Erhai Lake Cycling Guide | 3 Days to Unlock the Romance of Dali!

📝 Itinerary **Day 1:** Longkan Dock → Wenbi Village → Xiaoputuo → Shuanglang - **Longkan Dock:** Arrive before 7 AM to watch the sunrise cast golden light over the redwood forest and shimmering lake. - **Wenbi Village:** Pose on the Rainbow Road with Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake as your backdrop—wear bright colors for Instagram-worthy shots. - **Shuanglang Ancient Town:** Stay in a lakeside B&B and dine at "Hushan Yunyin" garden restaurant for a romantic sunset dinner. **Day 2:** Shuanglang → Wase Town → Ideal State → Dali Ancient Town - **Wase Town:** Snap photos with seagulls at Xiaoputuo (only from November to March). - **Ideal State:** Capture the Greek-inspired white buildings at 4 PM for perfect lighting—free "Santorini" vibes! **Day 3:** Dali Ancient Town → Panxi S Bend → Xizhou Ancient Town - **Panxi S Bend:** Visit before 9 AM to avoid crowds, rent a bike (¥10/hour), and shoot cycling scenes. - **Xizhou Ancient Town:** Try freshly baked Xizhou baba (savory & sweet!), relax at a rice-field café, and try tie-dyeing. 📸 **Must-Save Photo Spots!** - **Luwoshan Abandoned Window Frame:** Navigate to "Luwoshan Ruins" for 3 PM side lighting framing the blue lake. - **Xizhou Corner Tower:** Soft light at 10 AM—avoid tour groups. - **Caicun Dock Boardwalk:** Capture "god rays" and fishing boat silhouettes at dusk. ⚠️ **Pitfall Guide** - **Bike Rentals:** Choose e-bikes with 100km range (~¥80/day), check brakes! Avoid bikes on bumpy stone roads. - **West Erhai Ecological Corridor:** Cars prohibited! Rent bikes at "Yangnanxi Entrance" (scan-to-ride). - **Sunproof Kit:** High-altitude UV is brutal—sleeves + sunglasses + SPF50 (trust us). 🍜 **Foodie Radar** - **Wase Caixiangyuan:** Spicy fish + mashed potatoes, ¥40/person. - **Xizhou Qingliang Hut:** Coconut sticky rice popsicles (¥6). - **Avoid:** "Dai-style hand-tossed rice" in town—head to Manfeilong Grill for authentic flavors. 💡 **Hidden Gems** - **Night Paddle:** Ride glass boats in Shuanglang (¥60/person) to see starlit waters. - **Tie-Dye DIY:** Craft a scarf (¥50) at Xizhou’s "Lanxu" workshop. 🚲 **Cycling Tips** The full loop is 140km—newbies should try the **"Longkan-Xizhou" highlight stretch (20km)** with rest stops. Hop on shuttle buses (¥10/ride) if tired.