Yunnan, the Land of My Dreams: A Spontaneous Healing Journey

Some places evoke longing just by their name. Yunnan is exactly that kind of place. It's like an unfinished poem, a flowing painting that tugs at your heartstrings at the most unexpected moments. My best friend and I had planned to go together last year, but the trip was shelved due to the Erhai Lake restoration project. This year, we finally set foot on this land, filled with anticipation and a hint of nervousness — after all, this is the first time I'm seriously writing a travelogue, wanting to capture these beautiful moments and share them with every fellow travel enthusiast.

Setting Off: A Journey from North to South

Starting from Datong in Shanxi Province, we first took a train to Taiyuan, then transferred to a flight to Lijiang. That's three different modes of transportation just to get there. But when you spot a complete rainbow circle through the airplane window, all the hassle becomes worthwhile. At that moment, I couldn't help but whisper to myself: This trip is going to be amazing.

Of course, reality likes to play little jokes on you. On the first day, as we flew into Lijiang, it started raining, and our flight was rescheduled to early the next morning. But that's the beauty of travel — you never know what you'll encounter at the next stop.

Lijiang: Ancient City Charm and the Embarrassment of Lashihai

Lashihai: A "Trendy" Trap

We didn't arrive in Lijiang until noon the next day. After a quick freshen-up at the inn, the owner enthusiastically recommended we visit Lashihai. To be honest, if you ask me whether it's worth it, I'll tell you without hesitation: skip it. Lashihai is now overrun with so-called "trendy clubs," with prices ranging from low to high. The expensive ones are called "Cloudtop Clubs," and the cheaper ones are basically the same. In short, it's just a place for taking photos. To make matters worse, it started raining while we were there, and the sunscreen on my legs glistened under the rain, making me want to crawl into a hole from embarrassment.

However, the inn's dog, "Jaguar," was adorable and well-behaved, and the flowers in the courtyard were in full bloom. These little details became the warmest memories of that day.

Exploring the Ancient City: A Feast at "Cloud Snow Beauty"

That evening, we braved the drizzle and ventured into Lijiang's ancient city, heading straight for the famous "Cloud Snow Beauty Ethnic Restaurant" (云雪丽风情餐厅). Located at No. 95 Xingwen County, Qiyi Street in the ancient city, it's always packed, but worth the wait. Their tofu is as tender as a baby's skin — a must-order signature dish. The chicken bean jelly (鸡豆凉粉) is a Yunnan specialty, refreshing and appetizing. There was also a flatbread whose name I've forgotten — half an order was enough to satisfy our cravings. The sour pickled fish (酸泡菜鱼) really whetted our appetites, and paired with plum wine and milk tea, it was the perfect ending to the meal.

Flower pastry shops are everywhere in the ancient city, offering free samples. I found one I really liked, bought five boxes (with one free), and had them shipped directly home. But nothing compares to freshly baked flower pastries — the crispy crust wrapping the sweet floral filling, one bite and your mouth is filled with the taste of spring.

As a design student, I couldn't resist the ancient city's architecture. The rain-soaked cobblestone streets, the unique little shops — every corner looked like a painting, which I captured with my camera as future inspiration.

Lugu Lake: The Right Way to Experience Paradise

Fuyun Inn: The Best Bang for Your Buck

From Lijiang to Lugu Lake, the bus fare was 60 yuan per person, and the inn arranged a pickup at the ancient city gate — very convenient. We booked "Fuyun Inn" (抚云客栈), located next to the Goddess Mountain Cable Car in Nisai Village. A courtyard-view room cost just over 300 yuan a night — incredible value for money. The hotel had a transparent boat for photo ops, a glass ball on the balcony, clean and comfortable rooms, and even TOTO smart toilets and electric curtains. Little details like these really boost your好感度 (favorable impression) of a hotel.

Taking photos at the hotel was a joy. The glass ball and transparent boat are all trendy photo spots, and the pictures turned out beautifully. The courtyard was paved with white gravel, making every shot look like a professional shoot. And the yak milk yogurt — thick and creamy, I absolutely loved it. Meanwhile, the "Cloud Time" (云上时光) drink was more like a lactic acid beverage, so thin it made me question its existence.

Lugu Lake: Sunshine and Rain

It was still raining when we first arrived at Lugu Lake, so we stayed in the hotel, showered, did our makeup, and started taking tons of photos. When the sky cleared, we excitedly ran to the lakeside — the hotel was right behind Lugu Lake, and the feeling was like opening a door to paradise.

The lakeside tables, glass balls, and swings cost about 10 to 20 yuan per person to use for photos, but the results were stunning. I was too lazy to post individual shots, so I made collages. Even though the resolution was compressed, I actually loved the grainy texture. The small boats by the lake were free to photograph, and little ducks swam around — every shot was profile-picture material.

A Day Around the Lake: The Boat Ride Was a Rip-off

The next day, we teamed up with two girls from the neighboring room and hired a driver to circle Lugu Lake. It was mostly sunny during the day, but it started raining again at 5 PM, which was frustrating. But Lugu Lake's beauty is worth enduring anything. White little flowers floated on the water — "water-blooming flowers" (水性杨花), beautiful like a dream.

Our driver took us stop by stop, and we found a spot where wedding photos are taken — absolutely stunning scenery. But I really don't recommend the boat ride. It cost 100 yuan per person, 400 yuan for the four of us, to visit Princess Island and the filming location of "Dear Inn." Princess Island had nothing on it, and you had to pay an entrance fee. The only thing that made me happy was that the boat was the one Liu Tao and the others had used. But honestly, the price was a rip-off. I suggest bargaining before you go.

Miyue Huayuan Inn: The Regret of the Starry Sky Room

That night, we stayed at the trendy "Miyue Huayuan Inn" (蜜悦花园客栈), located at No. 26 Xiaoyuba, Daluoshui. I booked the luxury starry sky room for over 1,000 yuan a night. The room had amazing surround-sound speakers — I spent the whole night playing music through my phone's Bluetooth — and a projection screen for watching movies. The ceiling was supposed to be a starry sky, but it was raining, so I couldn't see a thing. The rooftop "Sky Mirror" (天空之境) is a photo hotspot, but I was probably the first guest to take photos there with an umbrella.

Still, lying in the room listening to music and daydreaming — isn't that a form of relaxation? Yunnan is truly a place to let yourself go.

Dali: Freedom and Romance by Erhai Lake

Centimeter Hotel: Cool Minimalist Style

From Lugu Lake to Lijiang, then from Lijiang to Dali — it rained the whole way, and we even encountered a landslide, which was both thrilling and terrifying. We arrived in Dali at 7 PM and checked into "Centimeter Colorful Modern Hotel" (厘米Colorful Modern酒店), located next to the south gate parking lot of the ancient city. Its black-and-white minimalist style was incredibly cool. The hotel gave us a complimentary fruit platter, and after finishing it, we headed to the ancient city to find dinner.

Duan Gongzi: Balancing Ritual and Taste

In Dali's ancient city, "Duan Gongzi" (段公子) is a must-visit restaurant. We ordered their signature "Duan's Hidden Dragon Fish" (段氏潜龙跃水鱼). When it was served, they used hot stones to cook the fish in a pot, making a sizzling sound — full of ceremony. But honestly, it tasted just like sour pickled fish, and there were quite a few bones. The "Shangtang Erhai Sea Vegetables" (上汤洱海海菜) were light and tasty, and the bamboo tube beef — well, you'll have to try it yourself.

In the ancient city, I found a designer store called "Zhuo" (拙) and fell in love with it. I bought a floral dress there, which I wore later when we circled Erhai Lake. The shop assistant said it was a collaboration with a designer, and the store had many other little items that were incredibly stylish.

Circling Erhai Lake: The Joy of a Convertible Smart Car

It was still raining the next morning, so we took some photos at the hotel. The hotel staff suggested wearing all-black or all-white outfits for the coolest shots. When the sky cleared, we rented a convertible Smart car and started our journey around Erhai Lake. The blue sky, white clouds, and gentle breeze made you want to sing.

Our first stop was the white bus in Xizhou. It now costs 30 yuan per person to take photos. There was an orange bus and a lavender field — lots of people waiting in line. My floral dress looked great against the white bus, but the orange bus was better suited for solid-colored outfits. Even casually leaning on a white bicycle made for a great shot.

Erhai Lake's beauty lies in its unpredictability. When the sun was out, clouds floated above our heads, seemingly within reach. We drove and stopped whenever we saw something beautiful, hopping out to take photos. Later, I heard about jeep photo tours, but they might take you shopping, so renting our own car gave us more freedom.

Xizhou Ancient Town: Pure and Rustic Healing

That evening, we returned the car in Dali's ancient city and grabbed a meal at "Granny A's Preserved Pork Ribs" (阿婆腊排骨), but I thought it wasn't as good as the one in Lijiang. The grilled milk fan (烤乳扇), however, suited my taste perfectly. Some people say it's not good, but taste is subjective.

Finally, we stopped by the German grandmother's dessert shop and bought some orange chocolate. I heard the vanilla flavor was more popular, but they sold out by the time we got there. The other little cakes and pastries were also delicious.

That night, we stayed at "Jiyisi Garden Inn" (己已巳花园客栈) in Xizhou, located at No. 12 Chengbei Village. The white mosquito net in the room gave it an ethereal feel. The next morning, we discovered the inn offered free breakfast — the brown sugar flatbread was incredibly tasty. I later realized it might have been Xizhou baba (喜洲粑粑). The inn was designed by the owner, a graduate of the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, who preserved the original structure of a wealthy merchant's home while incorporating modern elements. Succulents were everywhere in the courtyard, along with a water bar, art space, and hand-embroidery — every corner made you want to linger.

Xizhou Ancient Town is still under road construction, but its purity and rusticity are truly captivating. Tie-dye (扎染) is a local specialty. The roadside handicrafts were cheap, while the ones in stores were pricey. Each of us bought a piece of tie-dye fabric, and I also picked up a bag and a skirt from a small shop. Xizhou's popsicles were delicious too. Pea starch jelly (豌豆凉粉) was 8 yuan a bowl, and many locals were eating it by the roadside. Xizhou baba came in two varieties — brown sugar and egg with meat — at 20 yuan each. The brown sugar one was better.

Epilogue: The Meaning of Travel

From Xizhou, we took a bus back to Kunming, flew back to Taiyuan the next morning, and then returned to Datong. Although we encountered an unreliable driver at the end, the entire trip was so wonderful that I didn't want it to end.

Yunnan is a place worth visiting again and again. It's not perfect, but it's those imperfections — the sudden rain, the tourist traps, the unreliable drivers — that make the journey real and vivid. What matters isn't where you go, but who you go with, and the version of yourself you discover along the way.

So if you want to go to Yunnan, don't hesitate. Just go. Bring your camera, your good mood, and a heart willing to embrace everything. You'll find that the place you dream of is right beneath your feet.

Practical Tips: - Skip Lashihai unless you're really into taking photos - Bargain before taking a boat ride on Lugu Lake — don't get ripped off by the "Dear Inn" hype - Renting a convertible Smart car for circling Erhai Lake gives you more freedom than a jeep photo tour - Highly recommend "Jiyisi Garden Inn" in Xizhou — full of design flair - Freshly baked flower pastries are the best; you can have them shipped home - Yunnan's weather is unpredictable — always bring an umbrella and sunscreen

Finally, may every trip you take become the brightest star in your memory.