Zhonghe Temple
Perched atop the majestic Cangshan Mountain, the Zhonghe Temple (中和寺) stands as a revered spiritual sanctuary and a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Dali, Yunnan Province. This ancient Taoist temple, with…
Shibaoshan in Jianchuan: The “Dunhuang of the South”
Tucked into the forested slopes 25 kilometers southwest of Jianchuan County, Shibaoshan (Stone Treasure Mountain) remains one of Yunnan’s most criminally undervisited cultural treasures. We’ve watched travelers spend days hunting for “authentic China”…
Jizu Mountain Travel Guide: Cable Car, Temples and Day Trips from Dali
Jizu Mountain (Jizushan, Chicken Foot Mountain) is a Buddhist pilgrimage mountain in Yunnan and a full day trip from Dali. Most visitors take the cable car up to Jinding Temple on the 3,248…
Jinsuo Islet
Jinsuodao (Golden Shuttle Island), also called the Island of the Sea, lies in the southeast part of Erhai Lake and stands far apart opposite the Erhai Park at a distance. Lying 13 km….
Dali Old Town: Tickets, Layout & What to Skip
Dali Old Town is free to enter, with no ticket needed at any of its four gates. But only part of what’s inside is worth your time. Much of it is rebuilt shopfront…
Erhai Lake, Dali: Which Shore, Real Prices & Scams to Skip
Erhai Lake is a 250-square-kilometer freshwater lake beside Dali Old Town in Yunnan, China. It’s framed by the Cangshan mountains and ringed by Bai fishing villages. Pick one shore, one activity, and half…
Weibao Mountain (Weibaoshan): Taoist Temples, Walking Routes and What to Skip
Weibao Mountain (Weibaoshan, 巍宝山) is Yunnan’s best-known Taoist mountain. It stands 10 km southeast of Weishan Ancient Town in Dali Prefecture. Stone paths link more than 20 temples, including the shrine of the…
Zhoucheng Village, Dali: Tie-Dye Workshops, Village Life & Day Route
Zhoucheng Village is the largest Bai village in Yunnan, 23 km north of Dali Old Town. Bai tie-dye is still made in its family courtyards. Most visitors come to dye a scarf or…
Shaxi Ancient Town Guide: Route, Friday Market & Tips
Shaxi Ancient Town is the old market village of Sideng in Jianchuan County, Dali Prefecture, on the road between Dali and Lijiang. Its restored square, Ming-dynasty temple and Friday market make it the…
Cangshan Mountain, Dali: Complete Visitor Guide
Cangshan Mountain (苍山) is the 19-peak range that rises straight behind Dali Old Town, with Erhai Lake at its feet. It is a UNESCO Global Geopark, and its highest summit, Malong Peak, reaches…
Dali Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple: The Complete Travel Guide
Standing 69.13 meters tall for over 1,200 years, the Three Pagodas have survived more than 30 earthquakes while everything around them crumbled. After guiding thousands of travelers through this site, we’ve learned what…
