3 Days Dali City Culture Tour

Day 1 Dali Arrival

Sightseeing and Activities: Arrive in Dali
Accommodation: Dali
Meals:

Welcome to Dali, the Kingdom of Bai ethnic group! Upon arrival, meet the private tour guide and driver at airport / train station in Dali New City (Xiaguan in Chinese) and escort to the hotel for check in and luggage settlement.

Free to explore this old city.

Day 2 Dali

Sightseeing and Activities: Cangshan Mountain, Three Pagodas and Chongsheng Temple, Dali Old Town
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, visit the Cangshan Mountain, which is the national geological park in China with 48 km from north to south and 18 km from west to east, just like a painted screen hanging magnificently around the elegant Erhai Lake. You’ll explore the essence of Cangshan Mountain by taking Gantong Cableway up and enjoy a walk around Qingbi Stream, Jade Cloud Road and Gantong Temple. It is a very relaxing way to enjoy the breathtaking scenery of Cangshan Mountain at the halfway. (Note: when the azalea blossom in spring, it is recommended to take Ximatan Cableway up to the highest point of Cang Mountain to enjoy changeable and breathtaking scenery.)

Later, transfer to the symbol of Dali – Three Pagodas and Chongsheng Temple, which is consist of one big pagoda and two small pagodas and 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.

Afterwards, move on to explore Dali Old Town, where you will see limpid streams passing through the town and local people wearing their ethnic costumes. A street that goes through the South City Gate to the North City Gate is now a prosperous market street, selling marble, tie-dyeing and other souvenirs.

Day 3 Dali Departure

Sightseeing and Activities: Xizhou Ancient Town, Bai Ethnic Tie-dying Cloth Workshop, Zhoucheng Village, Erhai Lake Cruise
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast, lunch

After breakfast, drive 18 kilometers to Xizhou Ancient Town which is an authentic old town. Walk into “the Museum of Bai Architecture” to appreciate the exquisite residential. Taste Bai’s Three-Course Tea and experience the tea ceremony. Stroll around the local morning market – a place for local people trading daily supplies, including fresh vegetable, fruits, meats, and many kinds of food and daily necessities. It is a great opportunity to experience local daily life.

Then, transfer to Bai Ethnic Tie-dying Cloth Workshop where you can take some special souvenir with the Bai ethnic style. The tie-dyeing products in Zhoucheng Village are well sought after, both at home and abroad. Do drop by and witness for yourself the process of this historical craftsmanship. Who knows, you will return home with some cheap and beautiful crafted cloths.

Cruise in Erhai Lake by the small boat to the Jinsuo Islet in the east Erhai Lake. There are 200 Bai ethnic families around 1000 people in Jinsuo Island. In Erhai Lake cruise, enjoy the green Cangshan Mountain and the Three Pagodas from a far as well as lots of birds and seagulls flying over the lake.

After the tour, free to explore this city until be escorted to airport/ railway station for your next destination.