Flanked by the soaring 4,000-meter peaks of the Cangshan range and the shimmering waters of Erhai Lake, Dali offers one of Yunnan's most serene highland retreats. The region is the historic homeland of the Bai ethnic group, reflected in whitewashed courtyard homes adorned with exquisite grey-tile eaves, decorative calligraphy, and indigo tie-dye textiles.
The premier way to experience Dali's natural topography is renting an e-bike or bicycle along the Erhai Ecological Corridor, a car-free paved trail hugging the western and northern lakeshores. In Dali Ancient City, escape the souvenir shops of Renmin Road by exploring the morning produce markets around the South Gate or hiking up to the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple.
Make time for historic villages around the lake: Xizhou Ancient Town preserves authentic Bai merchant mansions and serves crisp wood-fired Baba flatbreads, while Zhoucheng offers hands-on indigo dye workshops using wild plant extracts and hand-stitched cotton.
