Dali Ancient
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
Most travelers head straight for the ancient city of Dali, also known as Dali Gucheng. The old city is where the three pagodas and Foreigner's Street are located, while Erhai lake is closer to the new city.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Top ways to experience Dali Ancient
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.

4.0
870 reviews
Excellent
344
Very good
341
Average
152
Poor
24
Terrible
10

Julie L
Singapore, Singapore106 contributions
Jul 2020
We stayed in Dali Ancient city for 2 nights. This ancient city is not very big. My best experience here is dining at Master Duan's Restaurant & Bar. The food is good and the staff friendly and helpful.
Written August 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ankyfire
Shanghai, China579 contributions
Apr 2021 • Solo
The old town is very pretty, you’ll find lots of bars, restaurants, shops with souvenirs, and all that. It’s pretty touristy (for a more authentic look go to Xizhou), but nice. One day should probably be enough to see most of it.
Written April 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Scentedlotus🌺
Sydney, Australia11,497 contributions
The Cangshan Range sits as a majestic backdrop to the mesmerising ancient Bai city of Dali which lies at its feet , nestled next to the ear shaped Erhai Lake. The glacier tips of the peaks glisten down onto the walled cities cobbled stone alleyways.. narrow waterways flow quietly under sweeping willows outside a myriad of quaint small shops and cafes.Red lanterns hang from every doorway, under which tribally dressed folk spend their quiet days languidly below... Leaving the city, one can go out through old villages across mud packed roads which lie covered in drying grain sheafs, to the old Burma road, along which in times gone by were busy highways for horse born traders travelling its route up to the north into Tibet and down to the southern jungles of Burma.. Dali transports one to a time when it was truly one of the great outposts of the world.. A destination most wondrous
Written December 18, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SOH KIEN PENG
Singapore, Singapore6,628 contributions
Apr 2015 • Couples
I took the night train from Kunming to Dali. We arrived at Dali Train Station at Xiaguan early in the morning at about 6 am. Since we were early, I explored the Erhai Park around Xiaguan. Entrance was free at that early hour and I climbed up a hill while at Erhai Park. The scenery was marvelously awesome and stunning as the morning sun rose and the turquoise Erhai sparkled under the morning sun. This attraction of Erhai Park is within 15 mins walking distance from the Train Station. You should not miss this attraction and should explore the Park before proceeding to the Old Town. It is especially spectacularly beautiful in the early morning.

From the train station to my guesthouse at the Old Town, there is a direct public bus no. 8. It took us about 45 mins by the public bus to reach the west gate of the old Town. The bus fare is only RMB2. It is advisable to show the address of your hotel (in Chinese) to your bus driver so that he could advise you which bus stop you need to stop. Most tourists stopped at the West Gate next to Regent Hotel (大理风花雪月大酒店) if you are staying in the Old Town.

We stayed at Jiao Haoi Travel Inn which was just a 5 mins walk from the West Gate bus stop. We got it for a promotional rate of RMB99 per night. We stayed for 2 nights at Dali Old Town. Dali Old Town was a wonderful beautiful place. It is convenient and advisable to stay at the Old Town when you are in Dali as you could take your time to explore the Old Town and the transport to other scenic attractions could be reached from the Old Town.

It is relaxing wandering around the streets of the Dali Old Town. The air is cool and there is no entrance charge into the Old Town unlike Lijiang Old Town where you are supposed to pay an Old Town preservation fee of RMB80. Many modes of transportation were also available including trishaw, eco-buses, bicycles and cabs and you can pay for the services if you are too tired to walk. The whole Old Town is very walkable and I enjoyed walking around taking my time to explore every shops, buildings and discovered the fun of the exploration,

One thing I dislike of this Old Town is that vehicles were allowed to ply along the main roads in the town and I felt irritated when vehicles horned at you from behind. Other than this irritant, the whole place was just so beautiful and comfortably cool. You can enjoy the sight of the majestic Cangshan mountain loom from a distance with her crest enveloped in the bluish clouds while you immersed in a surrounding of ancient shops, guesthouses that were constructed in the Bai ethnic minority architectural style.

I hiked up the Cangshan mountain and visited the Three Pagodas, the Foreigners' Street, the Dali museum, the Temple of Guan Yu and an old mosque during the 2 days' stay at the Old Town. The entrance to the museum was free and I think it is worthwhile visiting it to know the historical background of this town and the revolutionary leaders and governors that once contribute to its beautiful history. The mosque with its green doom was unique though it looks more like a temple from the external feature. The Guan Yu Temple added another good place to visit.

There were four main gates of the old town. One particular gate attracted the most tourists posing for photographs. Try to find this gate with some prominent landmark sign indicating the Dali Old Town and take the photo with the colorful flowers blossom at its entrance.

The sky at the Old Town gave an impression that it was going to rain but it was just the clouds that loom over the town. We only experienced some drizzle occasionally but no heavy rainfall.

The food at the Old Town is not expensive. We found a vegetarian Buddhist Lodge that sold vegetarian buffet dish at RMB5 per person. You can eat as much as you like but you are advised to finish your dishes just not to waste the food. The Lodge is located just beside the Guan Yu Temple. You can ask around and the locals would know how to direct you to the vegetarian restaurant. The vegetarian food were deliciously cooked, healthy and awesome and I was much appreciative able to eat there.

There are also direct minivans at the Old Town that could transport you to the various towns around Erhai but you need to negotiate the price with them.

On the third day morning, I took the same bus no. 8 to Xiaguan and from there, took a train to Lijiang. It cost me only RMB35 for the train ticket. The train also passed by some of the scenic places around the Erhai and I would recommend taking the train to Lijiang instead of taking the bus.

Overall, I had a pleasant stay at this lovely Dali Old Town.
Written April 28, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

poggibonzzi
los angeles106 contributions
Sep 2012 • Friends
I find the willow trees, the mountain range and lake in the distance, the big sky, the idiosyncratic buildings in cobblestoned Old Town Dali charming in a way that well planned on a grid system Lijiang is not. Both towns are chockful of restaurants, bars and trinket shops but the ones in Dali are more Mom and Pop like and are on a much smaller scale than Lijiang. Whereas Lijiang seems built for tourists and herds bus loads of tourists to go there, Dali just seems more naturally pretty and attracts independent travellers to what the area has to offer. Whereas Lijiang is very Han Chinese notwithstanding the presence of Naxi minorities, the charm and beauty of Bai people predominates in Dali. Food, lodging and transportation also costs subtantially less in Dali.
Right on the edge of old town Dali is a local market that caters to locals. It was fun to walk around and see the goods on sale-- Bai people fried bread, clothes, household items, fruits, veggies and used dentures! There were 2 "dentists" on duty at this market when we visited. Old women in Bai attire with shopping baskets on their back... The local color was just unforgettable.
We did Shangrila, Lijiang and Dali old towns. Dali was by far my favorite. Lijiang was ok but I'd give Shangrila a skip. When in Dali be sure to try the roasted chestnuts sold by a store in Old Town and to take the cable car to the top of the mountain. It's easy to hire a cab to take one beyond Old Town. Cost us 70 yuan for the whole day. Work out your own itinerary and do not let the cabbie take you to the numerous fake Bai villages where an outrageous entry fee is charged.
Written March 17, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

alicestader
San Francisco, CA46 contributions
Mar 2010
Dali, located in Yunnan Province is famous for its Old Town and beautiful natural surroundings. Dali is comprised of two cities; the historic Dali Old Town (Gucheng) and Dali New City (Xiaguan). Dali Old Town is one of the most popular tourist destinations for domestic travelers as well as foreigners traveling the China backpacking circuit. Although Dali used to outnumber neighboring Lijiang with most foreign visitors, Lijiang’s well preserved Old Town has become more of a tourist attraction in recent years. What sets Dali apart from Lijiang is its beautiful location sandwiched between Erhai Lake and Cangshan Mountain.

Old Town is actually a miniature city laid out in an easy-to-navigate grid pattern offering an assortment of activities; however, the most interesting places lay outside Old Town’s four walls. A good way to get an overview of the town is to walk atop the historic walls surrounding the city. Compared to Xian, Dali’s historic wall is petite as it only takes about an hour to leisurely walk. Another fun walk is from the South Gate (Nan Men) to the North Gate (Bei Men) exploring the city streets along the way. Near the South Gate is the famous Dali Municipal Museum. The museum opened in 1987 and houses a small collection of Bai artifacts excavated from the surrounding area as well as stone steles, jade, and Dali’s world famous marble carvings. Another spot that literally cannot be missed is Yangren Jie (Foreigner’s Street) located between the North and South Gate and one of the most popular places in town. In recent years, Foreigner’s Street has become a smaller version of the famous Khao San Road of Thailand offering everything from banana pancakes and café lattes to Mexican burritos and hippie style clothes. Foreigner’s street is popular with foreign travelers as they get a taste of home and can get lost for hours relaxing at one of the many outdoor cafés and with domestic travelers as they are able to snap photos of foreigners in their “natural habitat”. It’s really quite a scene that should not be missed.

The best way to explore the beauty surrounding Dali Old Town is to rent a bike. Jim’s Tibetan Guesthouse and Peace café is a wonderful resource for maps, lists of must-see sites and a reliable place to rent a bike. Once outside Old Town, the possibilities are endless for adventure and relaxation. Dali is one of the few tourist destinations where you can truly enjoy the quiet side of China.

For more tips: http://www.alicestadertravels.blogspot.com
Written February 22, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

themudgeerambler
Mudgee, Australia678 contributions
We arrived In dali by bus from lijiang . The bus will drop you off near the lake as you come into town. This is advisable if you are wanting to stay in the old city .The bad side of this exercise is that you have to encounter touts .It is necessary to catch a cab to complete the journey. IBecause we didnt go to the places they were selling we were dropped at the south gate ,not the north gate of the old city as requested . This led to some confusion and questioning of our map reading ability.
We eventually sorted it and found accomodation at the Old Dali inn,where you can choose from dorm accomodation through to ensuite rooms . It has a bar and restaurant but I would only eat there if I was too tired to go out . The rooms are Ok but better value,cheper,newer and cleaner rooms are to be found nearby. The dali Inn is a good place to meet other travellers however.
The old city has plenty of great places to eat and drink . You will be approached by innocent looking ladies offering drugs of all descriptions. Reminds me a little of kathmandu 30 years ago. there are a number of Hippie type bars run by westerners that party long and hard if you want this type of entertainment.
For us the best days were had on day trips outside oif the city ,visiting the many minorities of the area . These trips can be arranged very cheaply through travel agents scattered throughout the city. Look around before deciding .
As for San Ta the three pagodas ,they are very spectacular but have pay 120 RMB each for the privilege.Be prepared to jostle elbow to elbow wtih the busloads of chinese tourists here.
The dali museum is worth a visit,mainly to look at the gardens and the old headstones in the grounds ,also the caligraphy exhibition housed in one of the halls at the back of the museum.
It also worthwhile to pay the 3RMB to climb the walls and take a short walk.
Its a great city for walking as not many vehicles sneak into the car free old city.
As for the newer part of dali, make up your mind but if you have limited time dont bother.
Written August 24, 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Voyagearoundtheworld
Berlin, Germany544 contributions
May 2019
The old part of Dali is well preserved and maintained. There a beautiful alleys and buildings everywhere. You can spend a lot of time checking out the stores, bars, restaurants and souvenir shops. It is touristy and crowded but well worth to explore. Start you walk at the south gate. In one of the scenic sidestreets there is a unique catholic church built in the traditional bai style.
Written April 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andrea L
New York City, NY87 contributions
Sep 2013 • Solo
i've been to many "ancient cities"/"old towns" in china, and this one is probably the most civilized and sane one. lijiang was too big, shuhe was a lesser carbon copy of lijiang, baisha was a ghost town, ciqikou was a circus, so was jinli street, and although charming, fenghuang was like a chinese disneyland, complete with gondola rides :)

anyway, the dali one is small compared to the others, easy to navigate, but has all the crap you'd expect for sale: minority-inspired embroidered handbags, jade jewelry, tea clumps, rose petal pastries, yak bone combs, cheap silver. i didn't see bongo drums for sale like i did in lijiang, thank heavens... there's a few reggae/bob marley-inspired establishments (groan), but no starbucks... yet.
Written September 28, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ModernDayMarcoPolo
On the move705 contributions
Feb 2011 • Solo
Most visitors respond positively to the Old Town, especially those whose main experience of China has been the grim factories and wholesale markets of the coastal cities. The area still has quite a bit of original architecture, and what has been added is often sympathetic to the original styles. There was a time when Hong Long Jing was the most beautiful street in all of China, but that was three or four years ago before all the construction at the nearby Wumiao Concourse, and the opening of all the new bars going all the way up to the Hump, turning this beautiful walkway into another noisy bar street, a la Lijiang.
Even so it is still possible to find quiet areas to hang out. I used to spend at least three or four of the summer months in the old town each year, which shows how much I enjoyed the place.
Written July 27, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 292
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Dali Ancient - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Dali Ancient



Restaurants near Dali Ancient: View all restaurants near Dali Ancient on Tripadvisor


Dali Ancient Information

Excellent Reviews

344

Very Good Reviews

341

Dali Ancient Photos

1,243