Going West to Dali: Our 6-Day, 4-Night Romantic Journey Around Erhai Lake, with a Complete Photography Guide

The world is vast, and worries are small.
When life gets cluttered with trivialities, we all need an escape. This time, my boyfriend and I chose Dali—a place sung about by countless travelers. No rushed sightseeing, no ticking off checkpoints. We just wanted to stroll slowly along the shores of Erhai Lake, capturing the scenery with our camera and etching it into our hearts.

About This Trip: Why Only Dali?

Many friends thought it was a shame we only went to Dali: "Why not stop by Lijiang while you're at it?"
Actually, I'd been to Yunnan before on a group tour, racing through several attractions and leaving with nothing but exhaustion and regret. This time, my boyfriend specifically took time off to accompany me. With limited days, we decided to dedicate all six days and four nights to Dali.
We'll save Lijiang, Shangri-La, and the rest for another trip when we have more time. For now, let me fall in love with Erhai Lake.

Most of our couple photos were taken by my boyfriend—he'd pick the spot, adjust the settings, then ask a passerby or fellow traveler to snap the shot. Our tripod was also a trusty companion, witnessing countless sweet moments.

Itinerary Overview

• October 7: Beijing ✈️ Kunming (11:55–17:25) → Kunming 🚄 Dali (22:37–06:22)
• October 8: Dali Old Town, Longkan Pier, Flower Fields
• October 9: West Erhai Lakeside Road, Haishe Park (Tongue Park)
• October 10: East Erhai Lakeside Road (Wase Water Road, Xiaoputuo Island)
• October 11: Shuanglang Ancient Town → Dali 🚄 Kunming (23:33–05:48)
• October 12: Kunming ✈️ Beijing (09:15–12:40)

Expense Breakdown

• Accommodation:
• Dali Old Town: 157 RMB / two nights (an incredible deal!)
• Shuanglang sea-view room: 880 RMB / night
• Transportation:
• Round-trip flights: 2,076 RMB per person
• Round-trip trains: 128 RMB per person
• Ride-hailing (Old Town → Shuanglang, Shuanglang → Train Station): under 60 RMB per trip
• Electric scooter rental: 50–80 RMB per day
• Tip: Ride-hailing is hit or miss. If no one picks up your request, local private car hire costs about 120 RMB.

What to Wear

After National Day, Dali's temperature swings are dramatic.
During the day, with the sun out, shorts and a T-shirt are perfectly fine. But once the sun drops, a sweater or heavy jacket is essential.
If you plan to ride an electric scooter around Erhai Lake, dress warmly! The wind cuts right through you, chilling you to the bone.
Weather forecasts are basically useless—every day we were there, rain was predicted, but we got nothing but sunshine.

Dali Old Town · Flower Fields · Longkan Pier

Living in a Fairytale: Dali Fairytale Town Boutique Inn

We arrived at the station in the early hours, exhausted. The innkeeper saw how tired we were and upgraded our room for free.
157 RMB for two nights—clean, tidy, and charming. There were electric scooters for rent right at the door, incredibly convenient.
On the inn's rooftop terrace, we took our first photos. The sky was so blue it looked fake.

Flower Fields: 10 RMB of Pure Joy

A ten-minute scooter ride from the old town, and you'll find vast flower fields. Locals plant the flowers, cordon them off, and charge for photos—10 RMB per person, and you can shoot as much as you like.
Lavender, sunflowers... we couldn't stop snapping.

Longkan Pier: An Unexpected Delight

The pier itself is for boarding boats, so you can't get in without a ticket. But right next to it, there's a stunning photo spot with a view of the boats in the distance.
We hadn't even started our ride along West Erhai Lakeside Road, and we were already blown away.

West Erhai Lakeside Road · Haishe Park (Tongue Park)

The Most Beautiful Cycling Route, Bar None

Before setting out, we referenced photographer @张一张yizhang's Weibo guide and marked spots from A to G.
Starting from Dali Old Town, our first stop was Haixi Water Station—an unassuming gate. Walk through it, go around a gray building, and you'll find stunning scenery hidden behind.

Wooden Boardwalk and Small Forest: The photos turned out great, but the mosquitoes were terrifying. We ran as soon as we got the shots.

Alpaca Encounter: By the roadside, there was a fenced area charging for photos—10 RMB per person, with a free iced sour plum drink thrown in. My boyfriend's inner child came out; he excitedly paid up.

Electric Scooter Accident: Even When Parked, You Can Fall

We stopped at a hotel entrance to take photos. I happily climbed onto the scooter to pose for a back shot, and it tipped over!
My right leg got pinned, and my left leg was scraped. At first, it only bled a little. The next day, it was completely bruised and hurt to move.
A reminder: Electric scooters can be dangerous, even when stationary!

Haishe Park: The Couple's Tree and Horse Carriages

The roads were under construction everywhere. We finally found the main entrance, grabbed a bite to eat, and recharged.
Before entering the park, don't forget to take photos at the Couple's Tree—the area was packed with wedding parties. We walked to a distant ridge to capture the full view.
The ridge was so narrow only one person could stand on it, and we had to watch out for "natural fertilizer."

Haishe Park isn't large, but with all the walking and shooting, we were exhausted by the end. We took a horse-drawn carriage back out—10 RMB per person.

Bus Café: Adorably Over the Top

It took twenty minutes to ride there, but it was totally worth it. We had drinks, took photos, and the staff were super friendly.

East Erhai Lakeside Road · Xiaoputuo Island · Wase Water Road

A Pleasant Surprise with Ride-Hailing

Heading from the old town to Shuanglang, I posted a ride-hailing request on Didi. Amazingly, a driver picked us up in the middle of the night!
Knowing we'd already explored the west side, the driver deliberately took the east route and even let us stop to take photos whenever we wanted.

Xiaoputuo Island: Best admired from a distance. It's a tiny island with just one temple.
Wase Water Road: We hadn't planned to visit, but we spotted it as we drove. We took off our shoes, waded into the water, and shot against the backlight. It was crowded, but the photos turned out great.

Shuanglang Ancient Town: A "Mini Dali" Under Construction

Staying in a Sea-View Room: Tailimeili Sea Holiday Inn

When we arrived in Shuanglang, we understood why everyone says the roads are so bad you can't set foot anywhere. No vehicles are allowed inside; you have to switch to the town's electric shuttle (10 RMB per person).
Don't take the motorized rickshaws at the entrance! They'll drop you off at the checkpoint and still charge full price.

Our sea-view room was a blend of Mediterranean and European styles. The rooftop had white tables, hanging egg chairs, and chairs—all perfect photo props.
The iconic white tables you see in every Dali photo are everywhere; along the lakeside road, they charge 10 RMB per person. We got our fill at the inn, so we didn't pay for them elsewhere.

Shuanglang Ancient Town: Honestly Not Worth Staying In

In my opinion, Shuanglang is just a smaller version of Dali Old Town, with fewer shops and less variety.
If it weren't for the sea-view rooms, I really wouldn't recommend staying here. The roads are all torn up, and it took us an hour to walk from the entrance to our inn.
If you want souvenirs, buy them in Dali Old Town.

Braiding Hair, Writing Postcards, Printing Photos

Both Dali Old Town and Shuanglang have places where you can get your hair braided—5 RMB for three braids.
In Shuanglang, we found a proper post office and bought postcards to send to friends. I highly recommend printing your own postcards: 10 RMB each. You connect your WeChat, turn your photos into postcards (with stamps included), and mail them directly.

Little People Music Restaurant

We stumbled into this place. It had a cozy, romantic vibe, with a giant white figure by the entrance. The food was good, and the service was nice, though a bit slow.

End of the Trip: Taking Flowers Home

At the airport, I bought a bouquet called "Colorful Yunnan" for 45 RMB. The seller said it would last two weeks—well, not really.
But buying flowers itself is a joy.

If the airline hadn't lost my checked luggage, this would have been a perfect trip.
Luckily, my boyfriend stubbornly argued with the airline until they found it. I'm so glad I have you. Love you.

Final Thoughts: For Those Planning a Trip to Dali

1. Time: Six days and four nights are enough to thoroughly explore Dali—no need to rush.
2. Transportation: Electric scooters are the way to go, but be careful!
3. Accommodation: The old town offers great value; only go for sea-view rooms in Shuanglang.
4. Photography: White tables, hanging egg chairs, flower fields, the Couple's Tree—you can shoot anywhere. Don't obsess over trendy spots.
5. Mindset: Dali's beauty isn't in the attractions. It's on the road. Ride slowly, shoot slowly, love slowly.

The world is vast, and worries are small.
May you also have a Dali journey that is truly your own.