Dali Highlights Private Day Trip: Erhai Lake, Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, Cangshan Mountain & Dali Old Town

Tour Highlights
• Cruise the crystal-clear, ear-shaped Erhai Lake adjacent to Dali Ancient Town
• Admire the symbol of Dali, Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, among the oldest standing structures in southwestern China
• Take the cable car to Cangshan Mountain for a panoramic view of Erhai Lake & Dali Old Town
• Visit Dali Old Town, known for its natural scenery, historical and cultural heritage, and vibrant nightlife
• Experienced English speaking tour guide
• Overland round-trip transfers with private chauffeur and in-transport refreshments

About This Tour
• Departure: Daily departing from Dali
• Tour Duration: Approximately 8 hours.
• Pickup Time: Between 07:00 and 10:00, choose a departure time most suitable for you.
• Pickup & Drop-off Place: Your accommodation in Dali
• Advice on Meals: Lunch is not included in this tour. We recommend having a substantial breakfast and bringing snacks in case you get hungry while sightseeing. If you'd like to experience authentic local cuisine for lunch, feel free to inform your guide, who will be happy to assist.

Tour Itinerary at a Glance
• Pick up from your accommodation in Dali
• Cruise Erhai Lake & visit Jinsuo Island and local market
• Visit the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple
• Lunch on your own
• Take cable car to visit Cangshan Mountain
• Stroll along Dali Old Town
• Transfer back to your accommodation in Dali

Price Remark
• Prices are not valid during National Day (Oct 1-7), Chinese New Year, and Labor Day (May 1-5).

Price Inclusions
• Professional English language speaking tour guide.
• Air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced driver.
• Admission tickets to sightseeing places.
• All government taxes.

Price Exclusions
• Hotel accommodation.
• Meals are excluded allowing you flexibility on menu.
• Your personal expenses.
• Travel insurance is not included. Please purchase before your trip to provide for any unforeseen circumstances.
• Gratuities to guide & driver. They are customary and would be of great encouragement and reward for quality service.

Additional Information
• Confirmation will be received at the time of booking.
• Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
• The itinerary is subject to change due to traffic conditions or bad weather.
• The itinerary is flexible; changes can be made upon written request from travelers.
• IMPORTANT: It is required by the government regulations that travelers must provide their name, gender, nationality, passport number and date of birth to their tour operator upon booking a tour. Failure to do so could result in being denied access or admittance to sites and attractions during sightseeing. When you book this tour, please complete all required fields at checkout. Please bring your passport with you on the tour.

Cancellation Policy
• Cancellations made 24 hours prior to the scheduled departure time will receive a 100% refund.
• Cancellations made within 24 hours of the tour's start time or after the tour begins are non-refundable.
• Cancellation request will be confirmed within 2-5 business days, with refunds issued within 14 working days.

Tailor This Tour to Meet Your Needs
• If you want to customize this itinerary, contact us via WhatsApp (+86 139 1083 0737) or email (info@GrandChinaTravel.com). We'll create a tailor-made tour package just for you.

Know Before You Go
• Keep your passport with you throughout the tour; it may be needed to buy entrance tickets.
• Pickup time, guide's name, and contact information will be confirmed via WhatsApp or email.
• Your guide will be at the meeting point, holding a GGC pickup sign with your name.
• Meals are not included; please feel free to ask your guide for recommendations.
• If you book an Airbnb, please note that door-to-door pickup and drop-off might not be provided.
• There's a 20-minute grace period for waiting. Failure to show up will result in tour cancellation & no refund.

Hotel Pickup, Transfer to Erhai Lake
Your private guide will be holding GoGrandChina pickup sign and waiting for you in your hotel lobby (or other appointed meeting place) at the appointed time. You will be transferred to Erhai Lake in a comfortable private vehicle. Cruise on Erhai Lake to reach the Jinsuo Island.

Cruise Erhai Lake
Erhai Lake is an alpine fault lake. Its name means "Ear-shaped Sea", due to its shape as seen by locals and travellers. In size, the North-South length of the lake is 40 kilometres (25 mi) and the East-West width is roughly 7–8 kilometres (4.3–5.0 mi). Its area is 250 square kilometres (97 sq mi), making it the second largest highland lake of China, after Dianchi Lake in Kunming. Its circumference reaches 116 kilometres (72 mi), its average depth is of 11 metres (36 ft) and the total storage capacity of 2.5 billion cubic metres (2,000,000 acre⋅ft). The lake serves as a backdrop to all of Dali City and sandwiches Dali Town in the west against the Cangshan Mountain. The lake's head is at Shangguan Town, its northern extremity, and its southernmost point is at Xiaguan Town. The lake receives water from the Miju and Mici Rivers in the north, the Bolou River in the east, and smallers streams from the Cangshan Mountains in the west. Yangbi River, to the south, is the lake's outlet and eventually flows into the Mekong River. Visit Jinsuo Island (Golden Shuttle Island) to experience the culture and lifestyle of ethnic Bai people.

Visit Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple
Chongsheng Temple was once the royal temple of the Kingdom of Dali, originally built in the 9th century. At its height, the temple included 891 rooms, 11,400 Buddhist iconographies, three pavilions, and seven buildings. The temple was severely damaged by earthquakes and conflict during the rule of the Qing Dynasty. The temple was rebuilt in 2005. The Three Pagodas are made of brick and covered with white mud. The main pagoda, known as Qianxun Pagoda, reportedly built during 823-840 CE by king Quan Fengyou of the Kingdom of Nanzhao, is 69.6 meters (227 feet) high. The other two sibling pagodas, built about one hundred years later, stand to the northwest and southwest of Qianxun Pagoda. They are 42.19 meters (140 feet) high. A lake is located behind the pagodas. Named Reflection Pond, the pond is known to be able to reflect images of the Three Pagodas.

Lunch at Your Own Expense
Please feel free to ask your guide for suggestions and recommendations

Visit Cangshan Mountain by Ximatan Cable Car
Cangshan is the high mountain range located just to the west of Dali Old Town. The highest summit, Malong, is 4,122 meters above sea level. With 19 peaks at the elevation of 3,500 meters lined up from south to north, Cangshan Mountain is full of beautiful landscapes and amazing scenic sites that shouldn't be missed. At the same time, it is also an established place for geological research as well as wild animal watching. Take round trip Ximatan cable car to just 100m below the summit (4000m). Kilometres of boardwalks extend to some beautiful scenic spots including the historic Ximatan (Horse washing pool), where Kublai Khan rested his horses before conquering Dali in 1254.

Stroll Along Dali Old Town
Dali has long been a regional centre of commerce, being located at a crossroads of trade routes between Tibet, China, Burma, and Southeast Asia. The Bai people first settled the region 3000 years ago. Dali first emerged as the capital of the Nanzhao Kingdom in the 8th century. Later, the town served as the capital of the Kingdom of Dali until its conquest by the Yuan conquest of the area. The old town of Dali has been preserved in a 1.5 by 1.5 km wide townsite surrounded by its ancient walls. Due to its relatively well-preserved architecture, the town has developed as a major tourist attraction in recent decades. The old town of Dali is located on a plain between Erhai Lake on the east and the Cangshan Mountains to the west.

Transfer Back to Your Hotel
Your guide and driver will transfer you back to your hotel in Dali.