Dali Ancient City: Top Activities & Ideal Visit Times
It's time to cross out another destination from your travel bucket list, and we're here to help make that a reality. Let’s explore this beautiful city in the northwest of Yunnan Province, China. Dali in Yunnan is very popular among tourists and is well-known for its magnificent landscapes, ancient heritage, and entertainment. The soil is fertile, and the climate is friendly all year round, despite being roughly 2000 meters above sea level.
Basic Facts of Dali Ancient City
Street view of Dali Ancient City
The ancient town of Dali is one of the city's main attractions. It is surrounded by city walls, with four gates: the North Gate, West Gate, East Gate, and South Gate. You could spend days and days looking around the art shops and eating at the street food markets and restaurants. Live music, locally brewed craft brews, street art, and Instagram-worthy coffee shops complement the beautiful and historical landmarks. Dali's beauty is sure to leave anyone speechless, especially with the calm, serene lakes and bright, colorful flora. There are so many tourist attractions to explore that you could never possibly be bored.
Also known as 'Dali Old Town,' Serving as a linking city between two other popular cities, Kunming and Lijiang, Dali is the origin city of Bai culture. Bai means 'white' in Chinese, and the people are famous for how well they master the art of marble making and silver-working and their ability to produce so many unique decorations. Bai houses typically have white walls that are well painted, and the Bai people's ancestors lived there in the 4th century, but today the ruins of the city are open for visitors to explore as historical and cultural attractions.
The Best Time to Visit Dali Ancient City
Serene view in Dali
If you'd like to enjoy your travels to Dali to the fullest, it's important that you select the right time to visit. That's usually anytime between March and October, and mostly during the summer or springtime.
Dali's perfect temperature results from its special geographical mix. Though low in latitude, the city has a subtropical highland temperature that is both unique and relaxing.
Here, summers are humid and warm, which is refreshing after the short, mild, dry winters.
With a yearly average of 14.9 degrees Celsius, temperatures stay pretty moderate all year. Throughout the months and seasons, Dali remains cozy and beautiful. But there is a local Dali proverb that says, "The best scenery of Dali falls in March." What this simply means is that the best time to enjoy and marvel at this beauty is springtime, when nature and culture come alive.
The rainy season in Dali usually runs from July to September, so when you visit during this time, make sure you pack an umbrella and a light jacket. Keeping tabs on all the details that go into planning might be tedious. Sometimes, it’s perfectly fine to outsource the planning stage! If you’d prefer to have your travel planned for you to perfection, our expert travel guides at China Odyssey Tours can help with that! Feel free to contact us for more information about it.
Top 7 Things to Do in Dali, Yunnan
Dali offers lots of fun activities that tourists can be a part of, and here are a few of those activities you can consider making your visit an absolutely memorable one:
Take a Boat Ride on Lake Erhai
Take a boat on Erhai Lake
Lake Erhai is the second-largest freshwater lake in Yunnan, after Dianchi Lake in Kunming. It is the most stunning location in Dali, a plateau lake. The lake's tranquil, blue water can make you feel at ease and tranquilized, especially as the lake's mild breeze blows on you.
In fact, travel experts recommend this as a go-to therapeutic location for people who might be dealing with stress or anxiety or need a break.
Some people prefer to bike around the shores of Lake Erhai rather than take a boat ride. It gives them a good view of the lake and the surrounding areas.
If you visit Lake Erhai lake during the winter, there's a high chance you'll also get to spot Siberian seagulls.
Explore the Streets & Heritage of Dali Ancient City
Beautiful wooden house in Dali Ancient City
Dali Ancient City has a history spanning over 1,000 years. Lined with rows of shops selling all kinds of goodies, you can easily spend a full day here. Wander through lovely patios adorned with blooming flowers, or explore the ruins of an old city, walls, and gates.
This town is so peaceful and relaxing, making it a refreshing change compared to the other tourist spots. Spend the day walking through the streets, taking a look at the local crafts, and finishing it off by sitting in a coffee shop and watching the world go by.
When the sun sets, that's when this ancient town truly comes alive. The atmosphere transforms, and it then begins to offer a unique and enchanting experience for visitors with cultural music and various activities.
To help you fully experience the beauty of Dali, click here to get your personalized Dali Travel Guide.
Visit the Three Pagodas
Three Pagodas
The Three Pagodas of the Chongsheng Temple is one of Dali's most iconic views. It dates back to the 9th century, and according to local legend, dragons used to inhabit this area of China entirely, so the Three Pagodas were built to prevent these dragons from causing natural disasters.
To get to the Three Pagodas, you can either take a taxi or walk to visit them. Besides the three pagodas, there is a complex of temples that you can spend your time exploring.
Climb Mountain Cangshan
Mountain Cangshan and Erhai Lake
Another great choice would be to climb Mountain Cangshan, where you can see the incredible views of the sea and Lake Erhai. Most tourists find the hike to be easy and rarely strenuous, so if you’re not a hiker, you can still enjoy the climb and the beautiful scenery. You can get up by chairlift, cable car, or walk up, but be prepared for lots of stairs.
To reach the top of Mountain Cangshan, you will hike 10 km to a gorgeous meadow with hidden waterfalls and breathtaking views of Erhai Lake. That part of the mountain is at an elevation of 2600 meters above sea level, and from there, you might see the small, peaceful farming village at the foot of Cangshan Mountain.
Visit the Local Markets
Local market in Dali
The local markets, especially the Xizhou morning markets, are the best spots to visit if you want a taste of Dali's daily life. When you get there, you will find local fishermen displaying their day's catch in plastic buckets, and the farmers will offer to sell you lush, juicy fruits that were most likely cycled in from their fields that morning.
The most captivating part of the market is usually the sight of the locals carrying baskets on their backs and the women dressed in beautiful traditional costumes.
The streets of Xizhou are neatly lined with stores that sell the traditional handicrafts of the area, such as needlework, shoemaking, silversmithing, embroidery, woodworking, and pastry.
And you'd find that the streets are paved beautifully with slab stones.
However, during your tour, you might experience an off-season closure of many stores, which is very normal.
Explore Surrounding Towns and Cities
Stone Forest in Kunming
You can choose to explore outside Dali and experience the unique attractions of other towns. The city of Kunming is a great starting point for your journey. If you're planning to spend a few days here, head to the nearby town of Shilin to experience the magnificent rock formations at the Stone Forest.
The Stone Forest is two hours away from Kunming city and easily accessible by direct bus. It is called "The Stone Forest" because it has so many karst formations. Your journey back from Kuning to Dali can be equally exciting, but some other surrounding places you might find interesting are Lijiang and Shangri-La. To learn more about traveling in Lijiang, find our travel guide here or contact our travel expert to get a tailor-made personal itinerary just for you.
Lijiang is home to one of China's best-preserved towns. There are plenty of wonderful attractions and views to see and enjoy.
Shangri-la is a hidden gem for anyone who wants to experience true Tibetan culture. Here, you can also visit the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple complex in Yunnan province.
Experience Local Culture
Yunnan Rice Noodle
Take your time to experience and immerse yourself in Dali's local culture. You could attend some traditional festivals, try their local cuisine, and even visit one of their local villages.
You can also decide to learn the art of tie-and-dye in Zhoucheng, the hometown of Bai tie-dye. A tie-dye tutorial from a native is usually a very helpful way to understand and appreciate Bai culture better.
While exploring the city, you might work up an appetite, and Dali is an amazing place to experience some incredible food. Try the local specialty, Baked Rice Cake (kao erkuai 烤饵块) - it's delicious! Surprisingly, Dali has a great selection of Western restaurants. Head to Bakery 88 for a real European taste of bread and cheese, Serendipity Diner for an all-American feel with their burgers and cheesecakes, or Blue Gecko Cafe for great cuisine from around the world.
Dali Awaits You
For those traveling to Yunnan for the first time, Dali is definitely a worthy destination. Even if you've visited Dali before, it is still a really nice place to return to and experience the traditional Chinese way of life without having to give up comfort.
Some people decide to spend a week or so in Dali, enjoying their free time and getting to know the local way of life. They also have the option of spending a few days exploring the local villages, which adds a few extra days to their tour. Some other tourists only visit Dali as part of a larger Yunnan tour, and they end up just staying there for two to three days out of a week's journey or longer. So, it's best to know what works for you so that you can create a suitable itinerary for your trip.
Write to trip@odynovotours.com and start planning your Dali trip or inquiring about a custom-made Dali itinerary with us now. It’s time to get out there and enjoy the beauty of Dali, Yunnan!
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