Things to do in Xiangyun

Yunnanyi is under the jurisdiction of Xiangyun County, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. It is located in the southern part of Xiangyun County, bordering Xiazhuang Town and Liuchang Town in the east, Luming Township in the south, Midu County in the west, and Shalong Town and Hedian Town in the north. The administrative area covers an area of 219 square kilometers. As of the end of 2019, the registered population of Yunnanyi Town was 100,488. In the second year of Yuanfeng of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (109 BC), Yunnan County was established. In 2000, the township was abolished and a town was established, and it was renamed Yunnanyi Town.

This is a nice scenic spot in Xiangyun County. There is water in the cave and sky in the cave. Humans have lived here since the Neolithic Era. It was used as an arsenal by the Japanese army during the Anti-Japanese War. After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, it was used as an arsenal by our army. It was not until the 1990s that the cave was returned to the public.

If you come to Dali, you must visit Yunxiang Mountain. Even if you don't try any of the activities, the scenery is absolutely stunning if the weather is good. Every snapshot is photogenic. Dali's blue skies and white clouds don't need filters! Plus, you can overlook the entire Xiaguan area and Erhai Lake from the mountain, and it's very pleasant when there's a breeze. I personally found the extreme road car ride fun. Each ride lasts about 15 minutes. I was a complete beginner and went twice. The first time, I held the brakes down hard and didn't dare let go even a little, which was quite thrilling. The second time, after getting used to it, it was quite enjoyable. The return cable car ride was a bit shaky, and since I'm afraid of heights, I took the shuttle bus the second time. As for the restaurants on the mountain, they're not good value for money. The view from the second floor is okay, but it's best not to eat there; it's a bit pricey.

There aren't many tall buildings on either side of Erhai Lake; it's mostly mountains and water. Its unique feature is the scenery of the lake and mountains. Culturally, it's somewhat related to the local Bai ethnic group's life. The landscape is a combination of the lake and the Cangshan Mountains, which is pleasing to the eye, but the sun is very strong and the wind is also strong.

Xiangyun is definitely a very niche attraction. There are so many beautiful places in Dali that many people ignore this place. I also came here during the May Day holiday. There were not so many tourists, only locals. Nowadays, there are not many antique things here. It can be said to be a local commercial pedestrian street center.

Absolutely gorgeous views of the mountain and lake as well as the valley below. The gondola is well-worth its cost to take in the expansive views. When we went in early November, we only needed light jackets. Many people bought oxygen bottles, but we didn’t feel that we needed them. The boardwalk was well-maintained and there were plenty of rest areas including toilets. If needed, you can rent heavy rain jackets or buy food, coffee, or oxygen bottles at the top. Beautiful experience!

Shuimu Mountain is one of the earliest Buddhist holy places in Yunnan. In the eighth year of Yuanhe reign of Emperor Xianzong of Tang Dynasty (813), the ministers of Nanzhao requested to build this temple. Master Puji Qingguang used his Zen staff to dig the ground, and "clear springs gushed out, so it was named Shuimu". On the day of the opening, the leaders of the six Zhaos came to congratulate. When the incense was the most prosperous, it was known as "a thousand monks and eight hundred nuns". There have been eminent monks living in Shuimu Mountain in all dynasties, such as Master Puji Qingguang, the founder of the mountain in the Tang Dynasty, Master Jingmiaocheng in the Song Dynasty, Master Wuwangru and Master Feixiangxing in the late Qing Dynasty. When the king was in power, many people from the royal family became monks here. The famous monk Dandan in the early Qing Dynasty also lived here for a long time. Since the Tang Dynasty, the temples in Shuimu Mountain have been repaired and rebuilt many times, and gradually formed a building complex, including Shuimu, Xianzhong, Dizang Temple, Lingguang Temple, Pagoda Courtyard, Sanjiao Pavilion, Pilu Pavilion, and Amitabha Temple. Shuimushan Temple is divided into three temples: Upper Temple, Middle Temple and Lower Temple. The only remaining Lower Temple was rebuilt in the second year of Xuantong in the Qing Dynasty (1910) and renovated from 1984 to 1987. The Lower Temple consists of the mountain gate, pagoda courtyard, front yard, northwest side hall, and main hall. On the north and south sides are monks' quarters, incense cabinets, official hall, dining hall, tea room, and Yunhui Hall. In front of the Lower Temple, there are dozens of acres of pears carefully cultivated by monks of successive generations.

The pagodas are beautiful, the ponds are lovely, and the view from the main pagoda area is absolutely breathtaking!Our visit lasted from 3:10 to 4:40 PM. Unlike other historical attractions, I’d actually recommend considering a guide here. None of the information boards we encountered were in English, so everything had to be translated, and even then, the historical explanations felt insufficient. I ended up researching more afterward. One building along the way turned out to be a souvenir shop, which we skipped.I’d recommend visiting in the early afternoon for the lighting and enough time to explore, preferably avoiding the hottest hours. Bring insect repellent and a portable fan, too!Overall, a beautiful place worth visiting, although I wish there had been more accessible historical information. 8/10.

If you have plenty of time while traveling in Dali, it's definitely worth a visit to Yunxiang Mountain Scenic Area. On a clear day, the scenery is stunning, with blue skies, white clouds, Cangshan Mountain, Erhai Lake, and the city all presented in one panoramic view. The toboggan ride is also worth trying. Unfortunately, I wasn't so lucky; it rained heavily in the afternoon. I only had a short time to explore, but there were still plenty of beautiful photo spots.

Erhai Lake is the most famous scenic spot in Dali, bar none! Seasonal itinerary: Erhai Lake isn't actually a sea; it's very long, and many attractions in Dali are built around it, including various ancient towns and popular photo spots where Erhai Lake is always featured. The main selling point for various guesthouses and hotels with sea views is also the sea view, so there are many options. Enjoying the breeze by Erhai Lake is quite pleasant.