"National Day holiday prices stay the same! 5 underrated but stunning ancient towns, fewer crowds and beautiful scenery—grab them fast!"

Dali Guide: Be a happy foodie amidst the breeze, flowers, snow, and moon Hey, dear traveler! Welcome to Dali, where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of "Xiaguan wind, Shangguan flowers, Cangshan snow, and Erhai moon," along with countless foods that will make you gain three pounds. As a "pseudo-local" who has spent many days in Dali, I’m here to give you some tips to ensure you have fun, eat well, and keep your wallet happy! 🌊 Erhai Lake: Not a sea but more charming than the sea **Cycling around Erhai Lake**: Rent a bike or an electric scooter (remember to bargain!), and leisurely ride along Erhai Lake. I recommend starting from Caicun Pier, passing through Majiuyi and Panxi Village, and ending at Xizhou Ancient Town. The scenery along the way is so beautiful you’ll want to sing "By Cangshan and Erhai, you are by my side." **Tips**: Sunscreen! Sunscreen! Sunscreen! Important things said three times. The UV rays here are even harsher than an ex’s heart. **Erhai Lake boat tour**: Although it’s a bit touristy, since you’re here... I suggest choosing a short route, like Caicun Pier to Xiaoputuo, to enjoy the feeling of "a boat sailing on green waves, people traveling in a painting." 🏯 Ancient Towns: Be an artsy youth in Dali Ancient City and Xizhou **Dali Ancient City**: - **Renmin Road**: A gathering place for hipsters, with various shops and cafes. I recommend "Da Bing’s Little House"—order a drink and listen to folk songs, pretending you have a story to tell. - **Foreigner Street**: Not many foreigners, but plenty of bars. Come for a drink at night; you might meet like-minded travelers. - **Bed Sheet Factory Art District**: Dali’s 798 Art Zone, perfect for photos to show off on social media. **Xizhou Ancient Town**: - More authentic than Dali Ancient City, with iconic yellow walls and corner towers that are perfect photo spots. - You must try Xizhou Baba! Available in sweet and savory flavors; I personally recommend the savory one, filled with minced meat and scallions, so delicious it makes you want to dance. � Cangshan Mountain: Go up the mountain to breathe some fairy air **Gantong Cableway**: A cost-effective choice, offering views of Erhai Lake and Dali Ancient City. After going up, you can hike the Yudai Trail, with scenery as beautiful as a Windows desktop. **Tips**: The weather on the mountain changes quickly, so bring a jacket. Don’t ask how I know—too many tears to tell. 🍜 Food: Gaining three pounds is the minimum respect for Dali **Must-try dishes near Erhai Lake**: 1. **Sour and Spicy Fish**: Made with fish from Erhai Lake, sour and spicy to whet your appetite, perfect with three big bowls of rice. 2. **Rushan (Milk Fan)**: A Dali specialty dairy product, can be grilled or fried, dipped in rose sauce that’s sweet to the heart. 3. **Cold Chicken Rice Noodles**: Refreshing and tasty, eating a bowl in summer feels like being a happy immortal. 4. **Braised Meat with Ersi (Rice Noodles)**: Soft Ersi paired with tender stewed meat, a bowl for breakfast gives you energy all day. **Recommended restaurants**: - **Shuanglang Old Li’s Baoshan Copper Ladle Beef**: Beef stewed until tender, broth delicious enough to lick the bowl. - **Yuanlai Restaurant in Xizhou Ancient Town**: Authentic Bai cuisine, the owner is as warm as a long-lost aunt. - **Zai Huishou Cold Chicken Rice Noodles in Dali Ancient City**: A long-established shop, cheap and tasty. 🛏️ Accommodation: Even budget travelers deserve a good sleep **Cost-effective stays near Erhai Lake**: 1. **Dali Erhaimen No.1 Youth Hostel**: Great location and atmosphere, perfect for meeting all kinds of heroes. 2. **Seaview Homestay at Caicun Pier**: Not a prime sea view, but affordable, and you can see Erhai Lake when you open the window in the morning. 3. **Countryside Homestay in Xizhou Ancient Town**: Quiet and comfortable, with frogs croaking at night, making for a very good sleep. **Tips**: In the off-season, you can bargain on-site, sometimes cheaper than online booking. Don’t ask how I know—my title as a money-saving expert is well-earned. 💡 Final advice: 1. The pace of life in Dali is "half a beat slower," don’t rush to see all the sights; sitting in a café and daydreaming is a serious activity. 2. Bargaining is an art—from renting bikes to buying souvenirs, remember to show off your acting skills. 3. Sunscreen! One more time! The sun here cures all kinds of stubbornness.