Prefecture

Dali 大理

Erhai Lake, Bai culture, Shaxi and Weishan.

What to see

1 Dali Ancient City Dali & Erhai Lake A walled city with 1,200 years of history, going back to the Nanzhao kingdom. Walk along the city gates, the Wuhua Tower and the old lanes, with th…

Dali Ancient City

2 Around Erhai Lake Dali & Erhai Lake Explore the shores of Erhai Lake by car or by bike. The east shore is quieter, with wide views and photo spots. The west shore is more traditional,…

3 Shuanglang Ancient Town Dali & Erhai Lake A Bai fishing village on the eastern shore of Erhai Lake, with the Cangshan mountains across the water. Locals say: the best views of Dali are at E…

Shuanglang Ancient Town

4 Jinsuo Island & Dragon Palace Dali & Erhai Lake A short ferry ride takes you to Jinsuo (Golden Shuttle) Island, once the summer retreat of the Nanzhao kings. On the island, a boat glides through …

5 Xizhou Ancient Town Dali & Erhai Lake The best-preserved Bai village around Erhai Lake, with grand merchant houses, white walls and blue-tiled roofs set among rice and wheat fields. Try…

Xizhou Ancient Town

6 Jizu Mountain (Chicken Foot Mountain) Dali & Erhai Lake A sacred Buddhist mountain north-east of Dali, with temples and monasteries scattered through the forest. A cable car takes you close to the Golden…

7 Weishan Old Town Weishan The cradle of the Nanzhao kingdom, about an hour south of Dali, and a living old town rather than a tourist one. The Gongchen Tower stands at the c…

8 Weibao Mountain Weishan A forested Taoist mountain above Weishan, with Ming and Qing dynasty temples and well-preserved murals. Quiet walking trails connect the temples.

9 Shaxi Ancient Town Shaxi Halfway between Dali and Lijiang lies Shaxi, the best-preserved market town on the ancient Tea Horse Road. Caravans traded salt, tea and horses her…

Shaxi Ancient Town

Other prefectures

Yunnan overview Kunming Yuxi Honghe Wenshan Chuxiong Lijiang Shangri-La (Diqing) Baoshan (Tengchong) Pu'er Xishuangbanna