Erhai Lake
Dali's highland jewel — Bai villages ring the water beneath the Cangshan range, made for an unhurried lakeside loop.
Erhai is not a sea but a highland lake in the Dali basin, with the nineteen peaks of Cangshan lined up along its western shore. A full loop is about 130 km, and the two shores are entirely different: the west shore is a protected greenway, roughly 46 km long and closed to outside vehicles — walking, cycling or shuttle only. The east shore is open to cars, and that is where Xizhou, Butterfly Spring, Shuanglang and Xiaoputuo sit. A "day around Erhai" is really a day along the east shore.
- Best season
- Any season. Autumn (Sep–Nov) has the clearest air and the best light; June to August is the rainy season, with rain usually arriving in the evening.
- Tickets (approx.)
- No ticket for the lake itself. The east-shore sightseeing bus is about ¥88 for a day of unlimited rides; boat trips from Dali Port about ¥125. These are 2025-era reference prices — check again before you travel.
- Time to allow
- One day along the east shore; allow two if you want both shores.
- Altitude
- 1970 m
Know before you go
The wind is real: it strengthens near the water, can stop the Cangshan cableway, and makes lakeside cycling hard work. Riding the full 46 km of the west greenway is not realistic. Also, hotels are banned within 80 m of the water, so "lake view" photos are often shot from angles that hide the road — ask for unedited pictures before booking.