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Bai Villages by the Lakeside

Route: Lijiang - Dali (or vice versa)

There are quite a few long distances to be travelled by aeroplane or sleeper train during a China holiday. However, this Yunnan travel package mostly involves travel by land through the beautiful, mountainous province. You’ll see quite a bit of the landscape and life outside of the cities.

During this China trip, you'll usually begin your Yunnan travel experience by travelling from Lijiang to Dali. Here you’ll see farmland, hills, lakes and mountains.

If you'd like to start building your China holiday, take a look at our bite-sized China trips. Or alternatively, you can choose from one of our ready-made holidays in China.

Duration:	3 days / 2 nights	Departure:	Daily (there’s a colourful market in Shaping, near Dali, on Mondays)
Comfort level (1-4):	3 (see accommodation)	Accommodation:	2 nights in a hotel in historic Dali with shower/toilet (accommodation only)
Price:	£98 per person Based on 2 people sharing	Included:	Transport and accommodation
Transport:	Bus transfer Lijiang - Dali or vice versa	Excluded:	Meals and drinks, excursions and entrance fees

Day 1: Lijiang - Dali

Most travellers arrive in Dali after seeing the Lanterns in Lijiang which is another highlight of a trip to China. Your Yunnan travel experience begins with a bus transfer from your hotel in Lijiang to Dali (approx 4 hours).

Near Dali Old Town you'll then board a minibus to your hotel. The trip will take you through a very diverse landscape: wooden houses surrounded by green farmland and forested hills. Look behind the hills and you will be able to see the Himalayas. The last part of your China trip will take you past the Erhai Lake.

Old town Dali and modern Dali are only about 20 minutes apart from each other. However, the modern part of Dali is busy, with lots of Chinese tourists so we don't recommend staying there. Old town Dali, where you’ll stay, is much more enjoyable to visit.

Yunnan Travel - Road From Lijiang To Dali

In Dali you’ll be dropped off at your hotel which is only a stones throw away from the southern gate of the city. The hotel you’ll stay at is extremely friendly and hospitable, and completely decorated in Tibetan style. When you leave your hotel you’ll see mostly 'Bai' and 'Yi' minorities who only live in this part of China and who are recognizable through their traditional dress. They are hard workers, working on farmland surrounding Dali for instance.

On the first evening of your Yunnan travel experience, you can enjoy a walk through the beautifully lit-up southern Gate into the walled in part of town. Once you pass the walls you’ll find little streets with stores on both sides. Occasionally you’ll see a temple and a beautiful garden. On 'Foreigner Street' you’ll find many fun bars and restaurants. This is where western tourists meet up and share Yunnan travel stories.

Day 2: Dali

On the second day of your Yunnan travel package, you can spend the day as you wish. Your hotel can give you more information on possible excursions in the area. On Monday mornings there’s a colourful market in Shaping, near Dali and also one at the lake. An English-speaking guide can accompany you to other villages around the lake. Having an English-speaking guide with you will allow you to find out more about life in the area, and means you’ll gain access to places you usually wouldn’t see.

Another option is to visit the Three Pagodas Temple and afterwards you can take the chair-lift into the Mountains behind the temple. Once you reach the top you can go on an independent hike over the 10km mountain ridge and enjoy the view of Dali and surrounding villages with Lake Erhai behind them. At the end of the path you’ll take a gondola back down where you can catch a taxi back to the hotel.

Yunnan Travel - Three Pagodas Temple in Dali

Day 3: Dali - Kunming

The next morning of your Yunnan travel trip will start early; most Yunnan travellers take the bus to Kunming (you can also take the train) and continue on to Kunming airport for a domestic flight to Guilin. This is where you can go bamboo sailing at the Karst Mountains in Yangshuo, on our China trip from Guilin to Yangshuo.

It’s also possible to stop over in Kunming before travelling on. You can spend two nights in this city of ‘perpetual spring’ and visit the limestone rock formations in the Wood Forest. This impressive natural attraction is only a two-hour drive away from Kunming.

Best time to visit Dali

The best time to visit Dali is from April through October. September and October are peaceful and quiet (except for the first week of October when the Chinese have their holidays). If you’d like to see the flowers and plants at their best, travel here in March and April. During the summer months the farmers harvest their crops, which makes for beautiful scenes. The temperature get quite cold during the rest of the year. Dali becomes a quiet town and few travellers pass through.

Physical fitness/ Altitude

Dali lies at an altitude of 1900m and this altitude shouldn’t pose a problem for anyone visiting. An average level of physical fitness is sufficient when walking through or biking through Dali.

Yunnan travel - Accommodation (click to enlarge)

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