[2025 Dali Stay] Travel Guide for Sunyata·Ladesee Hotel Erhai,Dali (Updated Jan)

Dali's winter is characterized by clear skies and light clouds, with seagulls and redwoods adorning the landscape of Cangshan and Erhai. The gentle sunlight scatters over the lake, sparkling with tiny glimmers. In January, we happened to catch the tail end of the Opening Festival. Since ancient times, Erhai Lake has been the mother lake of the people of Dali, nurturing generations of Bai people. The Opening Festival is a traditional celebration where local fishermen celebrate their harvest and pray for favorable weather in the coming year. As the melodious fishing songs resound, the fishermen set sail with hope, anticipating a bountiful harvest. During the Opening Festival, the shores of Erhai are bustling with activity. As night falls, the fishermen place their meticulously crafted lanterns into the water, which drift along with the current, resembling stars falling to the earth, making Erhai look like a dream. These lanterns are not only a symbol of the fishermen's reverence and gratitude towards the sea but also a prayer and hope for a better future. They sway gracefully in the water, illuminating the fishermen's way home and warming the hearts of every visitor.

Compared to the crowded Longkan, I prefer the lesser-known Bai ancient village of Taoyuan Village, hidden in Dali's Erhai Lake. Like Longkan, it has mountains, sea, redwoods, and ancient villages, but with fewer tourists. A quiet pier and free seagulls make this the "Meet Yourself" version of Taoyuan. Travel tips: Travel route: Watch the sunrise at Taoyuan Pier → Cycle west along the Dali Erhai Ecological Corridor → Shangguan Village → Renhe → Zhoucheng Village → Renliyi Village → Taoyuan Village. There is a beautiful Butterfly Spring near Renhe that is worth a visit. For transportation 🚴, bicycles are the best choice here. You can enjoy the scenery at a leisurely pace and stop to take photos at any time. For accommodation and food, I highly recommend staying in Taoyuan Village for a night. I stayed at Lanwang, which is located next to Taoyuan Pier. It features a combination of Bai residential style and modern minimalist style. Here, you can even see the traditional Bai craft of door making and carving. The long, movie-like windows make you feel like you're in a French movie. In the morning, you can watch the sunrise from the fourth floor. I was so excited when I saw the golden sun rise from behind the mountains. Bai-style cured meat with pomegranate flowers and mint fried ribs are worth a try, as well as various flowers, milk fans, and raw skin. If you have time, there are many villages nearby that are worth visiting. Dali is a place to enjoy slow living.

| Jixiashan·Lanwang. 🎈 The hotel is located at Taoyuan Pier, a bit closer to Xizhou Ancient Town. It is a small courtyard 🏡 that incorporates Bai ethnic style. The entire hotel has only 6️⃣ guest rooms, but there are many public areas 🏘️ available for guests to use. Just outside the door is the Erhai Ecological Corridor 🎈 The hotel includes a minibar 🍷, afternoon tea ☕️, goodnight drinks 🥤, and breakfast 🍳. The service is also enthusiastic and attentive. The breakfast is nutritious and well-balanced, featuring Bai ethnic delicacies 🥩 such as baba and ersi, which are very delicious.