Duration: about 3 hours
Start: Dali
The Cycling Erhai Lake tour hits good roads and sometimes half-paved roads. You will cycle through villages and between the (rice) fields.
Itinerary
Your bicycle ride Cycling Erhai Lake takes about 3 hours. There are many opportunities to make the most beautiful photos.
We visit the colorful minority morning market in Xizhuo, after which we walk through the small town and visit some old Bai minority courtyard houses. On our way back to Dali, we visit some temples. Especially one of them you shouldn't miss; it is a very old fishermen temple - or you could call it the local meeting place for the elderly - where mainly old fishermen hang out. They play mahjong, chat, and smoke at 'the attic' of the temple. They welcome visitors to play along, chat along and smoke along.
I say: take your time!
Start and End Cycling Erhai Lake excursion
The best point to start this Cycling Erhai Lake excursion is in Dali. We meet each other after breakfast at your hotel.
We rent the best bikes in the bicycle store before we are heading to Xizhuo north of Erhai Lake.
Before dark sets in, you will be back in your accommodation in Dali and your Cycling Erhai Lake tour ends.
Tips, remarks, and ideas
- We won't cycle the same way back to Dali.
- Xizhou is located between the Cangshan Mountains and the Erhai Lake.
- It's possible to rent a boat to sail to Jinsuo island in the Erhai Lake. In that case, we take the bikes on the boat and after landing in a village bike back to Dali.
- It's also possible to stay in "Dali Garden Bed & Breakfast" 15 km north of Dali Old Town near Xizhuo. It's located in a farmer's village among traditional houses. Although not in Dali's center, it offers great opportunities to bike and to do some walking, and at the same time, see things and have a really good time. The owners of the Bed & Breakfast know how to pamper Westerners.