Private Day Tour: Erhai Lake, Three Pagodas, Dali Ancient Town

After hotel pickup in Dali, settle inside your private, air-conditioned vehicle with your guide and driver, and set off on your private tour.

Admire the views over the Cangshan mountains and Lake Erhai as you head into old Dali, whose history extends to the 8th century, when it served as a capital of the Nanzhao kingdom.

Listen as your guide sheds light on Dali’s past, and learn how its walled Ming-era city is largely home to the Bai people, an ethnic minority long-linked with China’s Yunnan province. Hear how the town was also a gateway to the Silk Road, and ringed by 3.7 miles (6 kilometers) of walls.

Stroll around the quaint cobbled streets and courtyards, admiring the traditional Bai folk houses with upturned eaves and richly carved windows and doors. Walk by the streams that trickle through the town, and see other houses topped with grey-green roof tiles, as well as temples, schools, and workshops.

After your walking tour, continue to the Three Pagodas at Chongsheng Monastery. These three towering pagodas are Dali’s symbols, and date back to the 9th century. Marvel at the three medieval 'skyscrapers,' set in a triangle, and explore the neighboring mountainside Buddhist temples as your guide shares information about their history and significance.

Enjoy a tasty local lunch at a restaurant, and explore the shores of Lake Erhai, China’s seventh largest freshwater lake. Take in some of the traditional settlements along the banks, and admire the mountain-backed waters.

Finally, travel onward to Zhoucheng village, famous for its Bai batik-making. Watch the Bai women making brightly patterned batik fabrics, and learn about the techniques they use, handed down to them through the generations.

Afterward, return to Dali where your tour ends with a hotel drop-off.