About Dali
What to see and do in Dali
Weather in Dali
Airport in Dali
Visa
Dali City is a county-level city in Dali Prefecture, Yunnan province, China. Dali and Yunnan's capital Kunming are only a 40-minute flight apart. Dali's newly finished administrative district that houses the newly opened Dali International Convention Center is in Longshan District. The Dali government's urban planning keeps its old and new districts separate, so those coming here for the first time often feel they have entered a time tunnel.
The "new city" is known as Xiaguan and is south of the old city. The old city was built during Ming Dynasty emperor Hongwu's reign (1368-1398). Owing to the distance between them, the old city is still peaceful and quiet.
Dali is the only Bai autonomous prefecture in China. Living on its 29,500 square kilometers of including the Bai, Han ,Yi,and Hui. Of the 3.3 million population, 50 percent are people of the minority groups, and the remaining 50 is precent , people of the Han. The population of the Bai minority groups accounts for one-third of the total.
Get around
Dali Old Town is small enough to get around on foot, and being laid out in a grid format is relatively easy to navigate. The major landmarks are the South and North gates with Fuxing Road running between them and Yangren Jie (Westerner's Street), lined with cafes and tourist shops. City maps are readily available for around RMB 5 but tend not to follow the usual 'north-at-the-top' standard. This is because the natural orientation of someone in Dali is to look toward the huge looming mountain chain called Cangshan that runs north-south next to the city. Therefore as you look at the mountains and face west, the lake is at your back, or east. This method of orientation makes even more sense when you realize that the entire town gently slopes from the mountains to the lake, making those two landmarks a natural way to find your bearings.
Bikes are also available at many guesthouses and rental huts around town and cost anywhere from RMB 5 - 40 per day. Bikes vary greatly in quality so shop around for the best deal. Chinese brands Merida and Giant (www2.merida-bikes.com and www.giant-bicycles.com) are among the better ones to consider.
Taxis in Dali Old Town generally cost 5 for under 3 km (though most drivers will ask for RMB 10). For other locations outside the Old Town, all prices are negotiable. A taxi to Xiaguan will cost around RMB 40.
In addition to the Old Town, Dali is a Prefecture of over 10,000 sq km. A whole range of destinations exist within the Prefecture that are perfect for the adventurous traveller. All are relatively easily accessible from either Dali Old Town or Xiaguan, the major city 13 km to the South. A lot of useful information is available from the Cafes within the Old Town on day trips around the Prefecture.
What to see in Dali
Butterfly Spring, a shallow pool that periodically swarms with countless butterflies. Otherwise the site (entrance RMB 60) includes a fairly nice park, a small butterfly breeding centre and an uterly bizzare exhibition hall with various pictures made from hundreds of dead butterflies of different colours which were presumably raised and killed on-site. If you really want to see this you can catch a minibus from outside the west gate.
Erhai Lake. - Erhai Lake and Wase market. Combine a trip to the Lake with a visit to the Wase market on the Eastern shore of the lake. Wase is a traditional and conservative Bai town with a weekly market aimed at both townpeople and nearby farmers. The market offers an interesting look at life in a quiet country town. On the lake visit the Guanyin temple and several islands. Go with a group and enjoy a great day out. Boats can be easily arranged as the owners come into town to drum up business and you can see what you are getting from the photobooks they carry. A RMB 30 Entrance Fee is changed for all lake visits, plus between RMB 50 - 100 per person for a day on the lake. You get what you pay for, so don't expect a great trip with a cheap boat.
Be aware of ferry stations not on the map (if you have a Lonely Planet book then refer to that section for legit stations). Ferry rides at real stations cost around RMB 5, but the fake stations charge RMB 150.
Cangshan Mountains. Take the chairlift up to Zhong He Temple (worth it as the hike up is not that great, the paths hard to find and rather painful). Entrance to the Mountain Park costs RMB 30 so they can keep the mountain clean, and the chairlift RMB 50 round trip RMB 30 one way. Budget conscious travellers can enter the park (student ID gets you half price RMB 15) and take the chairlift up for RMB 30, then walk down. From Zhong He Temple you have a choice of paths running North or South, with each offering equally spectacular views of the mountains, valley and lake. You can head South towards Xiaguan along good paths for up to 8 hours (with several early exit points down the mountain) and enjoy the spectacular view. The Northern route offers the option to head up the mountain and enjoy forest, running streams, and even a swim in the cold waters of a beautiful natural pool. Neither route involves particularly difficult hiking or climbing and the quality of the path is good. If you are particularly dedicated, you can gain free access to the mountain by taking the very long and painful route behind the One Pagoda and up the stairway behind the Dali Tianlongbabu TV City. Another route is by taking the gondola behind the Guangtong Temple about 8 km South of Dali. You can take the bus down to the Temple (worth a visit in itself) and then a motorbike up to the Guangtong Cablecar. Around RMB 80 return. A very beautiful part of the Cangshan Mountains with panoramic views of the Erhai Lake.
The mountains themselves are home to beautiful wild camelias, orchids, rhodedendrons, azeleas and abundant birdlife. Dali is home to some of the rarest camellias in China and the Cangshan was the source of most of these. The stock for most azealas grown in Europe was sourced from wild azealas on Cangshan. Most of the lower slopes are covered in replanted pine forests, with higher slopes, and steep valleys showing areas of more natural forest cover. The mountains are a national level Geopark and Nature Reserve and have much to offer plant, bird, flower & hiking enthusiasts.
Zhong He temple itself is an old Daoist temple and well worth a visit (but please don't make donations as the 'monks' are nothing of the sort and have subcontracted the temple as a profit-making exercise). The path, named the Cloud Traveller's Path, is one of the least crowded in China with local tourists only walking a few hundred metres from the chairlift, and you may only encounter a few groups along the entire 17 km length.
You can head South along good paths for up to 11 km towards the Gantong Temple (with a couple early exit points down the mountain, within a few kilometers of Zhong He Temple, leading to Dali Movie City) and enjoy the view. The path itself is clean, very well maintained and very easy walking. It was built by locals with amazing effort and a lot of dynamite. Each of the 4 valleys you walk through offers spectacular views of both the mountains and forests as well as the entire Dali valley. From an altitude of 2500 m you can view both the peaks which range up to 4100m and the valley and Erhai lake below. The 7 Dragon Maidens pool, 6 km from the Zhong He temple are a stunning set of mountain stream pools of varying colors and one of the highlights of the walk.
The Northern route of 6 km of path offers one of the sharpest cliff views of the entire Dali valley, and on a clear day you can see Jizu Mountain (one of the most famous Buddhist mountains in China) well beyond the Erhai lake. The route, at the bend in the main valley, also offers a path up the mountains for 2 km which ends at a mountain pool where you can take a swim on a warm day.
A suggested route would be to take the chairlift up to Zhonghe temple, take the Northern path for 3 km enjoying the clearest view of the entire valley, then head back South past Zhonghe temple towards Gantong temple. Good coffee is available at cafes behind the temple, so take a break, then keep walking the full 11 km until you reach Gangtong. If you are not up to the full walk, you can exit the mountain about 3 km past Zhonghe temple down a well made stairway behind the Dali Tianlongbabu TV City. As well, the English signs along the path are very informative.
If you visit Dali, plan to spend at least one day up on the mountains. You can also overnight at guesthouses behind Zhonghe Temple, enjoying the most blissful peace & quiet available in China. Well worth it.
The famous Tang Dynasty Three Pagodas are located 10 minutes by bike to the North West of Dali Old Town (next door to the Three Pagodas Hotel), offering one of the best preserved Buddhist structures in China. However, the compounds behind the pagodas were destroyed during the "Cultural Revolution" and were rebuilt starting in 1986. The Central pagoda is almost 1200 years old and represents a period when Dali was a Buddhist Kingdom. The entry price at RMB 126+ is rather steep (student ID gives a 50% discount). The Congshen Temple behind the Three Pagados has recently been rebuilt and reopened, after deteriorating in the 20th century due to earthquakes, fires and the cultural revolution. It is a massive complex that continues far up the mountain, where a climb to the top of the pagodas rewards with a beautiful overlook of Dali Ancient Town and Erhai Lake. Worth a visit for the Tang architecture, numerous statues of the Buddha and Guanyin with influences from both India and China, dragon fountains, and two small museum showcases.
Shaping market and Xizhou. About 30 km north of Dali is Shaping town which offers a lively weekly market with plenty of local color. The market starts early. A great chance to see local farmers out in force and literally watch plenty of horse trading. On the way back, stop in Xizhou, a town about 20 km north of Dali. Xizhou has almost 200 national heritage listed private houses dating from the Qing Dynasty. The houses are among the best examples of traditional Qing architecture in China and are exquisitely detailed. Chinese style with local touches. Building craftsmen from Xizhou were famous throughout SE Asia and travelled to Vietnam, Myanmar and throughout S W China to build and decorate houses. When they made their fortune, they returned to Xizhou to build their own dream home.
As most of these houses are currently occupied, you will need to be on your best behaviour, knock and enter with permission. The best way to see the finest examples are with a local guide as many of the interesting houses are difficult to find. Nonetheless, with a little legwork and good manners you can locate plenty of interesting architecture on your own.
The family estate of the Yan clan is preserved as a museum and open to the public, and while an excellent example of the architecture of the very rich is too commercial and compares poorly with more ordinary family homes in the township.
In the modern part of Dali, the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture Museum is worth a visit. It has an extensive collection of exhibits, with most signs in both Chinese and English. The museum grounds are beautiful as well - the exhibits are set around a traditional garden. The museum tickets are only RMB 10 each - a real bargain.
CyclingDali, No55 the center square of foreigner's street boai road Dali old town Yunnan China, 0086(0872)2671385, Best Bike Rental Place in Dali. Brand-new quality bikes including Trek and others and professional bike rental service. You can get bike tours as well as self-guided bike routes.
Take the ropeway (chairlift) upto the Cangshan Mountains to get an impressive view of Dali from high up. Hike in the mountains, going up, North or South. All directions offer some great hiking. Stay overnight (see accommodation below). The 16km 'Cloud Traveller' path across the Cangshan Mountains offers walks that range from easy to hard going, cuts through some superb valleys, offers spectacular views across the lake and valley, and overall is a must for travellers to Dali.
Chicken Foot Mountain 'Jizu Shan'. Further away from Dali to the North East behind Wase on the East side of Erhai Lake is Jizu Shan, called this because the mountain and its ranges look like a chicken's foot. Actually a 2-3 day trip in its own right. This is one of the 5 major Buddhist mountains in China and the top and slopes are covered in temples - many in a state of disrepair. Some have been restored and have resident monks. This is a difficult hike with the summit at 3200 metres. Be prepared. Or there are horse rides and a cable car that starts halfway up. To get here take a bus (2 hrs) from Xiaguans Northern bus station to Binchuan and from there change to a minibus or bus (1 hr) to Jizu Shan.
Studying traditional Chinese martial arts with Wudang Mountain Daoist monk Zhou Xuan Yun. http://www.DaliMartialArts.com
Lake Erhai has "Erhai Paradise" which is certainly worth a visit. It's a magical Buddhist haven with giant statues, empty amphitheaters, demon-statues, tea gardens and an artificial beach. One way is to hire a taxi driver form Dali or Xiaguan for the entire day and negotiate a price. The driver can take you to the boat jetty and show you onto the island ferry. You'll sail across the lake. Explore the island and come back by boat, where your driver will be waiting to take you to a restaurant for dinner, or temples and bars as you wish. Total for the day about RMB 500pp.
Dali is one of Yunnan's most popular tourist destinations, both for its historic sites and the "Foreigners' Street" that features western-style food, music, and English-speaking business owners, making it popular among both western and Chinese tourists.
Dali museum
Chong Sheng Temple
Guanyin Palace of Copper Rain (rebuilt in 1999)
Jianji Great Bell of Nanzhao (recast in 1997)
Surrealist Group
Butterfly Spring
Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils film city
Shaxi, Yunnan: a historical town in Jianchuan County on the ancient tea route
Dali's weather fluctuates each season but with an annual mean temperature ranging from 12 C to 19 C (54 F - 66 F). As such, Dali is a favorite tourist destination all year round. Due to its higher altitude, Dali is slightly colder than Kunming. Its rainy season begins in June and last till October. The hottest days are in July with average temperature of 22 C (72 F) while the coldest in January at 8 C (46 F). Thanks to its higher altitude, Dali enjoys bright sunshine which is most welcome during the winter months.
Although the difference in temperature is not great throughout the year but spring is usually deemed as the best season to visit Dali. There are local songs eulogizing the scenic beauty of Dali's spring. Wherever one goes at this time of the year, one can enjoy the most beautiful sceneries of Dali. When summer turns into autumn, the temperature falls dramatically, especially if it rains. Hence, warmer clothing is required during that period.
There are many ethnic minorities in Dali. Consequently, many festivals and celebrations of each of these minorities follow. For instance, the Bai minority group holds their celebration in March and if one visits Dali during that month, one will be able to witness the joyous mood all around. People are friendly and hospitable but visitors must be aware and thus avoid ethnic taboos.
January 15 C to 2 C
February 16 C to 3 C
March 19 C to 6 C
April 21 C to 9 C
May 24 C to 12 C
June 24 C to 15 C
July 24 C to 16 C
August 23 C to 15 C
September 22 C to 14 C
October 20 C to 10 C
November 17 C to 6 C
December 15 C to 2 C
Dali Airport is an airport in Dali, Yunnan, China (IATA: DLU, ICAO: ZPDL). Location: About 13 kilometers (8 miles) away from Dali City, Dali Airport, also named Dali Huangcaoba Airport, is located on the southeast bank of Erhai Lake in the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture.
Brief Intro: Established in 1995, Dali Airport covers an area of 416 acres including a 4200 square meters (1 acre) terminal building and a 19,550 square meters (4.8 acres) apron, which can handle planes such as the Boeing 737. The apron has 4 parking positions and the runway is 2600 meters (1.6 miles) long. This is the first high altitude airport in China with a complex geographic situation.
At present, flights using Dali Airport connect Dali with many cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Kunming, Xishuangbanna, Tianjin, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guiyang and Guangzhou. Many flights, such as to Guangzhou and Kunming, are operated daily.
Airport Transportation Bus No.7 makes a round-trip from Xiaguan to Dali Airport. A ticket costs RMB 1. In addition, airport buses go to downtown Dali. Taxis are also available to the airport for about RMB 80. Besides the ticket booking office of the CAAC on Yunling Street, most hotels and travel agencies in Jianshe Road offer ticket booking services. We recommend leaving for the airport from downtown two hours ahead of departure time. Airport check-in services will close 30 minutes before a flight departs.
To be able to travel to Dali you need to have a valid China Visa, issue from your local government at the China Embassy, Chinese visa fall into four types: diplomatic visa, courtesy visa, service visa and ordinary visa. Ordinary visa is further divided into the following 8 categories each marked with a letter:
(1) Tourist and family visit visa (L-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China for tourist purpose, family visit or other personal affairs.
(2) Business Visa (F-visa ) is issued to a foreign citizen who is invited to China for visit, research, lecture, business, exchanges in the fields of science, technology, education, culture and sports, or attending various kinds of trade fairs or exhibitions, or short-term study, intern practice for a period of no more than 6 months.
(3) Student Visa (X-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China for the purpose of study or advanced study for a period of six or more months.
(4) Work Visa (Z-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China to work and his or her accompanying family members, or to give commercial performances in China.
(5) Transit Visa (G-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who is to transit through China on his or her way to a third country (or region).
(6) Crew Visa(C-visa)is issued to crew member performing his/her duties on board an international train, or on an international airliner, to a sailor on board an international ocean-liner or freighter, and also to their accompanying family members..
(7) Journalist Visa (J-visa)is issued to foreign journalists. J-visa has two categories: J-1 visa and J-2 visa. J-1 visa is issued to resident foreign journalists in China and their accompanying spouses and under-age children, J-2 visa to foreign journalists who visit China for temporary news coverage.
(8) Permanent Residence Visa(D-visa)is issued to a foreign citizen who has been approved by China's public security authority to reside in China permanently.
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