Overview of Dali

Dali is located in the west of Yunnan Province, with an average altitude of 2090 meters. It belongs to plateau monsoon climate with very distinct dry and wet season, and small seasonal temperature differences. The annual average temperature of the year is around 15.5℃. Dali, just like Kunming, can be described as each season is like spring all throughout the year. From the late May to the late November, it enters into the rainy season; and from early December to the next May, it belongs to the dry season.

For the warm and comfortable weather in four seasons, Dali can be visited all year round and the most recommended period is from March to November. In March to April, the lively Third Month Fair is holding in Dali Old Town and the beautiful flowers are blooming around Erhai Lake. From May to August, Dali becomes the summer resort to escape heat that the cool Cangshan Mountain brings you some refreshment. From September to November, the weather is super comfortable which is suitable for many outdoor activities like boating on Erhai Lake. 

Romantic as Dali in Yunnan province, four themes of romance we use for wonderful sceneries in Chinese may best describe the beauty of Dali, which are “Wind, Flower, Snow, Moon”. And the four poetic themes have become the main reasons for a Dali trip in Yunnan.

“Xiaguan Feng”:  Wind from Xiaguan County

Due to the specific terrain in Xiaguan, the strong wind force here is rarely seen in the world, with a long period of high wind for more than 35 days each year. The exotic view of wind is one of the four unique reasons for visiting Dali, especially in spring and autumn.

“Shangguan Hua”: Flowers in Shangguan County

Shangguan is a wide grassland with varieties of colorful flowers. As Bai people in Dali are fond of flowers, and since the wild and humid weather is really suitable for the growth of flowers, appreciating colorful flowers over the mountains and plains is a good reason for you to visit Dali.

“Cangshan Xue”: Snow on Mt. Cangshan

As a symbolic landmark of Dali, Mt. Cangshan is perennially covered with snow. The marvelous wonderland has an amazing view in summer, covered by verdant forests over the halfway and pure white snow on the mountain top, you may take the cable car and experience different sceneries through four seasons.

“Erhai Yue”: Moon above Erhai Lake

As darkness falls, the clear water of Erhai Lake and the inky black sky seem to merge in one color. The moon and stars above Erhai Lake look as if bigger than other places, with a luminous moon on the dark night sky, another moon is lying right there on the lake water, which makes Erhai Lake a fairyland on earth.