Dali Old Town is one of Yunnan’s most iconic destinations, set between the Cangshan Mountains and Erhai Lake. Unlike many heavily commercialized ancient towns, it is free to enter year-round and offers a more relaxed travel experience. Visitors can wander through stone-paved streets, explore local markets, and enjoy a slower pace of life. Whether you are visiting Yunnan for the first time or planning a more in-depth journey, understanding transportation options, accommodation choices, local food, key attractions, and expected costs will help you plan more efficiently.
Key Information to Know Before Visiting Dali Ancient City
There are several basic facts about Dali Ancient City worth knowing before your trip, which can help you avoid unnecessary troubles.
- Location of Dali Ancient City: The ancient city is located in Dali City, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. It is backed by Cangshan Mountain on the west and adjacent to Erhai Lake on the east, boasting beautiful natural scenery.
- Best Travel Seasons: The weather is most pleasant in spring and autumn. Cherry blossoms bloom in spring with a mild climate; the sky is clear in autumn, offering a clear view of Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake. Summer is the rainy season with occasional rainfall, but the air is fresh. The temperature is not low in the daytime in winter, but there is a large temperature difference between morning and evening, so a coat is a must.
- Opening Hours: Dali Ancient City is open 24 hours a day all year round, and tourists can enter at any time.
Dali Ancient City South Gate Tower
Transportation to Dali Ancient City
Transportation costs are a highly flexible part of traveling to Dali Ancient City, with a huge difference in expenses between different options, from international flights to local buses.
International Transportation: From Abroad to Dali
Tourists departing from abroad usually first fly to Kunming Changshui International Airport, then transfer to a high-speed rail or a domestic flight to Dali. As a major aviation hub in southwest China, Kunming Changshui International Airport has flights to and from major cities in Southeast Asia, East Asia, Europe, America and other regions. After arriving in Kunming, you can continue to Dali in the following two ways:
- High-speed rail: The high-speed rail ride from Kunming to Dali takes about 2 hours, with a second-class seat ticket priced at about 145 CNY. With frequent departures, it is the first choice for most tourists.
- Domestic flights: The flight from Kunming to Dali takes about 1 hour, with prices fluctuating by season.
Domestic Transportation: From Major Chinese Cities to Dali
Tourists departing from domestic cities in China have the following main options:
- Plane: Dali Fengyi Airport has opened non-stop flights to many cities in China. It is about 30 kilometers from the airport to Dali Ancient City by taxi, costing about 80 to 120 CNY and taking about 40 minutes. You can also take the airport shuttle bus directly to the South Gate of the ancient city for about 25 CNY per person. Carpooling is also available at about 10 CNY per person.
- High-speed rail or bullet train: There are direct bullet trains to Dali from Kunming, Chengdu, Chongqing and other cities. After getting off at Dali Railway Station, you can take Bus No.4 or No.8 directly to the ancient city, with a fare of 1.5 to 3 CNY and a ride of about 30 minutes. A taxi ride to the ancient city takes about 30 minutes, costing about 40 to 50 CNY.
- Self-driving: It takes about 4.5 hours to reach Dali from Kunming via the expressway. There are parking lots around the ancient city with a parking fee of about 20 to 40 CNY per day. Parking spaces are in short supply during peak tourist seasons, so it is recommended to find a spot as early as possible.
Local Transportation in Dali: Travel Options After Reaching the Ancient City
- The core area of the ancient city is small, and you can walk around all the main streets and alleys.
- If you need to travel around Erhai Lake, you can rent an electric scooter near the ancient city at a daily rate of about 50 to 80 CNY.
- Bus No.4 and No.8 run through the ancient city from north to south, with a fare of 1 to 2 CNY.
- Travel Tips: Try to avoid taking unlicensed street taxis; choose regular shops when renting a vehicle and shoot a video as proof when picking it up.
Accommodation Options for Different Budgets in Dali Ancient City
There are a variety of accommodation options in Dali Ancient City, ranging from youth hostels costing dozens of CNY to high-end homestays costing more than 1,000 CNY per night. Staying inside the ancient city offers convenient access to shopping, but there may be some noise at night. Staying outside the ancient city, such as near the South Gate or East Gate, features a quieter environment and more affordable prices.
Budget Type (50 to 120 CNY per person per night)
Bed spaces in youth hostels or simple homestays, suitable for solo travelers or tourists on a tight budget. There are many such options in the alleys around the ancient city with basically up-to-standard sanitary conditions. Some homestays near the East Gate of Dali Ancient City offer a monthly rental of about 1,200 CNY and a weekly rental of about 400 CNY.
Comfort Type (150 to 350 CNY per person per night)
Most inns in the ancient city fall into this category. Such inns are usually Bai-style courtyards with flowers, plants and tea tables, featuring newly renovated room facilities, and some rooms offer a view of the ancient city’s roof. Inns near Erhai Gate are convenient for travel and cost-effective, making them the first choice for most tourists.
Premium Type (More than 400 CNY per person per night)
High-end homestays or boutique hotels with prime locations and strong design sense, some offering a view of Cangshan Mountain. Suitable for tourists with high requirements for accommodation conditions who hope to have a good rest. Homestays at the foot of Cangshan Mountain are particularly popular, where you can watch the sunset over Cangshan Mountain in the evening.
- Accommodation Tips: Avoid choosing accommodation near the main streets during holidays, as it is noisy and the prices rise significantly. Homestays in the alleys will be much quieter. If your itinerary is flexible, you can also consider staying in an inn by Erhai Lake, with a lake view right out of the window and a stunning view of the sunrise in the early morning.
Recommended Cuisine in Dali Ancient City
Dali’s food is mostly sour and spicy, with many dishes made with local flowers and wild vegetables. The following are the must-try foods in Dali Ancient City.
Roast Milk Fan
Made from milk, milk fan is shaped like a thin slice of cheese. It is roasted over charcoal until slightly charred and brushed with rose sauce, tasting sweet and fragrant. It is sold at many street stalls in the ancient city for about 5 to 8 CNY per stick. You can also try fried milk fan for a crispier taste. There are many snack stalls on Renmin Road and Foreigners’ Street in the evening, selling roast milk fan, rice cake rolls, rose yogurt and more.
Cold Chicken Rice Noodles
A refreshing choice for summer. Shredded chicken is spread on the rice noodles, topped with sour and spicy sauce and crushed peanuts, and eaten after mixing. “Zai Huishou”is a time-honored shop in the ancient city, popular among local people, with a bowl priced at about 10 to 15 CNY.
Dali Sour and Spicy Fish
Live fish from Erhai Lake is stewed with sour papaya and pickled chili, tasting sour and spicy and appetizing. The soup can be eaten with rice, and it is a classic dish of Bai families, with a portion priced at about 40 to 60 CNY.
Wild Mushroom Hot Pot
Yunnan is rich in a variety of wild mushrooms, including matsutake, termite mushroom, porcini mushroom and more, all of which can be cooked in the hot pot. The free-range chicken soup base is stewed until golden and thick, with tender mushrooms, costing about 80 to 100 CNY per person. There are well-reputed wild mushroom hot pot restaurants on Yeyu Road and Renmin Road in Dali Ancient City.
Xizhou Baba
Though named after Xizhou, it can be found everywhere in Dali Ancient City. Similar to a large scallion pancake, it has sweet and salty flavors, baked over charcoal, with a crispy crust and a soft interior. It tastes the best when just out of the oven, with one piece priced at about 3 to 5 CNY.
- Dining Budget Reference: If you eat at ordinary restaurants for all meals, the per capita daily dining expense is about 60 to 120 CNY. If you choose to order dishes at better restaurants, 150 to 200 CNY per day is sufficient. Internet-famous shops in the ancient city have long queues and relatively high prices, while small restaurants frequented by local people offer more authentic flavors and better cost performance. You can keep an eye on shops with many customers.
Worth Visiting Spots in Dali Ancient City
Dali Ancient City is small in area, and you can visit all the main streets on foot. There is no need to plan a route deliberately; wandering aimlessly often brings unexpected discoveries. The following spots are recommended for a visit.
South Gate Tower
The South Gate is the main gate of Dali Ancient City, with the two characters “Da Li”inscribed by Guo Moruo above it. You can climb the tower with an admission fee of about 20 CNY. Standing on the tower, you can see the main street of the ancient city and Cangshan Mountain in the distance, making it a popular photo spot for many tourists.
Fuxing Road
This is the busiest main street in the ancient city, stretching from the South Gate all the way to the North Gate. There are various shops on both sides of the road, selling silverware, batik, tea, flower cakes and other local specialties. You can visit several shops to compare prices before buying souvenirs.
Renmin Road
Renmin Road has a stronger sense of life than Fuxing Road. There are independent bookstores, record stores and cafés here during the day. At night, young people set up stalls on the roadside selling handcrafts, and some play the guitar and sing. It is a pleasant experience to take a walk here even if you don’t buy anything. Folk singers often perform on the street side of Renmin Road in the evening.
Foreigners’ Street
Formerly known as Huguo Road, it got its name when it was popular among foreign tourists in the early days. Now it is home to a concentration of literary and artistic shops and cafés with a strong retro atmosphere. It is a great place to have a cup of coffee or chat with friends. There are also a variety of snack stalls on Foreigners’ Street in the evening.
Wuhua Building
Once the site of the guest house of the Nanzhao Kingdom, you can climb the building for free. Standing on the building, you can overlook the entire ancient city and see Cangshan Mountain in the distance, making it an ideal spot for taking photos.
North Gate Vegetable Market
If you want to experience the daily life of local people in Dali, you can visit the North Gate Vegetable Market. The flower cakes sold here are more authentic than those in Internet-famous shops on the main streets, and you can also buy fresh wild mushrooms and local fruits. It is the busiest from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Yuer Garden
Located on Yeyu Road in Dali Ancient City, Yuer Garden is a small free open niche garden that many tourists miss. The garden is lush with green plants and has a quiet environment, suitable for taking photos and resting after a long walk around the ancient city.
Dali Ancient City Renmin Road Night View
Single Day Cost Reference for Dali Ancient City
The consumption in Dali Ancient City is highly flexible, and the total expense depends entirely on personal choices. The following is a reference based on a moderate and comfortable standard.
- Accommodation: 150 CNY (per capita price of a comfort-type inn)
- Three Meals: 100 CNY (15 CNY for breakfast, 35 CNY for lunch and 50 CNY for dinner)
- Transportation in the Ancient City: 0 CNY (on foot)
- Tickets: 0 CNY (no charge for entering the ancient city)
- Snacks and Drinks: 30 CNY (for roast milk fan and water)
Total for a Single Day: about 280 CNY.
You can also travel comfortably with 150 to 200 CNY per day if you choose a youth hostel and simple meals. If you opt for a high-end homestay and fine restaurants, more than 500 CNY per day is also acceptable. The consumption level in Dali Ancient City is flexible, and you can have a great travel experience without a high budget.
Practical Travel Notes for Dali Ancient City
The following are some practical suggestions to help you have a better travel experience with the same budget.
About Accommodation Location
It is not necessary to stay in the exact center of the ancient city. Inns outside the South Gate or near the East Gate are only a 5 to 10-minute walk from the ancient city, but the room price may be 30% to 40% cheaper.
About Dining Choices
It is not recommended to dine at large signboard restaurants right in the middle of the ancient city’s main streets. Turn into the nearby alleys or go near the North Gate, where there are many restaurants for local residents with more affordable prices and more authentic flavors. Small restaurants popular among locals, such as “Zai Huishou”Cold Chicken Rice Noodles on Renmin Road and snack stalls near the North Gate Vegetable Market, are all good choices.
About Shopping
Flower cakes, silverware and other commodities are sold in many shops in the ancient city. It is recommended to visit several shops to ask about the prices and make a purchase only when you have a clear idea of the market price. For silverware, if you do not have the ability to identify its quality, just buy small accessories as souvenirs.
About Sun Protection and Dressing
Dali is located on the plateau, with higher ultraviolet intensity than plain areas. It is recommended to bring high-factor sunscreen, a sun hat and sunglasses. The temperature difference between day and night is obvious locally, and it may be cool in the morning and evening, so it is better to carry a thin coat or windbreaker when going out.
About Service Bookings
It is recommended to arrange accommodation and transportation in advance, especially during the tourist peak season, as high-quality rooms and discounted air tickets may sell out quickly. China Dragon Travel can provide one-stop booking services for air tickets, accommodation and tickets, helping tourists avoid the trouble of comparing prices one by one with competitive prices.
About Travel Safety
When traveling in Dali Ancient City, it is recommended to choose regular taxis or online car-hailing platforms and avoid unlicensed street taxis. Meanwhile, when tasting local food, try to choose restaurants with a large number of customers and avoid eating raw or cold food to prevent gastrointestinal discomfort.
Planning Your Dali Old Town Trip Made Easier
Dali Old Town is less about checking off attractions and more about how you spend your time there. You can walk without a plan, stop when something catches your eye, and simply enjoy the atmosphere. As long as you’ve sorted out the basics like transport, accommodation, and a rough budget, the rest can stay flexible. If you prefer not to handle all the planning yourself, China Dragon Travel can help arrange everything from flights to hotels, making the trip much easier and more straightforward.
