In Dali, I Found What the Ideal Life Looks Like

Last autumn, I packed up the whole family — including my daughter, whose energy never seems to run out, and my grandmother, who's retired but somehow busier than me — for a spontaneous trip. Destination: Dali. To be honest, I didn't have high expectations before we left. When you're traveling with kids and elderly parents, you know the drill: it's basically "babysitting in a different location." But after five days, I was completely proven wrong. Dali not only made my mom and daughter absolutely ecstatic, it also made me rethink what "the ideal life" really means.

This isn't your average travelogue. It's a practical, battle-tested guide to traveling with both kids and parents without losing your mind. If you've ever dreamed of a life with wind, clouds, Erhai Lake, coffee, and a few moments of freedom, keep reading.

Day 1: From the Office to Erhai Lake in Just 1.5 Hours

The moment the work bell rang, I practically sprinted home. There was only one thought in my head: Hurry! Catch the flight! My suitcase was a chaotic mess — I just threw in whatever I grabbed. Sunscreen? Forgot it. School uniform? Didn't have time to change it. Oh well, it's not like Dali's UV rays would go easy on me just because I forgot to apply.

We had a layover in Guizhou, and the timing was perfect. By the time we landed in Dali, it was already late at night. The air had a moist, crisp freshness — completely different from the air-conditioned smell of the city. I took a deep breath and thought: Alright, vacation has officially begun.

Day 2: The West Bank of Erhai Lake — Taking It Slow Is the Real Deal

Sleeping In Is the Only Way to Start Dali

The next day, the whole family slept in until we naturally woke up. The breakfast at our guesthouse wasn't fancy, but it was made with care — a steaming bowl of 米线 (rice noodles), paired with freshly baked 鲜花饼 (flower-shaped pastries). We sat in the garden, eating and daydreaming. My daughter chased butterflies around the yard, my grandmother lounged in a wicker chair soaking up the sun, and my mom... well, she was busy figuring out how to get that "Instagram-worthy" shot with her phone.

At 10 a.m., we finally dragged ourselves out the door. Target: Erhai Lake.

I Took the Fall for the Scooter Trap

We rented a small electric scooter near the guesthouse — and it turned out to be a total scam. You can't even ride it along the lakeshore. The return point happened to be right in front of the hotel, so we ended up stuck with it for the whole day. The upside? My grandmother got to sit on the back, and my mom didn't have to walk (she can't ride anything with two wheels). The hidden perk of bringing grandma along unlocked right then and there.

When we reached the entrance to Erhai Lake, the staff told us electric scooters weren't allowed in. But there were bicycles for rent at the gate — 15 yuan for the whole day. Done deal.

Are the Photographers by the Lake Worth It?

The walking path along Erhai Lake was lined with photographers holding cameras. It was clearly an industry — same compositions, same filters, same smiles. I paid a few dozen yuan to try it out, and the photos turned out... well, let's just say the ones my daughter took with her phone looked more natural.

Money-saving tip: Bring your own phone tripod, find good lighting, and the results will be just as good as the paid ones — especially at sunset, when the lake turns golden and everything looks beautiful.

Lunch: A Hidden Courtyard Kitchen by Erhai

For lunch, we found a small courtyard restaurant tucked away near the lake. The owner also runs a guesthouse. We sat on little stools around a table, and the food was authentic Bai ethnic cuisine — 酸辣鱼 (sour and spicy fish), 乳扇 (dried milk fan), and 凉鸡米线 (cold chicken rice noodles). Every dish made you want to lick the plate clean. The owner chatted with us while serving, saying that life in Dali is about "slowing down and eating well." At that moment, I suddenly felt it — this is what I want my "ideal life" to look like.

The "Daycare Miracle" at the Succulent Garden

In the afternoon, we went to the Wood Stone Succulent Cloud Garden, recommended by our guesthouse owner. The moment I walked in, I was blown away — the garden was filled with succulents of every shape and color, like stepping into a fairy tale. The best part? There was an "adventure mission" for kids. Children could follow "Snow White" on an expedition into the succulent kingdom, each with their own role card. My daughter picked an elf costume and was over the moon with excitement.

Here's the key: The whole adventure lasted about an hour. For that one hour, moms could finally relax! My mom and I sat in the garden's café, brewing tea over a stove, gazing at the distant Cangshan Mountains, and just chatting. For that moment, I felt like I wasn't there to babysit — I was on vacation.

After the adventure, the staff took photos of each kid, and the value for money was incredible. Meanwhile, my mom wandered around the garden and snapped a bunch of "photo-worthy shots."

Evening: Dali Old Town — Silver Bracelets and the Lively Vibe

In the evening, we wandered into Dali Old Town. It was busy, but not as chaotic as Lijiang. We each bought a silver bracelet — my mom picked one with intricate carvings, and my daughter chose one with little bells. The advantage of bringing mom along became clear again: not only did she help with the kids, she also haggled down the price.

Day 3: Xizhou Ancient Town — The Joy of a Private Car

Hiring a Car: The Ultimate Solution for Family Travel

The next day, we decided to hire a private car. The driver picked us up right at the guesthouse, and we just threw our luggage in the trunk — hassle-free. Destination: Xizhou Ancient Town.

When we arrived at the entrance, we somewhat cluelessly bought tickets for the sightseeing tram. This tram still used an old-school system — each ticket had a number, and once they filled a car, it would depart 15 minutes later. Before departure, everyone got an earpiece, and a guide took us through the old mansion of the wealthiest family in the area. The tour lasted about an hour, after which we had free time.

How to Properly Experience Xizhou

During free time, we first had a bowl of 过桥米线 (crossing-the-bridge rice noodles). When traveling with kids, ice cream is mandatory — my daughter started whining for it right after finishing her noodles. Fine, let's get some.

Then came my mom's photo-op moment. Following the guide, we found the spot with the "Xizhou" sign for photos. By then, my daughter was already impatient and kept urging us to go ride the little train. Where were the lush green rice fields everyone talked about? All that was left next to the train track was dirt and haystacks. Wrong season, I guess.

After the train ride, everyone else was exhausted, but my daughter still had boundless energy. She insisted on making a 瓦猫 (tile cat). To be honest, it turned out to be pretty fun — a cute clay cat that came to life after we painted it.

Checking In by the Lake: A Surprise Under 1,000 Yuan

After finishing the tile cat, we followed the driver to our accommodation for the night. Our goal was to catch the 6 p.m. sunset.

The moment I walked into the hotel, I literally gasped — the room faced Erhai Lake, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the shimmering water, and the Cangshan Mountains in the distance. What shocked me most was that this room cost less than 1,000 yuan! The magic of an autumn break, I finally understood.

I made my daughter take about a thousand photos of me. The sunset was supposed to be at 6 p.m., but the sun disappeared behind the mountains in less than a second, leaving only a faint glow. Well, Dali's sunset is way more stubborn than I expected.

In the evening, we grabbed dinner in Shuanglang Ancient Town. The hotel was right at the edge of the town, just a few steps away.

Day 4: Circling Erhai Lake — Beauty Everywhere

The Hotel's Complimentary Photoshoot Actually Turned Out Well

In the morning, the hotel offered a complimentary photoshoot. I didn't expect much, but the photos actually came out pretty good — the kind that feel like "life-defining shots." The only downside was that after the shoot, the staff tried to upsell you, and before you knew it, you'd spent a few hundred extra yuan.

Renting a Car and Accidentally Hitting the Highway...

After the photoshoot, we finally rented a small car to start circling Erhai Lake. But just as I left the hotel, I somehow ended up on the highway... Classic case of "city brain" — I wasn't thinking straight. Realizing my mistake, I quickly got off.

As soon as I exited the highway, I spotted seagulls by the lakeshore. Sunlight glistened on the water, and flocks of seagulls flew by — it was like a painting. We pulled over randomly, took photos, daydreamed, and fed the birds.

Lunch and Xiaoputuo Island

We had lunch near Xiaoputuo Island. This is also a popular spot for feeding seagulls by Erhai Lake. Drive a little further, and there's a road that extends into the water — another great photo spot.

Xidi Coffee Shop: You Could Daydream Here All Day

Our next destination was the Dali Ocean Hotel. Before arriving, we stopped at Xidi Coffee Shop to watch the sunset. Another stunning spot — facing Erhai Lake with Cangshan Mountains at your back. Sitting there, watching the blue sky and white clouds, sipping coffee — I could honestly daydream there all day.

Dali Ocean Hotel: A Surprise Underwater World

In the evening, we checked into the Dali Ocean Hotel. The value for money was incredible — when we opened the door, we were greeted by an underwater world! Fish swam overhead, and my daughter screamed with excitement. We fell asleep with the fish swimming above us. The next morning, the first thing we did was book the "Golden Storm" show included in the hotel package. We had four rooms, so the kids could watch four shows — they were over the moon! Does it give you Atlantis vibes? Under 1,000 yuan — the value is ridiculously good.

Go-Karting: Thrilling but Safe

In the afternoon, we went go-karting. The whole experience was amazing. I was a bit nervous about the difficult track at first, but after accidentally going the wrong way on my first downhill run, I realized it wasn't that hard. Little go-kart, no fear! We had a blast doing several laps.

Day 5: Saying Goodbye to Dali, Already Looking Forward to the Next Autumn Break

And just like that, the five-day autumn break came to an end. Next stop: fly to Kunming, then head home.

Looking back on this trip, what struck me most was this: Traveling with kids isn't impossible — you just need to pick the right place and the right approach. Dali is the "gold standard for traveling with kids" — natural scenery, family-friendly activities, great food, coffee, and those precious moments of freedom.

Finally, a few practical tips:

1. Hiring a private car is the way to go — When traveling with kids and parents, it saves stress and lets you stop for photos anytime.
2. The succulent garden adventure — Highly recommended! Kids have a blast, adults get a break.
3. Dali Ocean Hotel — Incredible value for money. Kids will absolutely love it.
4. Don't forget sunscreen — Unlike me.
5. Bring grandma along — The benefits are endless. You'll thank me later.

Finally, thank you to my mom for helping with the kids, to my daughter for her boundless energy, and to Dali's blue skies and white clouds. I'm already looking forward to the next autumn break.

(This travelogue took from the Year of the Snake to the Year of the Horse to finish... but it was worth it.)