Description
Itinerary Overview
This 6-day itinerary covers Dali’s Bai culture, Erhai Lake’s natural scenery, the Ancient Tea Horse Road heritage of Shaxi, and Lijiang’s Naxi customs. Daily fixed schedules and free activity times are clearly distinguished, including specialty dining, local experiences, and practical tips to help you deeply experience the beauty of Yunnan’s humanity and nature.
Day 1 Arrival in Dali · First Encounter with Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon
Theme: Landing & Rest · First Impression of the City
Accommodation: Hotel in Dali city (e.g., Hilton Dali Resort & Spa / Atour Hotel, including private bathroom and viewing balcony)
Catering: Meals at your own expense (Recommended dinner: Duan Gongzi Restaurant in Dali Bed Sheet Factory Art District, Bai style stone plate barbecue + sour and spicy fish, approx. 80 RMB/person; Address: Art District next to Longkan Wharf, Dali City)
Itinerary Details:
- Morning/Afternoon: Arrive according to flight/train time.
- If arriving by plane: Dali Fengyi Airport (DLU) to the city center is about a 30-minute drive (taxi approx. 50 RMB / carpool 20 RMB); Airport Bus Line 1 goes directly to the Ancient City (15 RMB/person, 30 minutes).
- If arriving by train: Dali Station to the city center is about a 20-minute drive (taxi approx. 30 RMB), or take bus No. 8 (2 RMB/person) directly to Dali Ancient City.
Free Activity Suggestions (after 15:00):
- Recommended to go to Longkan Wharf (Free) to watch the sunset, where the snow-capped Cangshan peaks interweave with the shimmering Erhai Lake; best shooting time is 17:30-18:30;
- Or visit the Dali Bed Sheet Factory Art District (Free, closes at 17:00), a cultural creative space transformed from an old factory with local handmade shops and cafes; you can experience Tie-dyeing a small square scarf (30 RMB/piece, made on-site).
- Guide Connection: Contact your guide in advance. After check-in, you can consult on suggestions for the next day’s itinerary (e.g., if you want to wake up early to photograph the Erhai sunrise, Caicun Wharf is recommended for the best light between 5:30-6:30).
Day 2 Dali Classic Line · Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple + Ancient City + Erhai Cycling
Theme: World Heritage · Bai Culture and Lake Views
Accommodation: Same as Dali city
Catering: Includes breakfast (hotel buffet), includes lunch (Bai “Eight Big Bowls,” recommended Fuxingli Restaurant in Dali Ancient City, approx. 60 RMB/person; Address: 128 Fuxing Road)
Itinerary Timeline:
🕘08:30-10:30 Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple (Ticket 75 RMB/person, includes battery car)
- Historical Background: Originally built in the late Nanzhao Kingdom (approx. 834-840 AD) and expanded during the Dali Kingdom period; it is one of the “Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon” scenic spots together with Cangshan snow and Erhai moon.
- Architectural Features: The main tower “Qianxun Pagoda” is 69.13 meters high, a Tang Dynasty multi-eave brick pagoda with 16 layers; the north and south small pagodas are 42.19 meters high in Song Dynasty style. The “Rain Copper Avalokitesvara Statue” inside the temple is 2.2 meters high, said to be the pinnacle of copper casting in the Nanzhao Kingdom.
- Must-Photo Spot: Three Pagodas Reflection Pool (light is soft before 10 AM with no reflections); light-colored clothing looks best in photos.
🕐10:45-13:15 Dali Ancient City (Free; climbing the city wall is 35 RMB/person, optional)
- Historical Background: Built in the 15th year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1382 AD), it served as the secondary capital of Nanzhao and Dali Kingdoms; the existing walls were rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty.
- Walking Route: Enter from the South Gate, walk along Fuxing Road (blue stone road) to Wuhua Tower (climb for a panoramic view of the ancient city, 10 RMB/person), turn to Renmin Road (concentrated with artistic shops and hand drum shops), and visit the Dali Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum (Free, to learn about tie-dye and silverware crafts).
Food Recommendations:
- Cold Chicken Rice Noodles: Zai Hui Shou (Ancient City branch), sour and spicy sauce with local shredded chicken, approx. 25 RMB/person;
- Bai Roasted Erkuai: Stalls at the entrance of the ancient city, with sweet sauce + crushed peanuts, 5 RMB/piece.
- 13:30-16:30 Erhai Cycling (Bicycle rental 30 RMB/car, carpooling available)
- Route: Ancient City → Caicun Wharf → Panxi S-curve (famous internet-famous road section), approx. 15 km in total, 2 hours.
Day 3 Deep Dive into Bai Style · Xizhou Ancient Town + Zhoucheng Tie-dye + Shaxi Ancient Town
Theme: Bai Homeland · Ancient Villages and Intangible Heritage
Accommodation: Hotel near Shaxi Ancient Town (e.g., Shaxi Lanlin閣 Hotel, Bai courtyard style design, includes floor heating)
Catering: Includes breakfast (hotel Bai-style porridge + rushan), includes lunch (Xizhou Poshu Baba + local eight bowls; recommended Sifang Street Poshu Baba Shop in Xizhou, approx. 30 RMB/person; Address: Sifang Street, Xizhou Ancient Town)
Itinerary Timeline:
🕘08:30-11:30 Xizhou Ancient Town (Free)
Historical Background: The site of “Dali City” during the Nanzhao period, an ancient Bai settlement preserving over 200 Ming and Qing dynasty residences.
Core Experience:
- Visit Sifang Street (traditional Bai market, daily 9:00-18:00), buy Xizhou Baba (sweet rose filling / savory ham filling, 5 RMB/piece);
- Visit Yan Family Grand Courtyard (Ticket 30 RMB/person), a typical “Three Buildings and one Screening Wall” Bai residence; view the “Four Courtyards and Five Tianjing” layout and listen to the guide explain the “Screening Wall inscriptions” (e.g., “Purity passed down through the family” corresponding to the Yang surname);
- Experience the Three-Course Tea Ceremony (available at Yan Family Grand Courtyard, includes song and dance performance, 80 RMB/person): First bitter (roasted tea), second sweet (rushan + brown sugar), and third aftertaste (Sichuan pepper + honey), to feel Bai hospitality etiquette.
🕐12:00-14:00 Zhoucheng Village Tie-dye (Free visit, experience 100 RMB/person including materials)
- Features: Zhoucheng is the “Hometown of Bai Tie-dye,” where 90% of villagers are engaged in tie-dyeing, a craft listed as a national intangible heritage.
- Experience Process: Choose fabric at Puzhen Tie-dye Museum (center of Zhoucheng Village) → Master guides the tying (butterfly/flower patterns) → Dyeing (brewed from woad root) → Drying (can be taken away in approx. 1 hour).
🕓14:30-17:30 Travel to Shaxi Ancient Town (approx. 2 hours by bus)
- Historical Background: An important station on the Yunnan-Tibet line of the Ancient Tea Horse Road, it was once a trading center for salt, tea, and horses; in 2001, it was listed by the World Monuments Fund as one of the “101 World Endangered Buildings Worth Watching.”
- Initial Exploration: After arrival, wander Sideng Street (main street), see Xingjiao Temple (Ming Dynasty Buddhist temple with remaining murals, Free) and the Ancient Stage (Qing Dynasty building; daily 19:30 has Bai Dongjing music performance, Free).
Day 4 Shaxi Slow Life · Sideng Street + Lijiang Ancient City
Theme: Ancient Tea Horse Road · Ancient Villages and World Heritage
Accommodation: Hotel near Lijiang Ancient City (e.g., InterContinental Lijiang Ancient Town Resort, Naxi courtyard + pool)
Catering: Includes breakfast (hotel Naxi specialty buns + rice noodles), includes lunch (Shaxi clay pot chicken; recommended Old Tree Coffee & Restaurant on Sideng Street, approx. 50 RMB/person; Address: Next to Sifang Street, Sideng Street)
Itinerary Timeline:
🕘09:00-12:00 In-depth Tour of Shaxi Ancient Town
Must-Visit Spots:
- Yujin Bridge (Free): An important crossing on the Ancient Tea Horse Road, this stone arch bridge spans the Heihui River; between 7:00-8:00 AM, there are villagers washing clothes and traces of horse caravans, perfect for photos;
- Ouyang Grand Courtyard (Free): Former residence of a wealthy Shaxi merchant, featuring the “Three Buildings and one Screening Wall” pattern; the courtyard preserves caravan stables and storage rooms to learn about caravan life;
- Friday Market (Fridays only 9:00-14:00): If it’s Friday, it’s recommended to visit the Sifang Street market to buy wild mushrooms (Jizong/Boletus, 30 RMB/jin), handmade silver jewelry (from 50 RMB), and Bai embroidered handkerchiefs (20 RMB/piece).
🕐12:30-16:30 Travel to Lijiang + First Visit to Ancient City (approx. 2 hours drive)
- Arrive and visit Lijiang Ancient City (Free; Mu Fu Mansion ticket 40 RMB/person):
- Route: Enter from the Big Water Wheel (landmark), walk along Wuyi Street to Qiyi Street, and visit Sifang Street (traditional Naxi square; daily 10:00-20:00 has “Dajiao” dance activities you can join);
- Must-See: Mu Fu Mansion (“Lijiang Forbidden City”) to learn about Naxi Tusi culture; climb Wangu Tower (separate ticket 35 RMB/person) for a panoramic view of the ancient city and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
🕓17:00-19:00 Free Activity Suggestions:
- Visit Zhongyi Market (local vegetable market; after 17:00 there are fresh mushrooms and flower cakes; recommended to buy Jizong oil as a souvenir, 80 RMB/bottle);
- Or go to Black Dragon Pool Park (Free admission with proof of Ancient City Maintenance Fee) to photograph the reflection of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (best time 17:30-18:30, sunset on the snow).
Day 5 Jade Dragon Snow Mountain · Natural and Cultural Pinnacle
Theme: Naxi Holy Mountain · Glaciers and Murals
Accommodation: Same as Lijiang Ancient City
Catering: Includes breakfast (hotel buffet), dinner at your own expense (Recommended: Grandma’s Cured Pork Ribs in Baisha, cured pork rib hotpot + chickpea cold noodles, approx. 70 RMB/person; Address: Sifang Street, Baisha Ancient Town)
Itinerary Timeline:
🕘07:30-12:00 Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Entrance fee 100 RMB/person, Spruce Meadow Cableway 140 RMB/person)
Itinerary: Ganhaizi (viewing platform for full snow mountain view) → Blue Moon Valley (battery car 20 RMB/person) → Spruce Meadow Cableway.
Core Experience:
- Blue Moon Valley: Known as “Little Jiuzhaigou,” with 4 lakes and 1 river; focus on Yuye Lake (deep blue water, clearest before 10:00 AM when windless) and Baishui River (white calcified beach, suitable for stepping in water);
- Spruce Meadow Cableway: 3240 meters above sea level, an alpine meadow in an original spruce forest; wild flowers bloom in summer, and close-up views of the snow mountain in winter (Note: high altitude; prepare oxygen cylinders 15 RMB/bottle and down jacket rental 50 RMB/piece in advance).
🕐12:30-14:30 Lunch + Free Choice
- Includes lunch (simple meal in the scenic area, or optional: Snow Kitchen Restaurant at the foot of the mountain, black pepper beef fillet set 48 RMB/portion);
- Optional project: “Impression Lijiang” live-action performance (14:00 show, from 280 RMB/person, Ganhaizi venue; uses the snow mountain as a backdrop to show Naxi farming, marriage, and funeral customs).
🕐15:00-17:30 Baisha Ancient Town + Murals
- Historical Background: Lijiang’s earliest settlement and the ancient Naxi capital, preserving a large number of Ming and Qing buildings.
- Must-See: Baisha Murals (located in Baisha Liuli Hall and Dabaoji Palace, ticket 30 RMB/person): Blends Han, Tibetan, and Naxi Buddhist art; for example, the “Avalokitesvara Pumen” mural shows lamas, Taoists, and Confucian scholars together, which is rare in China.
🕓18:00-20:00 Shuhe Ancient Town (Optional)
Quieter than Dayan Ancient City; recommended to visit Qinglong Bridge (Ming Dynasty ancient bridge), Jiuding Longtan (clear spring water), drink a cup of coffee at Tingyin Pavilion (35 RMB/cup), and watch Naxi elders play ancient music.
Day 6 Farewell to Yunnan · Journey Home
Theme: Conclusion and Outlook
Accommodation: None
Catering: Includes breakfast (hotel buffet)
Itinerary Details:
🕘08:00-09:30 Check out + Free Activity
- Souvenir recommendations: Flower cakes from Lijiang Zhongyi Market (Jiahua Bakery, freshly baked rose cakes 15 RMB/piece), Zhoucheng tie-dye square scarves from Dali (50 RMB/piece);
- Visit Black Dragon Pool Park once more for a snow mountain photo (morning mist is even more ethereal).
🕐09:30-10:30 Drop-off
Guide/driver will drop you off at Lijiang Sanyi Airport (40-minute drive, taxi approx. 80 RMB) or Lijiang Station (20-minute drive, taxi approx. 30 RMB) to end the trip.
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Lijiang — Practical Information
Tickets & Booking
- Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Yak Meadow cableway: Official figure CNY 65 per person (round trip); advance booking required (Same mini-program as above)[src]
- Baisha murals / Baisha Ancient Town: Baisha murals ticket: null (no official single-ticket price found); OTA has a “Jade Dragon Snow Mountain + Baisha murals + Dongba Valley + Yushui Village and others” combined ticket about CNY 218[src]
- Lashihai Wetland Park: Adult ticket about CNY 29; ticket + boating + glass walkway CNY 50; Tea Horse Road horse-riding + lunch + transfer package about CNY 138–140[src]
Transport & Schedules
- Lijiang Old Town → Jade Dragon Snow Mountain | Bus/direct shuttle: Bus 101 about CNY 15 per person (outbound 7:00–16:00, return 7:00–17:20); old-town round-trip direct shuttle about CNY 41[src]
Where to Stay · Room Type · Nearby
- Lijiang Old Town (Dayan) | Room tip: Guesthouses are concentrated and transport is convenient | Nearby add-ons: Sifang Street, Mu Mansion, Lion Hill Wangu Tower, Great Waterwheels[src]
- Shuhe Ancient Town | Room tip: Quieter and more secluded than the old town | Nearby add-ons: Shuhe residential building complex, Baisha Ancient Town[src]
Typical Climate & Packing (Past Years)
- January: 0.3 °C–14.0 °C °C, [1981–2010 climate averages, daily average 6.4 °C]
- February: 2.5 °C–15.0 °C °C
- March: 5.4 °C–17.3 °C °C
- April: 8.3 °C–20.2 °C °C
- May: 11.3 °C–22.9 °C °C
- June: 14.5 °C–24.1 °C °C, Rainy season
