Dali Lijiang Dream Tour: Exploring the Wonderland of Wind, Flowers, Snow, and Moon on Earth

Introduction

Dali and Lijiang are poetry and distant places in the hearts of countless people. Here, there are magnificent natural scenery, profound historical culture, and unique ethnic customs. This guide will take you to experience the boutique tourist attractions, cuisine, and accommodation in Dali and Lijiang, making your trip full of surprises and memories

Dali, a land of flowers, snow, and moon, is full of romance and poetry. Lijiang, an ancient city with a long lasting charm, has lofty and magnificent snow mountains. These two cities seem to be treasures carved together by nature and cultural history, attracting tourists from all over the world

Whether you are walking on the flagstone road of Dali Old City, feel the unique charm of Bai culture; Walking in the alleys of the Old Town of Lijiang and listening to the ancient legends of the Naxi people can immerse people in a strong historical atmosphere. The lake and mountain scenery of Erhai Lake, as well as the magnificent snow scenery of Yulong Snow Mountain, make people intoxicated by the divine craftsmanship of nature

Here, you can taste various specialty foods, from Dali's three course tea and grilled milk fan to Lijiang's pork rib hotpot and Naxi grilled meat, each dish contains local culture and customs. At the same time, a variety of accommodation options can also meet the needs of different tourists. Whether it is a seascape hotel near Erhai or a characteristic hotel in the Old Town of Lijiang, you can find the warmth of home during the journey

Let's embark on a boutique journey together in Dali and Lijiang, exploring this beautiful land and leaving unforgettable memories

II. Recommended tourist attractions in Dali Old City. Its history can be traced back to the Han Dynasty, and it was once the capital of the ancient Nanzhao Kingdom and Dali Kingdom. The ancient city covers an area of 3 square kilometers, backed by Cangshan Mountain and facing Erhai Lake to the east, with a unique geographical location

The terrain of Dali Old City is low in the east and high in the west, with Cangshan Mountain as the highest point. It is located in the Erhai Lake fault basin, with the surface mostly covered by alluvial deposits, forming an alluvial lake plain with an average altitude of less than 2000 meters. Diancang Mountain belongs to the Yunling branch of the Hengduan Mountains, consisting of nineteen north-south peaks with an altitude of 3500-4122 meters. Yuju Peak is the highest peak in the area with an altitude of 4097 meters

Dali Old City belongs to the subtropical plateau monsoon climate. Affected by the Indian Ocean monsoon, there is no serious summer and winter festivals in the whole year, but there are obvious dry and wet seasons. The four seasons are mild, with a small annual temperature difference and a large daily temperature difference. The dry and wet seasons are distinct, and the distribution of rainfall seasons is uneven

Main attractions:

• Wuhua Tower: Built during the reign of King Quanfengyou of the tenth generation of Nanzhao, it is "five li square, one hundred feet high, and can accommodate ten thousand people". After multiple damages and reconstructions, the existing Wuhua Building is a replica of a Ming and Qing dynasty attic rebuilt on the original site, with four new double eaved square pavilions added below
• Foreigner Street: There is an east-west Huguo Road in Dali Old City, which is called "Foreigner Street". The street is 1000 meters long and 7 meters wide, connected to the Yunnan Tibet Highway to the west. This is a must see place for tourists to visit Dali Old City. Coffee shops, Chinese and Western restaurants, tea houses and various handicraft shops are lined up, which is the embodiment of Dali's inclusive culture and a model of the perfect integration of Dali's local culture and Western culture
• Erhai Lake: Erhai Lake is located in the east of Dali Old City, and is also known as Yeyuze, Kunming (", Mi) Lake, Xi'er (Second) River, etc. in history. Due to its resemblance to human ears, it is named Erhai Lake and is known as the "Pearl of the Plateau". It is the second largest plateau freshwater lake in Yunnan and the seventh largest freshwater lake in China

(II) Erhai Lake

1. Introduction:
2. Erhai Lake is the largest plateau lake in Yunnan Province, originating from Fu Bi Lake in Eryuan County. Erhai Lake is named after its narrow north-south shape, ear like shape, and strong winds and waves like the sea. Its former names include Kunming Lake, Kunmi River, and Xi'er River
3. Surrounding attractions:
• Xizhou Ancient Town: Xizhou Ancient Town is located west of Cangshan Mountain and east of Erhai Lake. It is the hometown of the movie "Five Golden Flowers". The Bai ethnic historical and cultural town with a thousand years of history has a strong ethnic flavor and historical and cultural atmosphere
• Shuanglang Ancient Town: Shuanglang Town is located on the northeast bank of Erhai Lake, close to the rippling Erhai Lake, overlooking the 19 peaks of Cangshan Mountain, and integrating the essence of Cang'er scenery. The main attractions in town, Yuji Island and Nanzhao Fengqing Island, are great places to watch the sunset. In the evening, boating on the lake is very relaxing

III. Recommended scenic spots in the Old Town of Lijiang. The Old Town of Lijiang was built in the late Song Dynasty and early Yuan Dynasty and flourished in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is an ancient city of ethnic minorities with beautiful scenery, long history, splendid culture and well preserved. The ancient city has an altitude of 2410 meters and includes Dayan Ancient City (including Heilongtan), Baisha Residential Building Complex, and Shuhe Residential Building Complex, with a total area of 7.28 square kilometers. There are currently 6749 indigenous households with 22520 people, of which the Naxi ethnic group accounts for 60.5%. The Old Town of Lijiang has the oldest urban water supply system, presenting a watery landscape of "every household flowing with clear springs, and every household weeping for willows". At the same time, the ancient city is also a gathering place for various religions, including Han Chinese, Dongba religion of the Naxi people, and the main belief of the Bai people. In 1997, the Old Town of Lijiang was included in the World Cultural Heritage List by UNESCO

Main tourist attractions:

• Sifang Street: the center of the Old Town of Lijiang, called "Zhiye Ancient" in Naxi, means the center of the market or the city center. Although Sifang Street is known as Sifang Street, it is actually a standard rectangle, 68 meters long and 22 meters wide, with a ratio of exactly 3:1. It is said to have been built by the Ming Dynasty's Mu clan chieftain in the shape of an imperial seal. Sifang Street originated in the Ming Dynasty and was a product of the political, economic, and public needs of the Mu clan chieftains. There are many Yunnan rice noodle restaurants here, hence it is also known as "Lijiang Rice Noodle Street". Sifang Street is the most important hub station on the Tea Horse Ancient Road. Since the Ming and Qing dynasties, merchants from all over the country have gathered here, and various ethnic cultures converge and thrive. It is the center of economic and cultural exchanges in Lijiang. Sifang Street is an important place for residents of the ancient city to hold festive activities. During festivals, a stage is set up in the north of the street, and various ethnic groups perform songs and dances
• Mufu: Mufu was originally the yamen of the hereditary chieftain Mu of Lijiang, located at the eastern foot of the ancient city of Shizi Mountain, and was founded in the Yuan Dynasty. After reconstruction in 1998, it was renamed as the Ancient City Museum. The Mu Mansion covers an area of 46 acres and has a total of 162 rooms of various sizes. The central axis is 369 meters long, and the Sanqing Hall, Yuyin Tower, Guangbi Tower, Hufa Hall, Wanjuan Tower, Conference Hall, and Zhongyi Fang are arranged in a well arranged manner from west to east. Inside, there are eleven plaques bestowed by emperors throughout history, reflecting the rise and fall of the Mu family. The TV drama 'Mufu Fengyun', which tells the story of the Mu clan chieftain in Lijiang, was filmed here

(II) Yulong Snow Mountain

1. Introduction:
2. Yulong Snow Mountain is located in Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province. It is a group of snow mountains in the Hengduan Mountains, consisting of 13 snow mountains. Its main peak is steep and fan-shaped, with an altitude of 5596 meters. The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is named after its continuous peaks that resemble soaring "dragons". It is also known as the "Black and White Snow Mountain" because its rock types are mainly limestone and basalt, with distinct black and white colors. Yulong Snow Mountain is located at the junction of the Qinghai Tibet Plateau and the the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. It is covered with snow all the year round and has bred glaciers, snow peaks, alpine lakes, forest vegetation and other natural landscapes. In 2007, it became an AAAAA tourist attraction. In 2009, it established a national geological park. On September 26, 2024, it was selected as one of the first batch of world famous tourist mountains
3. Surrounding attractions:
• Blue Moon Valley: Located at the foot of the Yulong Snow Mountain, the Blue Moon Valley is as beautiful as a fairyland on earth, more beautiful than Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area, except that it is not as big as Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area, but its water and mountains are not inferior to Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area at all. 360 degree beauty without any blind spots. The river water in Blue Moon Valley is blocked by mountains during its flow, forming four larger water surfaces: Yuye Lake, Jingtan Lake, Blue Moon Lake, and Tingtao Lake. There are small waterfalls between the lakes, and they are not far apart. It takes about two hours to walk and drive around. The river water in Blue Moon Valley contains copper ions. Although the lake water is blue and clear, it cannot be consumed
• Yulong Snow Mountain Glacier Geology Museum: The venue and exhibition hall are very close to the scenic spots, and there are also attractions such as Yulong Snow Mountain National Scenic Area - boardwalk, Glacier Park colorful flag, Glacier Park -4506 meter stone monument, Glacier Park - viewing platform, Yulong Snow Mountain 4680 meter stone monument, Yulong Snow Mountain National Scenic Area - Yulong Snow Mountain Cableway Upper Station, Yulong Snow Mountain 3356 meters away, Yunshanping (Blue Moon Valley) boarding point, etc
• Ancient villages at the foot of Yulong Snow Mountain: There are more than 20 ancient villages at the foot of Yulong Snow Mountain, such as Baisha Ancient Town. Even with the drizzling rain here, people still come and go in the alleys of the ancient town. Entering the dog days of summer, high temperatures have swept across the country, but Lijiang, located on a plateau, has an average temperature of around 20 ℃, which is very cool and pleasant. Tourists can wear traditional ethnic costumes to check-in and take photos, and can also find embroidery, copperware and other intangible cultural heritage products everywhere on the streets. They can also taste local specialty snacks such as roasted yak meat. Walking into the coffee shops along the street, you can also order a steaming cup of Yunnan coffee, read books and chat, and enjoy a leisurely time. Previously, due to excessive tourism development, Snow Mountain suffered from a certain degree of ecological damage. The local government has explored a new mechanism of "tourism industry supporting agriculture" by standardizing the tourism standard system and strengthening supervision. As the relationship between "protection and development" gradually reaches a balance, ecology and tourism have formed a positive and rapid cycle. The villages around the Yulong Snow Mountain scenic area have also been driven, and the people have benefited from "ecotourism"

4. Recommended Dali Lijiang cuisine

(1) Dali cuisine

1. Roasted milk fan: Dali's grilled milk fan is definitely one of the must try foods. The roasted milk fan has a rich milk flavor, with rose honey mixed inside. It has a crispy taste, with milk and floral aromas intertwined in the mouth, leaving a lingering aftertaste. In the streets and alleys of Dali Old City, stalls selling roast milk fans can be seen everywhere. The price of 7 yuan per serving is also very affordable, whether as a snack to satisfy cravings or as a souvenir to bring to friends and family, the roasted milk fan is an excellent choice
2. Awang Private Kitchen: This Bai ethnic restaurant is deeply loved by tourists. The specialty dishes in the store include sliced white meat, watery poplar flowers, etc. The white cut meat is fresh and tender, paired with unique seasonings, and has a very delicious taste. Stir fried water Yang Hua tastes very refreshing, with a sticky texture that makes people feel more and more dizzy as they eat it. In addition, mint pork ribs are also a must-have dish. The wonderful combination of mint and pork ribs makes the pork ribs crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a huge aroma. The fatter pork ribs have a feeling of eating grilled pork belly when eaten
3. Mengzi Little Yellow Cattle Rice Noodles: When you come to Dali, be sure to try Mengzi Little Yellow Cattle Rice Noodles. The meat in this store is very abundant, and the rice noodles are smooth and flavorful. The soup base of Little Yellow Cattle Rice Noodles is made by simmering yellow cattle bones and skinned small yellow beef over low heat for more than 10 hours, with a rich and mellow aroma. You can choose to add seasonings such as mint, coriander, celery, scallions, and oil chili according to your taste to add different flavors to this rice noodle dish. Various hats (i.e. rice noodle toppings) are rich and diverse, including skinless yellow beef, braised beef, beef offal, crispy grilled pork belly, beef jerky wild mushrooms, and secret minced meat sauce. Each bite is the ultimate challenge to the taste buds

(II) Lijiang cuisine

1. Small pot Banaxi cuisine: The mushroom hot pot and stir fried pork ribs here are very popular. The mushroom hotpot is fresh, fragrant, and delicious. I feel like I won't be surprised by any mushroom hotpot in Yunnan. Wild mushroom hotpot is good, very fresh. I recommend pairing it with local chicken and preserved pork ribs. The first taste of Naxi grilled meat in the restaurant was very stunning, with the fragrance of sesame and the coolness of mint. The mixed taste stirred the whole mouth, but after all, it was fatty meat, and eating too much would make you feel greasy. Chicken bean jelly, the first time I tried it, I heard the word 'chicken bean' for the first time, and only then did I realize it was chickpeas, similar to Sichuan jelly. Shuixing Yanghua, said to be a Yunnan specialty dish, is a wild vegetable picked from Lugu Lake, but it doesn't taste delicious when eaten. Stir fried yak meat is average. Plum wine is very good, refreshing and easy to drink
2. Spoon Rice Noodles: The soup base of spoon rice noodles is fresh and contains many mushrooms. The soup base of Crossing the bridge noodles with morel fungus is very fresh and fragrant. It uses fresh chicken, pig bone, Yunnan wild mushrooms, ham, Yao Zhu, etc., and it has been boiled for more than five hours. The rich soup base is really too fresh. The hot rice noodle tastes great, and the aroma is pungent. The rice noodle is very Q-shaped. Each serving comes with cilantro, scallions, and sauce. You can add them according to your own taste, and the ingredients on the table are also added by yourself. There are many unique snacks in the store that everyone loves to eat. Egg mash is refreshing without being too sweet or greasy, with a light milky aroma that is very comfortable to drink, and the ingredients are also very rich. There is a small bridge at the entrance of the store. Sitting in the scenic spot on the second floor, enjoying such a delicious meal in the pavilions and water pavilions, it is truly an unforgettable memory of the delicious and beautiful trip to Lijiang
3. Lijiang Baba, rice sausage, chicken bean jelly and other specialty snacks: Lijiang Baba is a traditional Naxi snack with a crispy outer skin, soft and sweet filling, and rich taste layers, which is deeply loved by locals and tourists. Rice sausage has a delicate taste and a unique flavor. Chicken bean jelly is a traditional snack of the Bai ethnic group in Dali. It is made from chicken bean starch and has a delicate and smooth taste. Paired with unique seasonings, it is both refreshing and delicious

5. Recommended accommodation in Dali and Lijiang

(1) Accommodation in Dali

1. Dali Weili Sea View Hotel: Located in Haidong, it seems like a paradise away from the hustle and bustle. The room offers a direct view of the stunning scenery of Erhai Lake. Lying in bed, one can experience the romantic scenery of Erhai Lake, watch the sunrise and sunset, admire the Cangshan Mountains, and listen to the sound of the sea. The decoration is simple and atmospheric, and the environment is particularly good. With a 180 degree sea view, sitting on the balcony, you can have a panoramic view of Cangshan Lake and Erhai Lake. Beside the french window, there is also a huge bathtub, so you can enjoy the scenery of Erhai Lake while soaking in the bath. The hotel is overall clean and relatively quiet, making it very suitable for tourists who enjoy a peaceful atmosphere. However, it should be noted that if you want to go out for food and drink, you will have to drive about 20 kilometers recently. There are really no delicious foods nearby, but for self driving tourists, this has little impact

(II) Lijiang Accommodation

1. Lijiang M Hotel: The hotel is really great overall, with a balcony and a buffet breakfast. The dining area is separate from group tours, and in addition to normal breakfast, the VIP area adds freshly ground coffee, cereal, etc., and is also relatively quiet. In Lijiang, Yunnan Province, China, this boutique hotel integrating luxury and nature, with its unique design and first-class service, has become an ideal place to stay to explore the ancient city of the Old Town of Lijiang and the surrounding natural scenery. As soon as you step into the hotel, the modern and exquisite architectural style is eye-catching. The lobby is spacious and bright, decorated with carefully selected artworks and decorations, low-key and luxurious. The interior decoration of the room adopts a modern and simple style, equipped with comfortable beds, high-end sofas, and modern bathroom facilities. The large window of the room provides an open view outdoors, where one can see the distant mountains and the nearby ancient city's roof. The peaceful and harmonious feeling is refreshing and pleasant. In terms of service, the employees have demonstrated a high level of professionalism and hospitality. Catering services are also a major highlight, as the hotel's restaurants offer a variety of menu options, including traditional Yunnan cuisine and international flavors. Breakfast is enjoyed on the terrace, with fresh air and a peaceful environment that makes people feel relaxed. In addition, the hotel also offers tea rooms and cafes for guests to enjoy leisurely time while sipping tea or chatting. In addition to comfortable accommodation and culinary experiences, the hotel also offers guests a variety of cultural activities, such as attending cooking classes and learning how to make Yunnan specialty snacks; Or attend a Naxi ancient music evening party in the evening to experience the charm of Naxi music

   Yunnan Tourism

   2024-11-22 09:03
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