River Wonders Stunning Scenery

—— Circle Erhai Lake, climb Cangshan Mountain, explore the ancient city, enjoy a Bai ethnic style slow life for about 3500 RMB per person! 📅 Itinerary Overview Theme: Erhai Lake Circuit + Cangshan Hiking + Ancient City Exploration Suitable for: Couples / Photography Enthusiasts / Artsy Youth Budget Allocation: Transportation 35% + Accommodation 30% + Food 20% + Entertainment 15% 🗺️ Daily Detailed Itinerary Day 1: First Experience in Dali Ancient City | Budget 1500 RMB Morning: Arrive in Dali, check into a boutique guesthouse inside the ancient city (recommended "Jixia Mountain" or "Dali Ancient City No.1 Courtyard", about 600 RMB/night) Afternoon: Dali Ancient City (free): Stroll along Renmin Road, Foreigner Street, check in at "Da Bing’s Little House" Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple (75 RMB/person): Best reflection photo spot is outside the scenic area at the Three Pagodas Reflection Park Evening: Duan Gongzi Restaurant (about 100 RMB/person): Try Dali specialty "Wind Flower Snow Moon Fish" Night tour of the ancient city: Listen to folk songs at a bar (about 80 RMB/person) 📸 Photo spots: Sunset at the South Gate city wall, reflection of the Three Pagodas Day 2: West Line Cycling around Erhai Lake | Budget 1200 RMB Morning: Longkan Pier (free) to watch sunrise, rent a bicycle (20 RMB/day) Cycling route: Longkan → Caicun → Panxi S-bend (10 km, coffee breaks along the way) Noon: Bai ethnic farmhouse meal in Panxi Village (about 60 RMB/person) Afternoon: Xizhou Ancient Town (free): Photograph yellow walls, rice fields + corner towers Yan Family Courtyard (25 RMB/person) to see Bai architecture Evening: Stay at a countryside guesthouse in Xizhou (recommended "Xilin Garden", about 500 RMB/night) 🚴 Cycling tips: Use sunscreen, choose an electric bike for easier riding (50 RMB/day) Day 3: East Line Self-driving around Erhai Lake | Budget 1800 RMB Transportation: Rent a convertible Beetle (300 RMB/day, fuel 100 RMB) Route: Shuanglang → Wase → Xiaoputuo → Wenbi Village Must-stop spots: Shuanglang (free): Yang Liping’s Sun Palace afternoon tea (128 RMB/person) Wase Pier (free): Take photos of abandoned fishing boats Wenbi Village (free): Rainbow Road for wedding dress photos Dinner: Shuanglang Corner Time (about 80 RMB/person): Mint fried ribs Accommodation: Shuanglang sea view room (recommended "Mingyue Songjian", about 800 RMB/night) Day 4: Light Hiking on Cangshan Mountain | Budget 1000 RMB Morning: Jizhao Nunnery (free): China’s most beautiful nunnery, vegetarian meal (20 RMB/person) Afternoon: Cangshan Gantong Cableway (80 RMB/person): Hike Yudai Road (4 km flat trail) See waterfall at Qingbi Stream Evening: Dali University Night Market (about 30 RMB/person): Grilled milk fan + Erkuai rice cake ⛰️ Alternative: If physically fit, take Ximatan Cableway (310 RMB/person) to the summit Day 5: One-day Tour of Shaxi Ancient Town | Budget 1500 RMB Transportation: Chartered car round trip (600 RMB/car, can share with 4 people) Highlights: Ancient Theater Stage (free): The only surviving market on the Tea Horse Road Xianfeng Bookstore (free): Poetry tower in the rice fields Horse riding experience (100 RMB/30 minutes) Return: Bring souvenirs (flower cakes 30 RMB/box, tie-dye scarves 80 RMB) 💰 Total Budget Breakdown (for 2 people) Item Cost Major Transportation 2800 RMB (estimated for round-trip direct flight from Beijing) Local Transportation 1200 RMB (car rental + chartered car) Accommodation 2500 RMB (4 nights including 2 nights of light luxury) Food & Entertainment 1500 RMB Total 7000 RMB ⚠️ Key Tips Money-saving tips: Rent a car at "Shenzhou Car Rental" Dali Ancient City branch, first day free for new users Vegetarian meal at 11:30 AM, queue 1 hour in advance Avoid pitfalls: Photo fee of 5 RMB per shot for the popular glass balls by Erhai Lake Be cautious when buying "Snowflake Silver," look for old brands like "Cunsi" Best seasons: March-April (cherry blossoms), November (black-headed gulls) ✨ The magic of Dali lies in— Waiting for a pink sunrise at Longkan Pier in the early morning, sipping hand-brewed coffee in the rice fields of Xizhou in the afternoon, chasing the shimmering waves of Erhai Lake in a convertible at dusk. With a 7000 RMB budget, you can turn "going to a windy place" into reality! If you want to add Nuodeng Ancient Village or adjust hiking intensity, leave a message for customization~