1. Things To Know Before You Go
The scenery of Dali in Yunnan is picturesque throughout the year. Among its numerous scenic spots and historical sites, the four scenes of wind, flowers, snow, and moon are the most renowned and fascinating, they are respectively the snow in Cangshan Mountain, the moon over Erhai Lake, the flowers in Shangguan and the wind in Xiaguan. Thus, they are collectively called "Feng, Hua, Xue, Yue" , namely 风花雪月 in Chinese, which is a term often used to describe beautiful scenery and delightful things in China, it is also frequently quoted in many ancient Chinese poems.
Erhai Lake, regarded as a famous tourist attraction, although many tourists just pass by it in a hurry during their travels and leave behind a bunch of travel photos, in fact, as the sacred lake in the hearts of Bai ethnic group, Erhai Lake is a place with profound historical connotations, there are many secluded and beautiful spots along the shores of Erhai Lake, making it an unmissable tourist destination for visitors.
2. Why Is Erhai Lake So Special?
2.1 The Tangible Benefits Bring To Tourists
Erhai Lake is a magical "sea". Although it doesn't have the ebb and flow like the real sea, it can stir up your emotions during the journey. When you are cycling or taking a stroll along the Erhai Lake, you will be marvel at the enchanting sunrises, sunsets, clear skies and floating clouds. All of these will enable you to experience a complete relaxation, allowing you to slow down and savor the comfort and beauty of life with your heart.
2.2 Attractions Overview
2.2.1 Geographical Features
Erhai Lake is located in the northern part of Dali City, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, it is featured in a long and narrow shape. Since it looks like a human ear, it is named Erhai Lake. As the largest sag pond on the western Yunnan Plateau, there is a folklore that the Bai ethnic minorities had never seen the sea before so that they wanted to express their longing for the sea, hence they named it Erhai Lake.
2.2.2 Tourism Resources
Erhai Lake is a plateau lake with stunning scenery featured in a long and narrow shape. Seen from the air, it is just like a new moon, nestling quietly between Cangshan Mountain and the Dali Basin. Jinsuo Island, Xiaoputuo and Nanzhao Fengqing Island are the three most famous islands in Erhai Lake. Along the lakeside, there are Caicun village, Xizhou Ancient Town, Shuanglang Ancient Town, Wase Ancient Town, Haidong Ancient Town, etc., each with its own unique characteristics. Caicun village is the seaside village closest to the ancient city and also the distribution center for Erhai Lake cruises. Tourists can take a boat at the pier to enjoy the scenery of Erhai Lake. Xizhou is characterized by its folk customs and Bai ethnic residential dwellings. Tourists who come here can drink the Bai ethnic's Three-course Tea and visit the Yanjia Courtyard which best represents the Bai ethnic residences. The Shuanglang Ancient Town on the east bank is renowned for its unrivaled lake views and should not be missed by tourists either.
2.2.3 Climatic Resources
Erhai Lake is situated in a region with a low - latitude plateau monsoon climate and it is featured by below characteristics.
Ample sunlight
It enjoys abundant sunshine, the long hours of sunlight play a significant role in creating a pleasant and bright environment, this allows visitors to have clear views of the beautiful scenery around the lake, such as the shimmering water surface, the surrounding mountains, and the charming islands. The bright sunlight also makes activities like sightseeing, photography, and outdoor adventures more enjoyable.
Distinct dry and wet seasons
There is a clear division between the dry and wet seasons. During the wet season, usually from May to October, the area receives a relatively large amount of precipitation. The rainfall nourishes the land and the vegetation around Erhai Lake, making the natural environment lush and green. Rivers and streams may swell due to the rain, and the lake's water level may also rise slightly. In contrast, the dry season, from November to April, is characterized by less rainfall. The sky is often clear and blue during this period, providing ideal conditions for outdoor activities such as cycling along the lakeside and hiking in the nearby mountains.
Mild climate throughout the year
The four seasons around Erhai Lake are relatively mild. The average temperature in summer rarely reaches extremely high levels, and the winters are not overly cold. In summer, the gentle breeze from the lake helps to cool the air, making it a comfortable place for visitors to escape the heat. In winter, the mild climate means that it doesn't experience harsh freezing conditions. This kind of climate is very conducive to the growth of various plants and flowers, so that the lakeside is always filled with colorful and vibrant vegetation, adding to the beauty of the landscape.Therefore, the climate of Erhai Lake makes it suitable for tourism all year around.
2.2.4 Legend About Erhai Lake
Regarding "Erhai Lake Moon", the most widely circulated story is about a princess from the Heavenly Palace descending to the mortal world. Legend has it that there was a princess in the Heavenly Palace who envied the happy and prosperous life on earth. She descended to a fishing village on the shore of Erhai Lake and married a fisherman. In order to help the fishermen live a rich life, the princess sank her precious mirror to the bottom of the sea, which clearly illuminated the schools of fish, allowing the fishermen to catch more fish. From then on, the precious mirror turned into a golden moon at the bottom of the sea, shining brightly and illuminating generations of fishermen. Thus, it became the "Erhai Lake Moon" for people to admire.
On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month every year, the Bai ethnic group living by Erhai Lake would row their wooden boats into the lake to appreciate the golden moon reflected in the water. The sky light, clouds, moon, and seawater blend together, forming a beautiful picture.
2.2.5 Culture Activities
2.2.5.1 Sea-Opening ceremony 开海节
The Sea-Opening ceremony in Erhai Lake is a traditional festival in the areas around Erhai Lake in Dali. The practice of starting sea fishing in July and August each year has been a tradition of the people in the areas around Erhai Lake in Dali for thousands of years. With the fishing culture of Dali as the main theme, it showcases the traditional sea-opening sacrificial activities, fishing and hunting methods, fish-eating culture of the Bai ethnic group in Dali as well as the ancient customs and features of the Bai ethnic fishing villages in Shuanglang, which have a history of more than 4,000 years. During the Sea-Opening Festival, the Bai ethnic fishermen living by Erhai Lake offer sacrifices to the Sea God in the traditional way and celebrate the festival by using traditional fishing methods such as fishing with cormorants, casting nets and pulling large nets.
2.2.5.2 Shuaihai Festival 耍海会
The Shuaihai Festival is popular in the lakeside villages on the west bank of Erhai Lake and it is also a traditional festival of the local Bai people. The festival period lasts for one month, spanning from the 23rd day of the seventh lunar month to the 23rd day of the eighth lunar month. The largest-scale one is the Shuaihai Festival in Caicun village. On that day, many surrounding villagers will gather their decorated boats in the waters near Caicun village for big feasts, music festival from traditional Chinese instruments, as well as exciting boat races with sails unfurled. The boats stretch for over ten li (a traditional Chinese unit of length, about half a kilometer), ten li is equivalent to 5 kilometres, and there are more than ten thousand spectators accumulate here for watching that big festival, it is indeed very spectacular and worth visiting for the travelers.
3. How To Get To Erhai
The following methods are the transportation options available for tourists to get to Erhai Lake.
Bus: There are several bus routes in Dali Ancient City that lead directly to Erhai Lake, the most convenient one is Bus No. 2, tourists can take it from Dali Ancient City directly to Caicun Pier, and then take a cruise to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Erhai Lake. In addition, there is also the Haidong Special Line Bus, which departs from Dali Railway Station to arrives at Erhai Lake Park.
Taxi: It is a convenient way to take visitors directly from Dali Ancient City to the Scenic Area of Erhai Lake, and the fare depends on the distance and the type of vehicles.
Bicycles: There are many rental places for bicycles, electric scooters and cars in Dali Ancient City, visitors can choose the appropriate means of transportation according to their needs.
Chartered Cars: This is a common choice among tourists, they can negotiate the price with the drivers based on their own travel arrangements. The price of chartered cars varies depending on the type of vehicles and the travel time.
From Dali Railway Station to Erhai Lake: Tourists can take a taxi from railway station to the Passenger Transport Station at first, which takes approximately 20 minutes and costs about 20 yuan, and then they can buy the tickets from the Passenger Transport Station to arrive Erhai Lake, it only costs 16 yuan, but the waiting time is a little longer, it is approximately 40 minutes.
Erhai Lake Location: Northwestern part of Dali City, Yunnan Province
Recommended Duration: Half-day to one day
Opening Hours: All day
Ticket Price: 30 yuan
Popular Ways to Explore: Boat cruises, cycling, public transportation, hiking
4. Highlights Of Erhai Lake
4.1 Nanzhao Folk Island 南诏风情岛
As one of the three islands in Erhai Lake, Nanzhao Fengqing Island is situated in the prime area of Erhai Scenic Spot - within Shuanglang Township at the southeastern end of Eryuan County. Surrounded by water on all sides, the island lies adjacent to the famous Buddhist sacred site, Jizu Mountain in the east, connects to Shibaoshan Mountain in the north, links to Dali in the south and faces Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake in the west. Thanks to its unique and advantaged tourism resources, it has long been reputed that "the scenery of Dali lies in Cangshan and Erhai, and the scenery of Cangshan and Erhai lies in Shuanglang".
The green plants and flowers on the island are so captivating that tourists are very reluctant to leave. Once visitors come here, they especially want to slow down and experience this laid-back life. With such picturesque scenery and a pleasant temperature, tourists seem to suddenly step into spring, so it is highly suitable for long-term resident and traveling.
4.2 Jin Suo Island 金梭岛
Jinsuo Island is the largest island in Erhai Lake, just like a gem. It is said that the shape of this island resembles a shuttle used for weaving, so it is named Jinsuo Island. "The winged stone in the sky just like a golden shuttle, wanting to weave waves on the silver Cangshan waters." Jinsuo Island lies horizontally in Erhai Lake like a piece of jade. Once upon a time, it was the summer palace of the king of Nanzhao, but now it is a fishing village and there are many small shops on the island selling fishery products from Erhai Lake. If tourists are interested in the fishery products, they might go to the island to have a taste.
Since Jinsuo Island is located in Erhai Lake, it can also be said to be the only place where one can enjoy a panorama of its beautiful scenery. Standing on the island, the landscapes of the east and west sides of the lake can be seen thoroughly. It is worth mentioning that there is a Dragon Palace on the island, which is actually a karst cave, adding the stalactites in the cave with various shapes, thus it is also a place worth visiting on the island.
4.3 Shuanglang Town 双廊古镇
Shuanglang Ancient Town is like a paradise lost by the side of Erhai Lake, it is quieter than Lijiang, every tourist who has been there will love it, it is backed by Cangshan Mountain and faces Erhai Lake. When tourists stroll around the small village and immerse themselves in the fishing fields, they will exclaim that life can be so wonderful. Shuanglang is also known as "the First Town of Erhai Scenic Spot". To get to Shuanglang, visitors usually need to go to Dali or Xiaguan at first and then take a vehicle to Shuanglang Ancient Town, it usually takes about one hour.
Shuanglang Ancient Town is nestled by mountains and water with enchanting natural scenery, the blue waves of Erhai Lake are rippling, the distant mountains are as beautiful as a painting in shades of green and black, Jinsuo Island and Yuji Island are just like a pair of mandarin ducks floating in Erhai Lake, presenting a scene of great beauty. The sunrise in the morning and the starry sky at night are even more fascinating and make people linger. Furthermore, there are also ecological resources such as wetland areas on the west side of the lake and sandbars around the ancient town to make it an ideal place for recreational activities and leisure vacation.
4.4 Xizhou Ancient Town 喜洲古镇
Xizhou, as a thousand-year-old ancient town of the Bai ethnic group, it has the largest and most classic cluster of Bai ethnic courtyards as well as the most original and pure Bai ethnic cultural customs in Dali. Compared with Dali Ancient City, Xizhou can better represent the Bai ethnic culture for its stunning ancient buildings. Actually, this profound sense of history enables more and more outsiders and tourists to choose to live in Xizhou. Walking into the alleys of Xizhou and stepping on the flagstone paths, it seems that one can still hear the voices of history.
Xizhou can be regarded as a living fossil of Bai ethnic dwellings. Once it was a gathering place for wealthy merchants in Dali, they created great glories and thrived here. But currently, when the merchant group has left, leaving behind many time-honored Bai ethnic residence with the most characteristic architectural styles of "Three Rooms with One Screen Wall" and "Four Houses with Five Courtyards", they are very eye-catching and worth for a visit.
Tourists can spend half a day or a day to savor slowly, and then they can rent a bicycle or an electric scooter to wander around the periphery of the ancient town and discover the different beautiful views of Xizhou in this way.
Transportation: There are some buses going to Xizhou Ancient Town from Dali Ancient City, if visitors are closer to the East Gate, they can take the bus to Xizhou Ancient Town which is opposite the Feng Hua Xue Yue Grand Hotel(风花雪月大酒店). Generally, the fare is 7 - 15 yuan per person.
4.5 Haishe Park 喜洲海舌公园
Haishe Park is a long sandbar surrounded by water on three sides and a small ecological park by Erhai Lake. Along the shore, green willows form a pleasant shade, and the scenery on both sides is different. On one side, waves are crashing against the shore, while on the other side, the water is rippling gently, the scenery is picturesque throughout the year, which makes it a good place for tourists to appreciate the stunning view of Erhai Lake. In addition, the scenery on the peninsula is in its original state, so tourists can see large areas of trees and long wormwood, plus the crystal-clear water, it is very suitable for them to take some photographs.
4.6 Zhoucheng 周城
Once visitors step in here, they will always be able to feel a dynamic charm that combines delicacy and wisdom, as well as a heart - rending simplicity and sturdiness floating in the air. Everywhere they look, there are blue and white dyed cloths. Flagstone paths stretch outside of each house and flowing water runs by every doorway, this is Zhoucheng in Dali, which is honored as the "Hometown of Bai Ethnic Dyeing".
Considered as the largest Bai ethnic village and town in Dali, the dyed patterned cloths and embroideries in Zhoucheng are crafted with great precision and are sold far at home and abroad, thus earning the reputation of the "Dyeing Hometown". Tourists can visit Bai ethnic dwellings, markets, and study the production process of Bai ethnic dyeing. Meanwhile, they can also purchase Bai ethnic folk handicrafts, if lucky enough, they may even participate in Bai ethnic weddings and taste Bai ethnic - flavored foods, interacting with the local life will surely bring them very meaningful experiences and unforgettable memories in their life.
4.7 Erhai Lake Park 洱海公园
Erhai Lake Park is a park sited at the southern end of Erhai Lake in Dali City, Yunnan Province, it is also the first stop for tourists visiting the Erhai Lake.
It consists of parts such as the Long Corridor of Haixin Pavilion, the swimming pool, the Long Corridor of Wanghailou (Sea-Viewing Tower), the zoo, the botanical garden, the flower bed, the fishing platform, and the amusement park, visitors will be marvel at appreciating all of them.
4.8 Small Putuo Island 小普陀岛
Little Putuo is a small island, because its shape looks like a round seal, it is also known as the sea seal, it is said that the little Putuo Island made of limestone is more than 200 meters in circumference, it is located on the sea tourist line from Xiaguan to Shuangang and Butterfly Spring. The pavilion on the island was built in the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in 1982. As the pavilion-style of two-story building, with the first floor offering sacrifices to the Tathagata and the second floor offering sacrifices to the Goddess of Mercy. According to legend, when the Goddess of Mercy opened the Dali Dam, she dropped a big seal to the sea, this big seal is an island to protect fishermen, as a result of this, the fishermen built this pavilion to commemorate the Goddess of Mercy.
5. Recommended Ways To Travel Erhai Lake
5.1 Erhai Lake Cruise- Relax Way To Enjoy Erhai Lake
The main routes of Erhai lake cruise include long line tour and short line tour.
Type One: Erhai Lake Long Cruise
Erhai Panoramic Cruise: This route starts from Dali Port, passes by Small Putuo, Nanzhao Style Island, Butterfly Spring Pier, and finally arrives at Longkan Pier of Dali Ancient City, it is suitable for tourists with more time to fully appreciate the scenery along the way.
Big Cruise Panoramic Tour: It starts from Dragon Shrine Pier in Dali Ancient City, passes by Xiao Putuo, Nanzhao Style Island, Butterfly Spring Pier, and finally returns to Dragon Shrine Pier of Dali Ancient City, it is appropriate for tourists who live near the ancient city.
Short Tour (eco-tour)
Erhai Ecological Tour: It starts from Dali Ancient City and passes by Luoquan Peninsula, finally returns to Dali Ancient City, it fits for tourists with a tight schedule to experience the ecological beauty of Erhai Lake.
In addition, the Erhai cruise project has large luxury catamaran cruise ships like Dujuan, Cangshan, Dayun, Erhai No. 1 and Erhai No. 2, with rated passenger capacity ranging from 400 to 950 people. The cruise ship is equipped with KTV rooms, ethnic song and dance performance hall, commodity department, five golden flower photography departments together with other multi-functional facilities, and the most distinctive program is three-tea song and dance performance of the Bai ethnic group, visitors can enjoy its unique ethnic style and enchanting atmosphere. It starts from the Dali Port Pier, passes through the Luo Tsuen Peninsula and returns to the Dali Port Pier, a route matches those who want to experience high-speed yachting.
5.2 Cycle Around Erhai Lake
Classic cycling route of Erhai Lake
Round cycling: This is the most classical route with the whole length for 128 kilometres and it takes about 2 to 3 days, it passes by the places like Dali Ancient City, Xi Zhou, Shaping, Jiangwei, Double corridor, Dig, small Putuo, Luoquan Temple, Haidong, Xiaguan and other places, the route is so breath-taking that visitors can enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Erhai lake and the customs of the Bai nationality.
West Huanhai Road: It starts from Dali Ancient City, passes through Xi Zhou, Haiji Park and other scenic spots, and finally returns to Dali Ancient City. The route is about 40 km and suitable for leisurely cycling of one day.
Huanhai East Road: It starts from Dali Ancient City, visitors can ride along Dali Line to Shuanglang, pass the scenic area such as Wase and Xiao Putuo, and eventually return to Dali Ancient City. This route is about 70 kilometres with good road conditions and beautiful scenery.
Specific route planning
One Day Tour: It starts from Dali Ancient Town, passes Xizhou Ancient Town, Haiji Park, Shuanglang Ancient Town, Wase Town, Longkan Wharf, and returns to Dali Ancient Town in the evening, this route is suitable for travelers with limited time to appreciate the views in key areas.
Two Day Tour: On the first day, visitors may leave Dali Ancient City, pass Longkan Ancient River, Caicun village, Xiajiyi, Majiu Yi and other places. At night, they can stay in Xizhou Ancient Town or Shuanglang. The next day, travelers continue the east route around the sea and then pass through Zhoucheng, Xiaoputuo, Xiaguan and other places, finally return to the ancient city of Dali.
6. Best Time To Go
The best time to visit Erhai Lake is spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) . There is a pleasant climate with good views of clear blue sky and calm lakes, thus it is very perfect for taking photography and outdoor activities. In spring, Erhai Lake flowers are in full bloom, plus the climate is very warm, which makes it very suitable for walking and cycling; In the autumn, it is very cool and the lake is as calm as a mirror, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds associated with the beautiful scenery of Cangshan mountain. Hence, tourists can relish the magnificent landscapes of Erhai Lake in the two seasons.
In addition, summer (June to August), although the temperature is higher, it is also the tourist season, travelers can experience the lively nightlife. In winter (December to February), the temperature is low, but visitors can see flocks of seagulls flying in the Erhai Lake, thus adding a lot of vitality and fun to their journey.
7. How To Plan A Dali Erhai Lake Tour
I recommend chartered or rental car from Dali Ancient City, visitors can travel clockwise from Longkan Pier, Cai Village, Langqiao, Fanxi S Bay, Xizhou Ancient Town, Shuanglang Ancient Town, Luwoshan Mountain, Xiaoputuo and Xingsheng Bridge. There is no turning back throughout the route and each attraction has its own unique scenery. Actually, tourists can also take the following route arrangements to enjoy the beautiful scenery of different areas of Erhai Lake.
Day 1: Xi Zhou+ West Coast Region
The itinerary is recommended to start from Dali ancient city, the morning itinerary starts from Longkan, and then visitors can walk along the route of Caicun-Xiajiyi-Majiuyi, lunch can be solved near Majiuyi. The afternoon trip starts from Majiuyi, the itinerary is Majiuyi - Fumeiyi - Panxi - Gusheng - Haishe - Shacun - Xizhou, it is the excellent scenery of the West Coast area, after the trip, visitors can have dinner in Xizhou. It is about 20 kilometers of travel distance and the time will not be too rushed.
Day 2: Zhoucheng + East Coast Region
The morning trip can be arranged to Zhoucheng for a tie-dye at first, and then visitors can have the lunch in Zhoucheng, there are a lot of Bai restaurants there. In the afternoon, travelers can charter a car to visit East Coast area.
The recommended itinerary: Jiangwei - Hongshan Temple - Lu Wo Mountain- Little Putuo - Wenbi Village - Kinso Island - Xiaguan. After finishing the tour in Xiaguan, visitors can leave Dali by train or bus in Xiaguan, or they can also go to the Dali ancient city from Xiaguan to stay and continue their journey in Dali.
8. Useful Erhai Lake Photography Tips
The following scenic spots are the best sunrise and sunset photo spots of Erhai Lake, tourists who like to take pictures can leave wonderful memories in their lives.
Sunrise viewing point
Longkan wharf: This is a popular spot for viewing the sunrise of Erhai Lake, which starts around 8 am, there is a water metasequoia near the pier, which is very amazing for taking photos. In addition, the seagulls may come one after another around 7:30, visitors can also take pictures of feeding the seagulls .
Nanyang Xi: It is the best place to watch the sunrise in the city and it is also the starting point of the ecological corridor.
Xiajyi: It is located on the left side of the village committee, very quiet and less crowded, therefore making it a good spot for tourists to watch the sunrise .
Sunset viewing point
Shuanglang: The sunset time is about 6:30 pm in the evening and visitors can capture the eye-catching scenery at this special moment.
Wase Pier and Lueshan Ruins: These two locations are not far from each other, which is suitable for photographing the beautiful scenery.
These locations are not only beautiful, but also provide rich backgrounds and unique landscapes for photographers with different needs, so they are very worth visiting.
9. Nearby Attractions
Ancient City of Dali
Dali Ancient City, also known as Ye Yu City and Purple City, is located in the west of Yunnan Province. The ancient city was founded in the 15th year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1382), covering an area of 3 square kilometers. Dali Ancient City is the political, economic and cultural center of Yunnan in the history of more than 500 years in the Tang and Song dynasties. It is the core area of Dali tourism, which has Dali Ancient City scenic spot and is also a key national tourist attraction.
Butterfly Spring
It is sited in Dali City, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, it covers an area of 210,100 square meters. Butterfly Spring is a square pool, the water in the pool is crystal-clear and the bottom of the spring is covered with pebbles, visitors can watch the water gushing from the white sand, there are the marble balustrades laid around it. The famous landscapes of Butterfly Spring include butterfly Spring Pool, Lover Lake, Butterfly Museum, Butterfly World, etc .
Three Pagodas
Dali Three pagodas, also renowned as the three pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, is located 1.5 kilometers to the northwest of Dali Ancient City, it is a landmark building of Dali. The three pagodas are composed of one big and two small pagodas, namely the Qianxun Pagoda and the two small north and south pagodas. The surrounding scenery is very gorgeous, which I will present the details in the following articles.
10. What To Eat In Erhai Lake?
There are a lot of specialty cuisines in Erhai Lake, they are divided into fish dishes and special snacks as below.
Fish Dishes
Sour and spicy fish: This is a favorite dish of Dali Bai ethnic group, it combines the taste of sour, sweet and spicy taste experience together. It harnesses the Erhai crucian carp as the main material and then combines with red pepper, green pepper, papaya, bayberry or dark plum and other raw materials together, so as to make the delicious fish meat, therefore giving this dish an endless long aftertaste.
Casserole fish: As the main dish of a Dali banquet, it is made with unique cooking utensils and rich ingredients. You can imagine that when the tender chicken slices, mushrooms and other more than 10 kinds of fresh wax ingredients produced in Erhai are slowly stew together, it is very delicious and rich in nutrition.
Special Snacks
Milk fan: Because its color is milky white with the shape of a fan, so people named it thereafter, the protein molecule of milk deduces a unique flavor between gathering and dispersing, so "milk made into a fan to sell" in Yunnan refers to the milk fan, its milk fragrance will linger on the tip of the tongue and full of sweet fragrance.
Xi Zhou Baba: Its main raw material is flour, which has two flavors--sweet and salty, it is crisp outside and soft inside, so it is favored by a lot of tourists.
Carved plum: It is named for the carved patterns on the green plum fruit. The locals will wash the ripe green plums and use a knife to carve a pattern on the plum meat and squeeze out the plum core, and then they will gently press into the chrysanthemum shape and put into the jar with sugar, honey and other pickled months until the plum cake is golden brown, finally they will take out the food, it is very yummy and sold at home and abroad for many years.
Yongping Braised Chicken: It has the reputation of "the famous dish in Western Yunnan". The selected chicken combines with rich ingredients, which stimulate the warm fragrance in the rapeseed oil. It has a complete combination of color, aroma and taste, making people's mouths watering and it is suitable for people of all ages.
11. Useful Travel Tips
The climate of Erhai Lake is suitable for travel throughout the year, but there are some points that tourists need to pay attention to, which will make their travel experience much better.
Sunscreen measures: There are strong ultraviolet rays in plateau areas, so it is recommended to take sunscreen measures, such as wearing sun-protective clothing, putting on hats and bringing sunscreen.
Transportation: The transportation is not convenient in west coast regions,so it is recommended to rent electric vehicles or bicycles to visit.
Seasonal Weather: It is hot and rainy in summer, so visitors need to pay attention to the weather forecast for travel in advance.
