Little Tangyuan's Dali Adventure: A Spontaneous Journey of Wind, Flowers, Snow, and Moonlight

Preface: A Procrastinator's Self-Redemption

As a chronic "lazy disease" sufferer, I have to admit that writing travel journals has become my annual cold case. Starting from my Taiwan trip during National Day in 2014, I swore I'd write a guide on "how to enjoy the treasure island even during holidays." Well, what happened? I went to Wuzhen, Xitang, Hangzhou, Fuzhou, Sanya, Beihai... traveled all over the place, but my travel journal remained stuck on the "to-do list" — not even a single sentence written.

What's the reason? Of course — laziness! What other excuse could there be? But this time is different. I decided to start my "warm-up" with Dali. Why Dali? Because it doesn't need a guide at all! Flights, hotels, private car — three steps and you're done. Simple, straightforward, and totally my style.

But I should warn you in advance: this travel journal has zero practical value. It's pure stream-of-consciousness rambling. If you've made it this far, it's fate; if you can't stand it, tough luck. But don't close the page just yet — because there's an Easter egg hidden in the middle! Don't scroll to the end; it won't work. The Easter egg is right in the middle. Find it yourself.

Trip Preparation: A Spontaneous Getaway

Time and Route

Travel dates: April 17–21, 2015 (Guangxi March Third Festival + weekend — don't be jealous, we're an ethnic minority region, okay?)

Route: Nanning → Kunming (flight) → Dali (train) → Erhai Lake loop (private car). Same route for the return trip. Back then, there were no direct flights from Nanning to Dali (I heard they started after June 1, 2015), so the cheapest option was to fly to Kunming on Friday night, take an overnight train, and arrive in Dali the next morning. The plan was perfect; the reality was brutal — I hadn't taken a train in so long that I was kept awake all night by the noise, regretting every penny saved.

The Private Car Driver: The Soul of the Trip

The luckiest thing about this trip was meeting an amazing private car driver, Master Yang (phone: 15894532895 — he has a fleet, but make sure to request him specifically). Renting a car to circle Erhai Lake costs 350 yuan per day, same price for 4-seat and 6-seat cars — ridiculously affordable. Master Yang is kind, patient, takes you to eat cheap and authentic local food, and helps you find the best photo spots. Most importantly, with a private car, you won't get sunburned, you're comfortable and safe, and you can even change clothes in the car (the ladies know what I mean). Erhai Lake is huge — it took us two days to complete the loop by car. Cycling offers beautiful views, but with all the uphill and downhill, scorching sun, and blowing dust, you'll end up looking like a mess in your photos. Unless you're a fitness fanatic, skip the bike.

For Ladies Only: Sunscreen and Face Masks

Yunnan's UV rays are brutal, and the weather is extremely dry. Ladies, one face mask per day is the bare minimum, and use the highest SPF sunscreen you can find. Don't ask me how I know — the answer is painful lessons learned.

Stop 1: Chongsheng Temple — A Ticket Price That Hurts

Our first stop was Dali's only 5A-rated scenic spot — Chongsheng Temple. I booked tickets on Qunar (a Chinese travel app) and got them for 60 yuan per person after a discount. The on-site price was 120 yuan per person. That price difference could buy me several servings of sour-spicy fish. But honestly, if you're not into temple visits or praying, there's no need to go inside. Just take a photo at the gate. Inside, you take a golf cart (35 yuan per person, extra fee) for a quick tour and that's it — nothing mind-blowing. The only thing worth seeing is the three giant pagodas, over 1,200 years old and truly magnificent. But you can't go up — they're cultural relics. I heard that a golden phoenix was once excavated from the base of the pagodas and is now in a museum. So this 5A attraction got famous because of a golden phoenix? I'll just roll my eyes at that.

Oh, and my little red shoes only lasted half a day before they destroyed my feet. Wearing new shoes was pure self-sabotage. I ended up buying a pair of flat sandals in the ancient town, making my already short self even shorter — I was basically a speck of dust the whole trip.

Stop 2: Dali Ancient Town — A Yiwu Souvenir Market

It's a 10-minute taxi ride from Chongsheng Temple to the ancient town. Honestly, all Chinese ancient towns look the same, and the stuff they sell is pretty much identical — basically a "Yiwu small commodity distribution center." But hey, for girls, buying some ethnic-style clothes and accessories is still fun.

Stop 3: Shangdu Island Guesthouse — Watching Sunrise from a Bubble Bath

After the ancient town, we finally checked into our guesthouse. I booked the Dali Shangdu Island Guesthouse on Qunar in advance — a central duplex suite for 1,200 yuan per night (including an amazing breakfast). Guesthouse phone: 18387232233 / 0872-2444996. Address: Shangdu Island Inn, Yinqiao Town, Dali City.

The room was a three-story duplex with a sea-view bathtub suite — you can soak in a bubble bath while watching the sunrise. Pure romance. The guesthouse has incredible design, and the surrounding area is so quiet it's surreal. It's located on the west side of Erhai Lake, while Shuanglang is on the east side. Shuanglang is lively but noisy, overly commercial, and packed during holidays. The west side is still under development but much more peaceful — each has its pros and cons.

Hard lesson learned: The guesthouse's towels and bathrobes are Hilton-branded and are checked before checkout. I had just dyed my hair, and the dye stained two bath towels. I ended up paying 700 yuan in compensation — basically buying two large bathrobes. So, ladies, never let lipstick or hair dye touch those towels!

Stop 4: Haishe Park — The Smallest Free Park

Haishe Park, as its name suggests, stretches out like a tongue into Erhai Lake. No side paths — just one straight road to the end. It's the smallest park I've ever seen. But it's free! The people of Dali are so generous — even the park doesn't charge admission. Little tourists are easily satisfied.

Along the way, we also saw the most expensive family's screen wall in Yinqiao Town — every tile was hand-painted, a true work of art. And then there was a middle school in Dali, with a gate so grand it made me question my life choices. Compared to our middle school back in the day, the gap is measured in multiple countries.

Stop 5: Xizhou — Braised Pork Trotters Haunt My Dreams

Xizhou was mainly for eating. Master Yang recommended a restaurant without a menu — you go straight to the kitchen, look at the ingredients, and order. I highly recommend the braised pork trotters. For a pig trotter enthusiast like me, it was pure heaven. Also try the scrambled eggs with flowers — four types of flowers stir-fried together. Eat it and you'll feel beautiful. The restaurant is on Xizhou's Sifang Street. If you can't find it, ask Master Yang.

Master Yang also said there's the best popsicle shop in Dali. I tried it, and honestly, it was just okay. Master Yang, next time I'll treat you to Häagen-Dazs.

Stop 6: Bai Ethnic Tie-Dye Workshop — My First Time Seeing Tie-Dye, and I Was So Clueless

My photos are so posed — I'm usually such a tomboy. But seeing tie-dye for the first time, I was utterly amazed, like a complete noob.

Stop 7: Unnamed Lakeside Spots — Freedom Means Doing Whatever You Want

The beauty of renting a private car to circle the lake is that you can stop whenever you want, stay as long as you like. Park anywhere, hike up any hill, wade into the water — freedom like the wind. I even climbed up and down hills in high heels, completely demolishing my tomboy image. But I was having a blast.

Stop 8: Sour-Spicy Fish — Here's the Easter Egg!

Easter egg time! If you love sour and spicy flavors, keep reading. This is an old establishment in the Dali ancient town area called Sifang Snacks (四方小吃), brought to us by Master Yang. The sour-spicy fish — the meat is so tender it melts in your mouth, and the flavor is indescribably perfect. If you're a fan of sour-spicy food and you're in Dali, you absolutely have to try it. If you can't find it, call Master Yang. This is hands-down the best sour-spicy fish I've ever eaten, no contest.

Stop 9: Erhai Moon Wetland Park — The Tragic Umbrella

Erhai Moon Park has stunning scenery, but the wind is strong enough to blow you away. If I weren't built like a tank, I'd have flown off ages ago. The most tragic part: I got carried away taking photos and put my newly bought Japanese umbrella (cost over 600 yuan) on the ground. The wind blew it straight into the water. A kind cleaning lady and an elderly boatman tried to help retrieve it, but there was endless waiting for keys, waiting for the boat to start — three hours of折腾 (hassle). In the end, the umbrella was never recovered, but the warmth of the cleaning lady and the old boatman moved me to tears. There are still good people in this world.

Epilogue: Dali, Until We Meet Again

After a fantastic final dinner, we set off on our return journey. Dali, we're leaving — don't miss us too much.

Summary: How to Do Dali Right

1. Rent a private car to circle the lake: The most comfortable way, hands down.
2. Sunscreen and moisturize: Face masks and sunscreen — neither is optional.
3. Don't wear new shoes: A painful lesson — flat shoes are king.
4. Must-eat: sour-spicy fish: At Sifang Snacks. Can't find it? Ask Master Yang.
5. Choose a guesthouse on the west side of Erhai Lake: Quiet, great views, good value for money.

Dali — a place that doesn't need a guide. Flights, hotels, private car — three steps and you're done. The rest, leave it to the wind, flowers, snow, and moonlight.