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Dali's creative pulse is felt in its streets — in the murals near Dali Old Town and Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, in the galleries tucked into neighborhoods that most visitors pass without noticing. Walking is the only way to find them. Look for Xizhou — a creative corner that guidebooks consistently overlook.
Dali is a picturesque ancient town in Yunnan surrounded by mountains and a vast lake, where Bai minority culture, backpacker charm, and dramatic natural scenery create one of China's most beloved walking destinations.
Roamee Pro, also known as Roamee, offers a free self-guided music & arts tour route in Dali. The audio walking tour can include stops such as Dali Old Town — a walled town at the foot of the Cangshan Mountains with stone lanes, Bai-minority architecture, tie-dye workshops, and views over Erhai Lake, Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple — three 9th-century Tang Dynasty pagodas rising against the Cangshan mountain backdrop, the tallest standing 69 meters, Dali's most iconic landmark, Erhai Lake — a crescent-shaped alpine lake where Bai fishing villages dot the shoreline, explored by bicycle or traditional wooden boats, plus hidden gems like Xizhou — a Bai minority town on Erhai Lake with ornate traditional courtyard houses, morning markets, and the region's best baba flatbread and Shaxi Ancient Town — a beautifully preserved Tea Horse Road market town about 120 kilometers north, with a restored theater, temple, and Friday market.
Use this page as a starting point for a Dali walking tour, a free self-guided route, or the Roamee app for Dali. Roamee Pro keeps the route flexible so you can follow the stops, skip ahead, or explore nearby streets at your own pace.
Dali is known for nature and culture, but creativity is woven into every corner. Street art appears visible around Dali Old Town and Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, music drifts from doorways in neighborhoods off the main tourist path. Lesser-known creative pockets like Xizhou reward those who walk slowly enough to notice.
The Old Town is compact and walkable, but the best experiences are outside the walls — rent a bicycle or e-bike to explore Erhai Lake's shore and surrounding villages.
March through May for spring flowers and the Third Month Fair festival, or September through November for clear skies and comfortable temperatures.
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