Dali Lily International Youth Hostel

Great, just a little dark in my room, but it was fine.

The location across from the castle isn't bad. However, I now understand why everyone only stays for one night. The host is too enthusiastic, which makes me feel a bit uncomfortable. There are no supermarkets nearby, so there's no reason to stay here for long.

The location is a bit of a journey – after getting off at Dali Station, you take bus number 4 for about 40-50 minutes, and it's located across from Dali Ancient City. I found it easily using the Baidu app. Once you enter, there's a small garden, and the reception is in the middle of it. I chose the most comfortable and free-spirited bed, and right in front of it, you can exercise. There's a punching bag, a bike, and what looks like a stair climber. The toilet is in the room itself, but for the shower, you have to go to the main house, where there's also a washing machine (8 yuan). Aside from a slight strange smell from the bed's wall, the bed isn't uncomfortable at all, and there's an electric blanket, so it wasn't too cold at night. I decided to stay for another day. Oh, and the owner speaks English, so communication is not an issue.