# Dali Ancient Town (大理古城)

Dali, Yunnan Province · Southwest, China · Guidebook rating: 5/5
Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/places/dali-ancient-town
Language: en

## Key facts

- **Time needed:** 3+ hours
- **Getting there:** Near Dali Ancient Town (bus stop)
- **Good for:** History & Culture, Old Towns & Villages, Hiking & Outdoors, Photography

## About Dali Ancient Town

People often compare Dali with Lijiang. Dali may lack Lijiang's graceful charm, but it is more unpretentious and expansive.
Some say Dali is the birthplace of China's hippie culture. Underground musicians and painters have brought a free-spirited atmosphere here, so it is no wonder people say that after staying in Dali for a while, you may become “decadent.”
The whole old town sits with Cangshan Mountain at its back and faces Erhai Lake. Its streets follow a grid layout, and its houses, with stone-slab paths and grey-tiled sloping roofs, reflect Bai architectural style. Traditional customs are still alive in the old town, and you can feel the long history and culture of the Bai people.

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Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), p. 212. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.
Site: China Trip (https://cnatrip.com) — independent China travel guide in 13 languages.