Attractions in Dali: Butterfly Spring Cangshan Mountain Erhai Lake and Erhai Park Foreigner's Street Jizu Mountain Little Putuo Nanzhao Dehua Stele Nanzhao Island Qingbi Brook Shibao Mountain The Ancient City of Dali Three Pagodas Weibao Mountain Xizhou

Dali Introduction

Located between Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake, Dali is a legendary backpackers paradise famous for its cafes and guesthouses where the China traveler can relax with a cold beer, great tunes, and a cheap lodging. Aside from being a backpacker paradise, the city has a long history dating back some 1000 years, during which it was the capital of Nanzhao Kingdom during the Tang Dynasty. The area is famous for its natural beauty and the ethnic culture of the Bai people.

One thing to bear in mind when traveling here, is that the Dali travelers arrive in from Kunming is not the same Dali renowned as a backpakers getaway. In fact, the bus from Kunming arrives in a town known as Dali City, a local administrative municipality that is officially known as Xiaguan. Therefore, our coverage of Dali includes both Xiaguan and the ancient city of Dali (known as Dali Gucheng), where most travelers head straight for.

Sight Overview

This pretty area, concentrated around the ancient city of Dali and one of the most attractive scenic regions in Yunnan, is extremely rich in both natural beauty, and cultural heritage. As a result, the area is known as the "Pearl of the Yunnan Plateau".

The ancient city of Dali, west of Erhai Lake and in the shadow of the Cangshan Mountains, reflects strong Bai architectural style as well as folk art. On the southern outskirts of the city are Nanzhao Dehua Stele. In the city, looking to the west, the beautiful Three Pagodas at Chongsheng Temple are visible from afar, and make a great morning or afternoons cycle ride from the city. Across the lake, Jizu Mountain, one of the five most holy Buddhist mountains in China, stands imposingly in Bincghuan County.

In the northern areas of Dali County stands Shibao Mountain, most famous for its natural beauty and Buddhist sculptured grottoes. An annual folk song festival is also held on the mountain.

There are also numerous scenic spots around Erhai Lake, including Butterfly Spring, Little Putuo, Nanzhao Island, Xizhou and Erhai Park.