Dali

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Om Dali

Dali (大理, Dàlǐ; Bai: Darl-lit) is a city in Yunnan Province in China famous for its old town, zillions of cafes and bars, and handicrafts such as batik fabric. It is located at the south end of the Erhai Lake with an altitude of 2,000 meters above sea level.

Dali is one of the most popular spots for independent China travelers and hugely popular with those studying and working in southern China. About 50 min by plane or 4-5 hrs by bus from Kunming (Yunnan’s capital), Dali is considered by some the perfect place to relax in southern China.

Dali is the seat of Dali Prefecture and includes Dali New City (下关, Xiàguān) and Dali Old Town (古城, Gǔchéng). The Old Town has a population of only 40,000 but the 10,000+ km² prefecture as a whole holds 3 million. When discussing or travelling to “Dali”, it’s important to be clear which you are talking about. Xiaguan is usually where transportation to “Dali” arrives but is a standard industrial Chinese city. Tourists are usually trying to get to the Old Town, which is famed for its traditional architecture, beautiful scenery (the dramatic Cangshan range, the expansive Erhai Lake, and small hand worked fields of pleasantly varied produce), minority cultures (mostly Bai but also Yi and Hui), and nightlife. There is also much to see and do in the surrounding countryside.

The climate is temperate with moderate summers and mild winters, though it can get rather windy in autumn and winter and the tropical latitude means some will need to bring extra sunblock.

Remember, as a tourist town in China, one will be charged higher prices for tourist goods whether Chinese or not. As a town in rural China, one will be charged higher prices just for being a foreigner. This includes everything ranging from market vegetables to legal fees and rent. This is true for both the Old town as well as Xiaguan. Go to places with prices on the menu, and if not, ask before buying.

Despite Dali’s former fame as a backpacker heaven (in the late 90s and early 00s), foreigners are now hugely outnumbered by Chinese tourists, and has developed a reputation as the country’s go-to for one-night stands. Dali has recently been overshadowed by nearby Lijiang and many group package tourists either bypass it or give it 1-2 days stay. Still, in contrast to Lijiang, Dali is not just an assembly of tourist souvenir stores, but people actually live and work there.

We spend two nights (one whole day) in Dali and it is a too short time. It is a very beautiful and nice place to stay, so it is worth to spend some more days here. Go and see the Erhai Lake Villages and the mountains.

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