai residences + distant Cangshan Mountain views 🍽️ Food Refuel for the Day Lunch: roadside grilled rice cake, charcoal aroma irresistible Dinner: Amaqing cured rib hotpot, rich cured flavor, paired with wild vegetables to cut the grease Ice Cream: rose milk fan ice cream, a perfect blend of milky and floral flavors! 🍉 Fruit Recommendations Roadside sweet horn (sweet and sour appetizer), Sunshine Rose grapes (super sweet and seedless), great prices 🥤 Milk Tea Recommendation: Shambhala Tibetan Milk Tea A mix of salty and sweet, rich milky flavor, unforgettable after one sip 🚄 Day 3｜High-Speed Train Transfer to Lijiang · Immerse in Naxi Culture 🚄 Morning train to Lijiang (about 2 hours, ticket around ¥80) 🚌 Arrive at 11:30, taxi or bus to accommodation near Lijiang Ancient Town 💄 Makeup & Styling Recommendation: Yi Ethnic Style Photoshoot Shops: Kaila Photography, etc. (average ¥88) ⚠️ Key Tip: Choose shops with “10 AM clothing return”! Don’t pick 6-7 PM returns, not enough shooting time! Vibrant costumes paired with the ancient town’s bluestone streets are super photogenic 🍛 Lunch Recommendation Old Dian Village: black boletus fried rice a must! Truffle scrambled eggs also amazing, enjoy while watching ethnic song and dance performances Dianxi Prince: refreshing water lily soup, boletus braised rice so fragrant you’ll lick the bowl 🍡 Snacks & Souvenirs to Grab Kudzu root crisp, buckwheat crisp, flower cake — the three portable gift giants Naxi Cold Cake: soft, slightly sweet, a street cold treat Yunqiao Guesthouse Crossing-the-Bridge Rice Noodles: rich soup and ingredients, authentic Yunnan flavor 🌿 Day 4｜Rainy Day Plan B · Slow Time in Shuhe + Baisha 🌧️ Original plan to visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Yak Meadow/Blue Moon Valley/Spruce Meadow) canceled due to rain + leeches ✅ Safety Reminder: high-altitude meadows in rainy season prone to leeches, don’t tough it out! 🚗 Switch to artsy route: Lijiang Ancient Town → Shuhe Ancient Town → Baisha Ancient Town 📍 Shuhe Ancient Town Quieter than Dayan, less commercialized, perfect for strolling and daydreaming Check out small shops, tea houses, handmade craft stores, the pace is just right 📍 Baisha Ancient Town (only ¥15 by taxi) Original Naxi village, snow mountains right in front of you Top coffee shops for photos👇 MI Mi Bar · Crowd-seeking Coffee: minimalist style + snow mountain view Cloud Bookstore: books + coffee + cultural creativity, a must for hipsters Hexi Coffee: rooftop access for unobstructed Jade Dragon Snow Mountain shots, opposite popular shop has lines, here fewer people and better views! 🍽️ Final Food Battle Lunch: Shuhe · Taiguli Ethnic Restaurant, jasmine flower scrambled eggs + hand-grabbed rice full of flavor Dinner: Baisha · Xin Guo Na Family Restaurant, fermented black bean fish is a perfect match for rice Must-try desserts: Snow Mountain cheese (like tiramisu), Poet’s Rose Honey Steamed Bun, roadside pine nut crisp so fragrant you can’t stop biting 📌 Practical Tips Summary 🎒 Clothing advice: big temperature difference day and night, bring a jacket; prepare a raincoat for rainy season 📸 Best photo times: early morning 7-9 AM / evening 5-7 PM for soft light 🚗 For Dali Erhai Lake, car rental recommended for freedom and flexibility; Lijiang Ancient Town is car-free, mainly walking 💡 Plateau caution: Lijiang altitude about 2400m, avoid strenuous exercise, bring oxygen bottle in case of discomfort ✨ Final Words: Dali is wind and freedom, Lijiang is snow mountains and fireworks. In these four days, we ate over a dozen mushroom dishes, drank five kinds of yogurt, felt the breeze by Erhai Lake, and watched snow from Baisha rooftops. If you also want to be gently embraced by Yunnan— then set off, there you’ll find the slow life and poetry you desire.