3 Days Dali City Tour with Cangshan Mountain Hiking
Hiking above the clouds
Want to discover the leisure culture and sightseeing in Dali with nature adventure? This 3-day holiday is the best choice to discover them all in Dali. Besides the classic visits of Dali Old Town for old city culture savory, the itinerary covers half day for a sightseeing hiking at the magnificent Cangshan Mountain that is the protective screen of Dali and the fantastic panorama of the peaceful emerald Erhai Lake and large Dali Old Town. Also, we arrange the popular Erhai Lake cruise, Xizhou Old Town appreciation and more awesome things to do in the 3 days just for your best savory of the stunning landscape and national famous culture and arts of Bai ethnic minority at the best pace.
Highlights of this tour
- Enjoy a sightseeing hiking at Cangshan Mountain to have a sweeping view of this whole beauty with great streams, forests, valley, temple, etc;
- Walk around the time-honored Dali Old Town to appreciate the ancient dwelling houses along the old streets and listen to the story of Nanzhao Kingdom;
- Excurse along Erhai Lake by the sightseeing cruise and be marveled at its intriguing natural scenery with gem-like water and flying birds.
- Pay a nice visit to Xizhou Old Town for the admiration of characteristic Bai ethnic constructions with delicate decoration and some interesting sites.
Basic Trip Information
- Price:
- from
$414
- 1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one double-bed room in a 4-star hotel and traveling in low seasons;
- 2. This price is subject to change according to your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate.
- Travel Route:
- Dali
- Travel Length:
- 3 Days & 2 Nights
- Tour Code:
- CD-DLCS-03
- Group Size:
- You, your family, friends or group
- Experience:
-
- Departure:
- Any day you want
Full Itinerary Day by day
- Day 1 Dali Arrival
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Welcome to Dali, the Kingdom of Bai ethnic group! Upon arrival, your private tour guide and driver will meet you at the airport / train station in Dali New City (Xiaguan in Chinese). Then, you will be escorted to your hotel around Dali Old Town, a stunning place sandwiched between Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake! After check-in, you are free to explore this old city which is famous in Chinese literature.
Arrival Ideas: Dali Airport has flights from Kunming, Jinghong, Chengdu, Chongqing, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xian, Guilin, Guiyang, Nanjing, Wuhan, Changsha, Zhengzhou, Lhasa, Nanning, Nanchang and more cities. Also, you can take a bullet train to Dali Railway Station from Kunming (2 hours), Lijiang (1.5 hours), Guangzhou (10.5-11 hours), Guilin (10 hours), Nanning (6.5-7 hours), Puzhehei (3.5-4 hours), etc.
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- Day 2 Dali (B, L)
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After breakfast, you’ll start your exploration of Xizhou Ancient Town, an authentic old town where local Bai people really live and work. Set eyes on the local morning market - a place for local people in traditional costumes trading daily supplies, including fresh vegetable, fruits, meats, and many kinds of food and daily necessities. It is a great opportunity for getting close to local living conditions. Walk into the “the Museum of Bai Architecture” and appreciate the exquisite residential complexes decorated fabulous sculptures, paintings, pointed eaves and wall screens. Taste Bai’s Three-Course Tea in bitter, sweet and mixed flavors and experience the tea ceremony to enjoy deeper of the artistic culture of Bai ethnic people. Then, visit Yan Family Compound where to appreciate the delicate courtyard houses, screen walls, colorful paintings, and more decorations to learn more about the fine Bai ethnic architecture.
Then, transfer to “Hometown of Bai People’s Tie-dye Art” - Zhoucheng Old Town for an appreciation of Tie-dye. Tie-dye is a typical feature to present the Bai’s excellent handcraft with various colors and elegant designs. You’ll visit local indigo workshop in Zhoucheng and know the way of making. (Optional experience: If you are interested, you can follow the local Bai people to learn some traditional skills of how to knot and view your works to be dyed into different colors with beautiful designs. This whole experience takes about 1.5 hours.)
Drive back to Dali to visit the symbol of Dali - Three Pagodas and Chongsheng Temple. Built in 10th century in Nanzhao Kingdom, Three Pagodas is made of one big pagoda and two small pagodas forming a symmetric triangle. If you look at it from a distance, the pagodas are like three giant ballpoint pens breaking up the landscape of the never-ending mountains. Here, you’ll get close to look at the pagodas to know more history and stories, visit the royal temple in Dali - Chongsheng Temple, take awesome photos of Three Pagodas and the reflections…
Then, head to the famous Erhai Lake (Ear-shaped Sea), which is reputed as the "Immaculate Jade between Mountains". Normally, there are three ways to explore the lake. You can ride a sightseeing bus(default), enjoy a boat trip or try cycling. Please tell your best pick to your travel consultant before booking the tour, as the final prices will differ by activities you choose.
1) Erhai Lake Sightseeing Bus Tour (about 1 hour CNY 50/pp): There are sightseeing roads built around the lake. On the west bank of the lake, there is also a 27.5-kilometer-long Ecological Corridor with mini sightseeing buses offered. Hop on the mini bus, you will get the placid lake view while moving, with fresh air and gentle wind kissing your face.
2) Erhai Lake Boat Tour (about 2~3 hours from CNY 145/pp): On Erhai Lake cruise, you’ll enjoy the green Cangshan Mountain and Three Pagodas from afar as well as lots of birds and seagulls flying over the lake.
3) Erhai Lake Cycling Tour (about 2 hours from CNY 50/pp): If your energy permits, you can choose a cycling tour along this picturesque Erhai Lake, which may give you a more exciting experience there than the cruise and bus.
After the visiting, be escorted back to your hotel. Have a good sleep!
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- Day 3 Dali - Dali Departure (B, L)
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After breakfast, take 11.5 km hiking through classic sites on the famous magnificent Cangshan Mountain which means Green Mountains in Chinese and towering up to 4,122 meters with 19 mountains ranging from south to north. Take Gantong Cableway up to reach the Jade Cloud Road, the sightseeing hiking trail at 2,600 meters above sea. Walk along the paved road to have a bird’s eye view of Dali Old Town and the sapphire Erhai Lake from a different angle as you pass Qingbi Stream, Seven Dragon Maiden’s Pools, Dragon Eye Cave, Phoenix Eye Cave, Zhonghe Temple and other towering peaks, chanting streams, deep valley, emerald forest, etc. on the charming Cangshan Mountain. After the scenic walking, take the Zhonghe Cableway down. (The whole trip takes about 4-5 hours. You’d better bring some water and food with you.)
Afterwards, be followed a trip to explore Dali Old Town. Used to be the ancient capital of Nanzhao and Dali Kingdoms, Dali Old Town is formed in the square-shaped structure, laid out on a typical north-south, east-west axis with five north-south and eight east-west streets. Wander leisurely through the historic streets with weeping willows dancing and colorful flowers blooming in the sunshine. You will visit the symbolic Wuhua Tower in a drum tower outlook. Continue to find Honglongjing (Red Dragon Well) with lovely view of clear water flow on layers of stone stages between the ancient dwelling houses and modern bars. Walk along Renmin Road to visit those bustling shops selling Yunnan specialties and some interesting items and then encounter the only Christianity church in this Chinese old town to feel the mixture culture there. As you feel the ancient flavor of the old site, stroll to the famous must-visit Foreigner Street to soak in the busy atmosphere along the old path and in those boutique shops and old coffee shops. Enjoy your time roam in this famous old town and feel like going back to the old times.
Optional activity: learning to make Flower Cake, the Dali's traditional pastry which is flat and round, with a pattern carved on the surface and a thin layer of puff pastry and filling of flower puree in the middle. You can bring home some flower cakes after the course.
After the visiting, be driven to the airport/train station in Dali. Service ends!
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