Rice with 2 dishes for lunch (17Yuan~USD$2.5)

Took the 12.15pm bus towards Lijiang (40Yuan~USD$6) which is around 180km away.

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Lijiang is populated by many Naxi people which is a different ethnicity from Han Chinese. Naxi people has a strong matriarchal influence and Naxi women work harder too. Lijiang old town has a history of over 800 years since the Song dynasty.

Arrived Lijiang at around 4pm. Took a taxi with 3 other travelers to K2 hostel (30Yuan~USD$4)

which is located at ShuHe, around 5km away from the old town of Lijiang.

ShuHe old town

Lijiang is a bigger town than Dali. Lijiang is famous for LaPaiGu hot pot (80Yuan for 4 person), the hot pot has pork ribs and eat with vegetables.

Took a bus to Lijiang old town. Lijiang old town is a maze of cobbled street with many old buildings as well as stream flowing through the city. The city has 800 years of history since the Tang dynasty.

Symbol of Lijiang

Lijiang is more touristy than Dali and has a lot of tourist.

Women in traditional dress kniting

DongBa writing which use pictures and symbols to represent words.

There are many souvenir shops selling goods for tourist at every corner of the old town. Lijiang old town has become a touristy place.

Took bus 146 to the west bus station

and got on the 10.15am bus to Dali (100 Yuan~USD$14.5).

It’s around 380km to Dali.

View on the way

Passed by a wind farm.

Dali is located at an elevation of 1800m above sea level. There are many Bai people here and on the way passed by houses with Bai architecture.

Got to Dali at around 3pm. Dali has a new town and an old town. The bus dropped me at the new town which is called XiaGuan. Got on another bus (3Yuan~USD$0.5)

to Dali old town which is 13km away.

Stayed at Four Season Hostel (20 Yuan~USD$3)

which has a good location. The hostel is just right next to RenMin street, a popular street in Dali. There are other hostels with better reviews but those are located further west to the town.

Dali old town

Rented a bicycle for 2.5 hours (5Yuan~USD$0.7).

New part of Dali

3 pagoda

Did some biking around Dali. Towards ErHai.

Erhai Lake

Back to Dali old town

A church

Dali old town is still surrounded by an old wall

Dali is just located right at the foot of the mountain and the wind can get very strong. I tried to cycle to the 3 Pagodas but decided not to because it’s too windy.

Noodles for dinner (4Yuan~USD$0.6)