[2025 Dali Attraction] Travel Guide for Longkan Ancient Ferry (Updated Apr)

| Sharing the most romantic Erhai Lake with you. I'm back in Dali after three months to see the sea~ Erhai Lake is not a sea, but it has the romance of the sea. 💕 Location: Longkan Ancient Ferry. The beautiful scenery of the sea and sky is fully displayed here~ The weather in Dali is really cute! It was cloudy during the day, but the sun came out for five minutes when I was taking pictures!! It must be welcoming me, an old friend! When I came here three months ago, it was still withered wood. At the end of June, it was already rejuvenated, but the cute seagulls were gone. 🦅 Taking photos and walking along the sea, there are also street singers singing This is why I love Erhai Lake ❤️

The Erhai Lake cycling loop is approximately 120 km long and is divided into the east route (lakeside and mountain scenery) and the west route (pastoral scenery). You can choose your cycling route based on your physical strength and time. East Route: Shuanglang → Wase → Xiaoputu → Wenbi Village West Route: Xingsheng Bridge → Longkan → Xizhou Ancient Town → Xizhou Full Cycling Route (Challenging Route): Around Erhai Lake (about 120 km, requires 1-2 days, clockwise cycling is recommended) 🌅 Erhai East Route 1️⃣ Haidong Wenbi Village (Erhai's hidden gem, romantic Erhai) Location: Haidong Town, more convenient from Shuanglang
🌟 Features: A lesser-known village on the east bank of Erhai Lake, with wide open lake views. The small village on the hillside has many "cliffside guesthouses" that are worth staying in. 2️⃣ Wase Town (pastoral lake scenery) Location: Haidong
🌟 Features: Beautiful sunset views. 3️⃣ Xiaoputu (Pearl of Erhai) Location: Near Wase Town
🌟 Features: A small island in the center of the lake with an ancient temple, surrounded by clear water. 4️⃣ Shuanglang Ancient Town (Erhai's most famous town) Location: About 50 km from Dali Ancient City
🌟 Features: Lakeside guesthouses, trendy cafes, and restaurants with lake views. You can spend more time here, or stay overnight. There are many delicious restaurants. 🌿 Erhai West Route (pastoral scenery + ecological wetlands) 5️⃣ Longkan Ancient Ferry (excellent sunrise views) Location: 5 km east of Dali Ancient City
🌟 Features: Excellent sunrise views, many metasequoia trees along the shore. The metasequoia trees turn red in winter and are very beautiful. There are many seagulls in winter. 6️⃣ Xingsheng Bridge (popular bridge) Location: Near Dali city
🌟 Features: The most European-like place in Dali. The bridge is very distinctive, especially in winter when flocks of seagulls gather, making it a super popular photo spot. 7️⃣ Xizhou Ancient Town (Bai ethnic style ancient town) Location: About 20 km from Dali Ancient City
🌟 Features: Ancient and charming Bai ethnic houses, a bustling Sifang Street, and the opportunity to taste Xizhou Baba. The popular wheat fields are also here. You can stay in Xizhou Ancient Town, which is very atmospheric in the evening and early morning when there are fewer people. 8️⃣ Haishe Ecological Park (a hidden gem surrounded by water on three sides) Location: Near Xizhou Ancient Town
🌟 Features: A small peninsula extending into Erhai Lake, with a winding shoreline. It's very quiet and suitable for taking photos. 🚲 Cycling Tips ✅ Cycling Time: * Best season: Spring and autumn are suitable for cycling, avoid the scorching summer sun and strong winter winds. * Cycling suggestions: Cycle in the morning or afternoon, avoiding the strong midday sun.

Longkan Ancient Ferry is located on the west bank of Erhai Lake. It was built in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties and was originally named Lijia Village. When the Nanzhao Palace was usurped by powerful officials, the old emperor secretly ordered his confidants to hide Shilong in Lijiazhuang. Many years later, Shilong succeeded to the throne. In order to repay the villagers of Lijiazhuang for their upbringing, he issued an imperial decree to name this place Longkan, which means a shrine for enshrining dragons. ‌ The Metasequoia forests surrounding Longkan Ancient Ferry are lush and green in spring and summer, and gradually turn red in autumn and winter. At sunrise and sunset, the blue sky, clear water and Metasequoia forest complement each other beautifully. This place has strong Bai ethnic characteristics and profound historical and cultural heritage. Whether it is stormy or sunny, this place always presents the beautiful scenery of peace and tranquility.

- I have always been obsessed with the big idea. It is difficult to take a long vacation during normal days, and I don’t like the crowded crowds during holidays. So I simply took a 2-day leave before the holiday and made sure to take an extreme special forces trip to fulfill my wish. - Day 1: Chengdu-Xichang, stay at a hotel in Qionghai, Xichang. The hotel is only a 2-minute walk from the popular spot of Qionghai Scenic Area (Diaoyutai), which is very convenient for sightseeing. The next day: Xichang-Dali, set off at 5 am, the tram was charged twice and the journey took nearly 8 hours, and we arrived at Xindi around 1 am. We also went to Langqiao and Shenjiang Village, mainly playing in the Haixi area. (The weather forecast said it would rain on the third day) Day 3: Dali-Xichang, it rained and the temperature dropped by 10 degrees. In the morning, I went to Longkan Ancient Ferry, drank warm Yunnan mushroom soup, and went to the vegetable market to buy delicious strawberries to go to Xichang. (If you have enough time, you can go to Haidong area) Day 4: Xichang-Leshan, sleep until you wake up naturally in the morning, spend the morning eating and drinking, have a bowl of local Xiong's fresh beef and mutton offal noodles, drink Black Swan Cafe Black Swan Coffee at Qionghai Beach and bask in the sun, and then set off to Leshan for the New Year in the afternoon~ - High-intensity driving time, driving alone the whole way🚗, once again refreshed my endurance, witnessing a saying: everything depends on human efforts, as long as you want, there is nothing you can't do👏.

Dali Ecological Corridor Cycling Guide After the construction of the ecological corridor in Dali, cycling along the Erhai Lake section of Longkan Wharf has become more enjoyable. You can rent a bicycle by the Erhai Lake and ride along the ecological corridor. Cycling Route: From Longkan Wharf to Haitong Park, you can watch the sunrise. If you only go to the popular bend, you can ride a bicycle, costing around 20 yuan. To visit Xizhou Ancient Town, it is recommended to use an electric scooter, costing around 40 yuan and taking about half a day. Attractions Recommended: Longkan Wharf, Caicun, Panxi S Bend, Corridor Bridge, Xizhou Ancient Town Season: Autumn is the best season for cycling, with blue sea water and redwoods. In early winter, there are seagulls.

In the early spring, the redwoods by the Erhai Lake are so beautiful that people can't help but exclaim. The sun is warm, the seagulls are fluttering, and the Erhai Lake looks like an oil painting under the blue sky and warm orange light. I have had the privilege of visiting Dali many times and have accumulated a wealth of experience. I have compiled 5 must-visit photo spots for everyone: 1️⃣ Longkan Wharf 🚗 Navigation: Longkan Ancient Ferry Despite its popularity, it has to be said that this is definitely one of the most beautiful wharfs in Dali. The redwoods are mainly distributed on both sides of the Wind Flower Snow Moon Square. Many people choose to shoot the scenery facing the left side of Erhai Lake, but don't forget that there are also many redwoods and seagulls on the right side. The afternoon sun shines particularly charming, and the right side is more suitable for watching the sunrise! 2️⃣ Xia Bo Peng 🚗 Navigation: Xia Bo Peng Village Compared with Longkan, there are fewer people here, but the scenery is equally charming! The towering redwoods on both sides are fascinating, and there is also a dead tree lying alone by the Erhai Lake, exuding a unique atmosphere. 3️⃣ Covered Bridge 🚗 Navigation: Home Coffee Even if it's relatively far away, I always want to go and see it every time I come to Dali. The recent covered bridges are full of redwoods, golden fallen leaves and green trees, rich in color, like an oil painting. The photo spots worth paying special attention to are the bridge hole of the covered bridge and a single large tree. 4️⃣ S Bay 🚗 Navigation: Panxi Village S Bay After reaching the edge of Erhai Lake, if you walk towards the covered bridge, you will pass a water forest. A little further ahead, you can see several tall redwoods, and a casual shot will present strong colors. 5️⃣ Chongyi Village 🚗 Navigation: Full Moon West Building There are many and dense redwoods here, and walking along the wooden plank road is like being in an oil painting. 📸 Photo tips: ✔️ After personal investigation, it is concluded that the light is best before 4 pm. When the sun is in the west, the light will be softer. After 4 pm, the sun angle is too low, there are too many shadows, which is not conducive to shooting. ✔️ S Bay and Longkan are the places with the most seagulls. ✔️ On the way from the covered bridge to S Bay, there are several redwood spots that are rarely visited by people, which are especially suitable for cyclists to explore.

🌟Highlights: Looking out from the window of the room, you can see the peak of Cangshan Mountain, with clouds and mist, as if you are in a fairyland. Here, you can enjoy the leisure time, away from the hustle and bustle of the city and pressure. Next to the homestay, there is a field, a piece of grass, a few trees, and looking far away is Cangshan. Trees, grass, white walls, green mountains, under the sunshine, it seems to have come to the oil painting. 🏨Hotel environment: The homestay is surrounded by mountains and water, surrounded by dense bamboo forests and fragmented flowers and plants. As soon as you arrive at the homestay, you will be greeted by the fresh and pleasant fragrance of flowers, as if you are in a paradise. There is no hustle and bustle here, only the leisure and tranquility of nature. ✅Must experience: Take photos with the surrounding paddy fields, recommend romantic and retro, fresh and fresh You can take a photo with Erhai Lake, and the seagulls will gradually migrate here in late October 🚉Traffic strategy: About 20km from Dali Station, about 40 minutes by car ⛰Attractions strategy ❤Erhai Ecological Corridor The view is wide, you can see Erhai Lake at close range, watch the sunrise in the morning, and it is suitable for cycling in the morning and evening About 300m, about 4 minutes walk ❤Dali Ancient City 3.5km away, about 15 minutes by car ❤Longkan Ancient Ferry Redwoods and seagulls, the best place to watch the sunrise 1.5 kilometers away, about 12 minutes by car

Attention if you are going to Longkan Wharf in Dali! Strategy Today I planned to go to Longkan Wharf in the ancient city to watch the sunrise, but I almost missed it! I have summarized some pitfalls that you may encounter. You can learn from them if you need them. In winter, the sunrise is around 8 o'clock, and the sun rises at Longkan Ancient Ferry at about 8:15. If you depart from the ancient city and want to arrive on time, you have to start taking a taxi at least at 7 o'clock. (You have to queue up for Didi!) The place to watch the sunrise is at "Longkan Ancient Ferry"!! Take a taxi and locate "Sunshine Convenience Store" (thanks for the addition). If we reach Longkan Wharf, we still have to walk a long way. If you don’t want to walk, you can also ride a bike or take a small yellow car (see Figure 9). Remember to take a taxi in advance when you return to the ancient city after watching the sunrise!! The scenery is really beautiful! There are so many seagulls! With the sunrise, the sea and the cedar trees, it is a whole romantic! But there are so many people! If you want to grab a good seat, you have to go early~ It is best to take portraits in the blue moments before the sun rises. After the sun rises, there will be backlight. You can bring a reflector or use a flash. You can also take photos from a light-filled angle, with the face bright enough and the blue Erhai Lake in the background. Taking photos will be awkward, bring a bunch of flowers to take photos to make them more beautiful~ If you want to take photos with fewer people, you can also consider going to Caicun Pier. The sunrise in Dali is so beautiful. In the morning, the sun and the moon shine together, with the moon on Cangshan Mountain and the sun on Erhai Lake. I hope everyone can experience these wonderful moments when traveling~

Snow on Cang Mountain, moon over Erhai Lake. Paired with the warm winter sun in Dali. Time flows quietly like this. The sunrise at Longkan Wharf this season is really beautiful, The sun rises from the mountains, the sunlight shines on the surface of Erhai Lake, the gentle sound of the waves, washing the rocks on the shore, Rows of Metasequoia trees in the water, shining under the sunrise, red-billed gulls flying all over the sky, their pleasant calls, The picture of people blending with nature and beautiful scenery is really healing. The best shooting period for Metasequoia at Longkan Wharf Sunrise in the morning, 7:30-8:30 Sunset in the evening, 16:30-17:30 If you can only choose one, it is recommended to come at sunrise. Erhai Longkan Ancient Ferry It takes about 20 minutes to take a taxi from Dali Ancient City The best photography time for sunrise is 7:30-8:30, it is recommended to arrive half an hour in advance. From late November to mid-December, the Metasequoia near the ancient ferry is fiery red, which is the most beautiful autumn color of the year. It is highly recommended to stay near Longkan Wharf, so you can take pictures of the beautiful scenery at sunset and sunrise, and it is very convenient to watch the sunrise in the morning. Recommended viewing locations: Dali Ancient City Cai Village Wharf, Longkan Wharf, Wase Town, Shuanglang Ancient Town, Erhai Park (There are seagulls in crowded places because they all know there is good food Recommended viewing time: 3 pm-6 pm is the best time for light, and the photos are beautiful! After feeding the seagulls, the road back in the sunset is so intoxicating! Travel preparation: 1 Feeding It is recommended to bring some small bread, small biscuits (try to choose foods with less oil. This is better for the health of the seagulls~) After tearing the bread into pieces and throwing it up, they will fly over. ps. If you feed for a long time, it is best to buy food specifically for feeding seagulls in the market. 2 Photography The light is good by the sea, the view is open, and there are a group of cuties around. A general mobile phone camera can produce big shots. ps: Photography enthusiasts can bring a telephoto lens and take a good shot. Keep every touch! 3 Seaview photography suggestions: Mangrove Wetland: Take off your shoes and walk in the water, with trees standing in the water. The internet celebrity photo spot of nature. Coastal plank road: Rent a bicycle or a small electric vehicle in the scenic area and drive on the road. Facing the intoxicating sunset, the free wind. Don't miss it. Rural scenery: You can also shuttle in the fields by the way, and easily take a few shots. Or do nothing, just feel quietly. 4 Precautions: !Friends with children, while playing, must take care of them and not get too close to the water. !Seagulls are gentle, but do not play and make noise to avoid pecking injuries. !I advise you! Sun protection! Hats and sunscreens are very necessary! The wind is strong by the sea, bring an extra windbreaker

For the sunrise of Dali🌅, we must go to early in the morning. Erhai Lake is divided into east and west coasts, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, so the sunrise is watched on the west side . ⏰Arrive at the place you want to go half an hour before sunrise, and then quietly wait for a romantic sunrise. 📍Picture 1⃣️: Navigate to the corridor bridge, here in addition to a broken bridge, the seaside benches, trees🌲 and lawns are all good photo check-in places📷, and because it is fifteen kilometers away from the ancient city, there will be fewer people watching the sunrise early. 📍Picture 2⃣️: Navigate to Longkan Ancient Ferry, which is also a place where almost everyone who comes to Dali will definitely go. This is also the nearest pier⛵️ from the ancient city, so there are the most people watching the sunrise early, but the seagulls are also the most concentrated place. Next month, the seagull army will come here to spend the winter, and the annual seagull season will last until about March next year. 📍Picture 3⃣️: Navigate to Chongyi Village, where there are large areas of Metasequoia forests and a T-shaped plank road, which is also a quieter place to watch the sunrise, and there are also seagulls. 📍Picture 4⃣️: Navigate to Xiabopeng, the dead trees and fishing boats on the seaside, all seem to be telling a story, and the sunset here is also very beautiful. 📍Picture 5⃣️: Navigate to Sansheng Island, where there is a coffee shop☕️Xindi Coffee, which is probably the earliest operating coffee shop in Dali.

"Longkan" is the village name bestowed by the emperor, meaning the place where dragons once lived. Longkan Pier is a great place to watch the sunrise☁. The sun rises from the mountains, shining golden light on the surface of Erhai Lake. The gentle sound of the waves, the rows of Metasequoia trees in the water, the red-billed gulls flying in the sky, and the beautiful scenery blending together are really worth a visit. 👀Best Shooting📷 Period ✅Sunrise in the morning, 7:30-8:30, it is recommended to arrive half an hour in advance. ✅From late November to early to mid-December, the Metasequoia trees near Gudu are ablaze with red, which is the most beautiful time of the year in autumn. 🐦 You can feed the seagulls It is recommended to bring some small breads and biscuits 🍞 (Try to choose food with less oil content. This is better for the health of seagulls. Of course, it would be better if it is food specially fed to seagulls.) Break the bread into pieces and throw it up, and they will fly over. 🚘Transportation You need to take a taxi to Longkan Ancient Ferry. You can't drive in directly, you need to walk one or two kilometers through the alley. 🔅 Notes: 🍀 Friends with children👨‍👩‍👦, please keep an eye on them while they are playing and don't let them get too close to the water. 🍀 Although seagulls are docile, you should not play around with them to avoid being pecked. 💋 Pay attention to sun protection! Hats and sunscreen are very necessary! The seaside is windy, bring an extra windbreaker~