Our guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel around Dali Ancient Town, the heartland of the prosperous Bai people, with their colourful costumes and traditional lifestyle. When we picture ancient China, Dali is the image that appears in our imagination, wooden houses with ornate eaves and stone streets, well-worn over centuries of use. Dali has long been a melting pot for different cultures, and you will see the Bai people as well as the Yi and the Hui going about their daily business in their traditional garb. Dali is known for her relaxed atmosphere, and is a great town to stroll around. Have a drink in one of the many cosy little bars or warmly decorated coffee shops, or walk around its lively main streets where local artists sell all kinds of beautiful handicrafts.

Transfer to Xizhou, just 19 kilometres north of Dali Old Town. Here we will visit the morning market, where locals dressed in traditional minority clothing sell and buy local fruits, freshly cut meat, piles of fragrant spices, livestock and anything else you can think of. You can visit a traditional Three Course Tea ceremony and an exquisite example of traditional Bai-style courtyard homes.

Then visit Zhoucheng Village, the largest Bai village in the region, famous for its tie-dyeing traditions. Stroll through the village streets and witness local artisans crafting batik fabrics and mastering intricate tie-dye techniques. You’ll have the chance to visit a workshop where you can observe the entire tie-dye process, from dyeing to drying.

Enjoy a short boat trip on Lake Erhai to Tianjingge Island and enjoy the majestic views of the green and clouded Cangshan Mountain Range looming over Dali’s lands from far while swarms of birds fly peacefully around you over the tranquil lake.