Dali Erhai Lake | The Utopia of My Ideal Life (With Travel Guide)

| The Utopia of My Ideal Life (With Travel Guide). Truly blissful!! Experience the charm of diverse ethnic cultures Stay in a homestay with views of Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake... We mainly spent two days exploring, and below is my Dali itinerary for your reference. 🕐Day 1: West Loop (Natural Scenery + Culture) Morning Longkan Dock: Watch the sunrise (arrive before 7 am) – the redwoods and light reflections on Erhai Lake are breathtaking. Super romantic but highly weather-dependent. Cycling the Ecological Corridor: Rent bikes at the dock (20 RMB/person), ride north along the corridor, passing Caicun Village and Panxi S Bend (10-minute photo stop). Afternoon Xizhou Ancient Town: Lunch options include Xizhou baba (savory and sweet versions) and pea jelly. Explore the Corner Tower, rice fields, and yellow walls for great photos, or try tie-dye workshops. Personally, I think you don’t need to seek out specific spots at Erhai Lake—just stop wherever looks beautiful. Erhai is my favorite place in Dali, perfect for sitting and daydreaming wherever you end up. 🕐Day 2: East Loop (Seascapes + Artsy Vibes) Morning Shuanglang: Head straight to Shuanglang after breakfast (by chartered car/e-bike), visit Yang Liping's Sun Palace (reservation required, 128 RMB/person for afternoon tea). Just marvel at how the other half lives... Coastal Drive: Rent a vehicle and head south along the east loop, stopping at Wase Little Tree and Xiaoputuo (feed seagulls in winter). Right now? Not a single seagull in sight. Afternoon Ideal State: Arrive before 2 pm (avoid tour groups) and pretend you're in "Santorini" for epic photos. Highly weather-dependent—must be sunny, or it’s just a pile of 🐶💩. - Return: Wrap up by 5 pm and head back to Dali city or the train station. Cost Reference (for two) Transport: E-bike rental 80 RMB/day, chartered car for lake loop ~300 RMB. Food: Meals ~50-80 RMB/person, snacks 10-20 RMB. 📢Tips 1. Sun protection! Sunglasses, hats, and SPF 50+ are a must. 2. West loop cycling is only allowed on the ecological corridor (bikes only), while e-bikes can be rented for the east loop.