Yunnan's mellow heart — a walled Bai old town strung between the blue sweep of Erhai Lake and the green wall of the Cangshan range. Cycle the shore, wander the markets, and slow right down.
Tip Rent an e-bike and circle Erhai's quieter east shore — the postcard villages (Shuanglang, Xizhou) are best mid-week. The high-altitude sun is fierce even when the air is cool, so cover up. Easy bullet-train hops to Lijiang and Kunming.
Sights guideThe thousand-year pagodas, the temple behind them, and a walking loop through the walled old town.
Cycling guideWhich shore to ride, where to stop for lunch, and the villages worth the detour on a two-wheel loop.
Day tripCourtyard architecture, the famous baba flatbread, and the canola fields if your timing is right.
The west side near the old town gets traffic. Cross to the quiet east shore for the real Erhai postcard.
Cool breeze, brutal UV. Hat, sunscreen and water for any day on the lake. You will burn otherwise.
Dali is on the fast line now — under 2 hr to Kunming, ~1.5 hr to Lijiang. Book a day ahead in peak.
Did the quiet side by e-bike, stopped at a lakeside café in Shuanglang. Best slow day of the whole trip.
Eight days in Yunnan. Is 2 nights Dali + 3 Lijiang the right split, or flip it? Want slow, not rushed.