Dali sits at 2,000 m: not as commercialised as Lijiang, not as high as Shangri-La. Summer is not hot, winter is not cold. Many visitors arrive planning two days and stay a week.
1. Where can you pick up the car?
Dali Fengyi Airport (DLU) has limited flights to Kunming, Chengdu and Guangzhou. The Dali high-speed rail station is 2 hours from Kunming and the most convenient pickup point. If you are already staying in the old town, we can deliver the car to your hotel parking.
2. Three loops around Dali
Loop Erhai (1 day): 130 km clockwise. Morning from Dali old town west shore to Xizhou for lunch and Bai architecture; afternoon to Shuanglang for sunset; next morning back along the east shore via Wase and Xiaoputuo.
Dali-Lijiang-Lugu Lake (3-4 days): Dali to Lijiang 180 km; Lijiang to Lugu Lake 200 km mountain road; loop the lake and return.
Dali-Tengchong-Ruili (5 days): west to Baoshan, Tengchong volcano and hot springs, Ruili on the Myanmar border, then back.
3. Seasons
March-May 10-25C, few tourists; June-Aug 15-25C rainy afternoon showers; Sept-Nov 8-22C blue sky, best; Dec-Feb 0-18C sunny days. Dali is 3-5 degrees warmer than Lijiang in winter.
4. Parking
Old town is closed to cars. South gate lot 20 CNY/day; east gate quieter. Lakeside viewing platforms: Longkan pier sunrise 10 CNY; Caicun free but small; Shuanglang lot 20 CNY. Do not drive onto the lakeside grass, fines are heavy.
5. Dali to Lijiang
G5611 expressway 180 km, toll 80 CNY. The old national road along the west shore is scenic but slow with trucks.
6. Cost example, 4 days
Lavida 260x4 = 1,040; deposit 3,000; temporary permit 1,500; booking deposit 600; fuel ~400; tolls ~150; total about 6,700 CNY (~920 USD). Split two ways = 460 USD each. No one-way fee if you pick up and return in Dali.
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