Traveling from south to north, looking all over the Yangtze River and the north, only Dali is the ideal on earth
I want to come to live in Dali for a period of time every year. This time, I drove to Yunnan with my friends and stayed around the ancient city of Dali and the Erhai Lake. I lived a day facing the Erhai Lake every day with warm spring and blooming flowers.
When I came to Dali this time, I was not in a hurry to check in everywhere. I just walked around leisurely, stayed in a beautiful accommodation, visited a few niche scenery that I had not been to before, and had an ideal holiday.

Xizhou Town is located north of the ancient city of Dali, bordering the Erhai Lake in the east and Cangshan Mountain in the west. It has the most and best Bai residential buildings. But along the way, I lost my mind about the ancient town, so I just took a casual stroll and checked in on the Internet celebrity corner and rice fields.

The landmark building of Xizhou Bickin Gate is a key protected ancient courtyard of the Bai people. You can search the corner building (Yang Ruxuan's residence) on a map, but there are very, very many people here, and you have to come early to take pictures of no one.

But the rice field + Xilin Garden yellow wall really gave me a big surprise. This is another iconic symbol of Xizhou. Rape flowers are planted from March to April, a wheat field is planted in April and May, and rice fields are replaced in June. The rice fields turn yellow around the month, so there will be surprises every season.
The warm breeze in the rice fields, coupled with blue skies and white clouds, is really very healing. You can make a complete summer movie here.

There are ridges on which you can walk. Don't step on them.
The rice fields are best matched with yellow walls. You can adjust the ratio of the yellow walls to people by standing far and far.
The camera turns around, and the background of the Bai building on the other side is also very distinctive.
There are many coffee shops around the rice fields, where you can sit down and take a nap and enjoy the beautiful rice field breeze in the wind. It will have a unique flavor.

Erhai Lake may be the place where you don't need to do strategies the most. You just need to walk around it slowly and you can always discover new scenery. I have been here many times, but the scenery along the Erhai Lake is still endless.

It is worth noting that the highway around the sea in Haixi has been turned into a pedestrian/bicycle lane since the beginning of 20 years, and you cannot drive. This road is now called the "Erhai Haixi Ecological Corridor" and has a total length of 46 kilometers. It starts at the Dali Prefecture Maternal and Child Health Hospital and ends at Taoyuan Wharf. It passes through Sansheng Island, Longkan Wharf, Caicun Wharf, Majuyi, Yixi S Curve, Haishue Wetland Park, Taoyuan Wharf.

You can only ride bicycles or sightseeing buses in the scenic area on this road. Of course, walking is also possible. There are shared bicycles in the scenic area.
If you are self-driving tourists, you can only park in the parking lot near this road, then walk for a while and turn back. But in the peak season of Internet celebrity attractions, parking lots near the corridors will be full.

Finally, we drove to the vicinity of Haijiao Park and got down and walked slowly. To be honest, the scenery along the corridor was very beautiful and there were many corners. There was no need to go specifically to Qixi to check in to take a few photos and leave.
Sit down by the Erhai Lake and watch the water surface slowly change, and watch the time change in the mountains in the distance. Take out the chicken feet you bought in the ancient city and have a special afternoon tea.

When traveling in Yunnan, you can see tie-dye shops everywhere. We heard that there is a tie-dye village near Xizhou-Zhoucheng Village, where you can experience tie-dye skills firsthand. Even if you don't experience it, you can visit the tie-dyeing museum and workshop in the village for free.
Our main visit this time was the Puzhen Bai Tie-Dyeing Museum in Dali. The main reason was that this museum was almost the first one at the entrance of the village, and it was very large and rich inside. We stayed in it until it closed.

What you see when you enter the door are three squares and one Zhaobi with typical Bai architectural characteristics. There are several tie-dye strips across the courtyard, reflecting flowing shadows under the sun and wind, like scenes in a movie.

Further inside is the tie-dye experience hall, with several large dye vats placed in the yard, which smell slightly herbal. The blue color of tie-dyed comes from the branches and leaves of the stems of Isatis root. Use them to inject them into a large wooden dyeing vat, mix with lime or alkali, and the dye precipitates to form indigo mud. This is a pure natural dye without additives.

All-natural dye used for tie-dyeing will not cause environmental pollution in sewage, and it can repel mosquitoes and insects, and also has anti-inflammatory and health care effects.
The entire dyeing workshop is very simple. Blue wooden barrels soaked with dyes, various dyed fabrics and wooden frames are all quietly in the leaking sunshine. Several Bai elder sisters are working quietly on the side. The whole scene is like a beautiful Indigo tie-dyed ink painting.

If you want to experience tie-dyeing, you can make a reservation or tell the staff directly. Generally, you can dye simple clothes such as t-shirts and skirts to make them your own tie-dyeing work.
If you don't want to participate in the experience, you can also visit the museum carefully. There are many tie-dyed art and explanations that you can enjoy in detail.
When we arrived, it was close to closing in the afternoon, and the entire venue was very quiet, with only the tilting sun moving quietly among the layers of dyed canvases.

If you just visit and take photos and check in, there is no charge. If you want to experience the tie-dyeing process and procedures in person, you can contact the workshop staff directly. The specific fees can be discussed, or you can make an appointment online in advance.

After visiting the Tie-Dyeing Museum, you can also stroll around Zhoucheng Village. Every household here really has tie-dye. Buy a piece on the street, which is more exquisite and cheaper than Xizhou's. The stalls on the street are separated by tie-dye and have a very simple flavor.

📍Detailed address: No. 61 Dianzang Highway, Zhoucheng Village, Dali City, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province
🚇Driving or taking a taxi:
When driving around the Erhai Lake, Dali Haixi Zhoucheng tie-dyeing workshop must check in.
Taxi: It is 25 kilometers from Dali Ancient City to Zhoucheng Village. The taxi fare is about 45-55 yuan. It is expected to take half an hour.

The most surprising harvest in Dali this time was Jiwo Coffee, an art cafe on the top of the mountain.
This is a cafe hidden halfway up the mountain. I am tired of visiting the traditional double corridors and can overlook the panoramic view of the double corridors from a high place.
Rather than calling it a cafe, I think it is more like a small utopia halfway up the mountain. It is full of art deco. The thatched "chicken coop" has a primitive beauty and every corner has details worth pondering.

The owner of this earthen house cafe is independent artist Shen Jianwen. He moved to Dali from Shanghai in 2008 and combined local farmers 'earthen houses and craftsmen to build an artistic chicken nest with thatched grass. Later, when Director Yang was filming the movie "Volcano", the crew was renovated, and the overall design felt very much. By chance, Teacher Shen began to teach Bai grandmothers to draw. These grandmothers had never read books. The youngest was 60 years old and the oldest was 87 years old. If you are lucky, you can see several Bai grandmothers painting in the studio upstairs. These grandmothers 'art works and coffee areas are open to the public.

There are several parts in the entire coffee shop. You can sit in the "chicken nest" and enjoy the sea view of the Erhai Lake through a long and narrow invisible glass. You can sit directly outside and view the sea with the lamb sculpture. You can sit in the courtyard and watch the old lady painting while you are in a daze. There will always be a beauty waiting for you.
The chicken nest specializes in coffee and rural Brunch, and the price is similar to that of ordinary coffee shops in Dali. Order a latte and afternoon tea and blow in the Erhai Lake wind, which is worthy of the beautiful sunshine.

It should be noted that although Jiwo looks close to Shuanglang, it actually requires a long and steep mountain road. There is no public transportation to reach it. It is recommended to drive by car and chartered there. If you are a novice driver, it is not recommended to go there. We think it is even scarier than the Lining 72 turn from Lijiang to Lugu Lake.

Store name: Dali Shuanglang Agricultural Painting House (Jiwo) Cafe
Address: Huoshan, Shuanglang Town, Township Road 043, Dali City
Business hours: 10:30-21:30
📍Per capita consumption: about 50 yuan/person

When you come to Yunnan, you must stay in Tinghuatang. Each house has the ultimate scenery, and the most beautiful scenery can be photographed in the public areas of the hotel.
The Dali Erhai Tianjing Store where we stayed this time was located in Qose Town, Haidong, facing the Erhai Lake. It really felt like facing the sea and blooming flowers in spring.
There are several public areas in the entire B & B, each of which is very, very popular, and I can't even take photos. Haha.

There is a swimming pool, a transparent boat, and a sinking sofa on the first floor. It feels like a vacation abroad.

There is a sky mirror on the third floor, forming a perfect reflection with the blue sky.

The top-floor garden has two parts, one part is filled with small daisies. It is also the most romantic place in the entire B & B. It is really beautiful to be surrounded by flowers. There are also well-designed cabins and many small corners. The other part is tatami on the roof, lying down and watching the sunset on the Erhai Lake, making you feel relaxed and happy.

The room has a large balcony and a superb view of the sea!
The room has a simple and elegant design, with wooden floors and beige curtains, and a particularly pleasant atmosphere. You can spend the most perfect Dali holiday here.

B & B: Tinghuatang Seaview Garden Meisu (Dali Erhai Tianjing Store)
Address: Xiaoputuo Scenic Area, No. 3 Ship Island, Haiyin Village, Wase Town

After staying for one night in the ancient city of Dali, you can go shopping leisurely, pick flowers and drink, or stop to listen to music. You are no longer just a passer-by who experiences the slow life of literature and art.

Wuhualou
Climb on Wuhua Tower for free, and you can overlook Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake. Especially when the lanterns of Wuhua Tower are on at night, and there are many wandering singers singing. It is a landmark building in the ancient city of Dali

Bar Street
When you come to Dali, you must come and experience the fantasy of the bar. Renmin Road is the home of resident singers. Most folk songs are popular. Friends from all over the world gather here to have a drink and have fun

Renmin road
The longest old street in the ancient city of Dali. Walking on this street can fully experience the lazy and slow times of Dali.