5 days · China itinerary
Dali in 5 days
Slow Erhai stay with old-town nights and spare days for weather or highland add-ons — sparse catalog, honest outline.
- 5 days
- Dali
- 2 cities
- unhurried Yunnan
An independent planning outline, not a booked package. Plan your accommodation and confirm current admission and transport arrangements.
Cities and connections
Day by day
Day 1
Old town settling-in day
- Main activity
- Old town settling-in day
Altitude is moderate vs northwest Yunnan; still plan sun and walking breaks.
Useful guides
Day 2
Erhai east-shore style day
- Main activity
- Erhai east-shore style day
Editorial suggestion — confirm bike/bus options on the ground.
Useful guides
Day 3
Erhai west-shore / quieter villages day
- Main activity
- Erhai west-shore / quieter villages day
Keep distances realistic; lakeside hotels can be far from old-town dinners.
Useful guides
Day 4
Cangshan or rest buffer
- Main activity
- Cangshan or rest buffer
Cableway and trail access change — check official park notices if you go up.
Useful guides
Day 5
Return buffer toward Kunming
- Main activity
- Return buffer toward Kunming
Demo HSR band only — match station names on the ticket.
Intercity travel
Kunming → Dali (HSR) · Indicative: About 2–2.5 hours
Check your station, departure time and onward transfer.
Useful guides
Where to stay
If staying overnight, compare neighbourhoods near your main sights and transport. Day trips may not need a hotel; no fixed number of nights is assumed.
Dali
Choose a neighbourhood convenient for the sights and your arrival or departure terminal.
Kunming
Green Lake: Green Lake adjacency helps altitude acclimatization days before Yunnan onward travel.
Trains and transfers
Rail connections mentioned in the itinerary require separate tickets. Confirm whether an optional trip suits your dates; catalog timings are only estimates.
Kunming → Dali (HSR)
Yunnan high-speed hop from Kunming South toward Dali Station and the old town.
Budget
Costs to plan
- Accommodation if staying overnight (confirm the number of nights)
- Meals, local transport and optional excursions
- Admission for the attractions listed on each day
- Train tickets and transfers for 1 published corridor
What's included on this page
- Suggested daily activities and catalog visit-length estimates
- Links to verified ticket tariffs when the site has them
- Hotel-area orientation and published route guides
- No booking service, live availability or package total
Prices vary by travel date and provider. Only sourced admission prices are quoted within the relevant day cards; other costs are not assumed to be zero.
Before you go
Common questions
Is this a booked tour?
No. This is an editorial itinerary outline. You book travel and admissions independently.
Are the listed travel times and prices live?
No. Rail timings in the catalog are indicative. Confirm schedules, admission and fares for your specific dates.
How many hotel nights do I need?
That depends on when you arrive and leave. The itinerary counts calendar days, not a fixed number of hotel nights.
Sources and updates
This route uses ChinaTravelChina's destination and attraction catalog. Confirm current admission, opening hours and train information on official channels. Dated ticket sources apply only to the named attractions.