Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture
Q: Are there many people going to Dali during Mid-Autumn? When are there fewer people?
I went to Dali last Mid-Autumn Festival, and at 10 a.m. on September 15th, the Old City Renmin Road was basically packed with people walking close to each other. In reality, the relatively fewer people were before 8 a.m. on September 17th, when there were fewer than 300 people in the Three Pagodas scenic area; There was also a window from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., when people went to eat, the middle section of the ecological corridor was almost empty. Regarding accommodation, the first and second days of the holiday were the tightest, while on the third night, room availability was noticeably loosened, with prices dropping by about 20%. If you stay for three days and two nights, it's recommended to place the core scenic spots on the mornings of the second and third days.
Q: How can Dali avoid crowds?
One of the most effective methods I used in Dali was to "walk in the opposite direction." Don't rush to the ancient city in the morning; the old city is busiest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., so you should reserve this time for the ecological corridor or the rural section north of Xizhou. A one-day trip is totally possible, provided you enter the Three Pagodas at 7:30, have off-peak lunch, and go to the open-air attractions in the afternoon. For this Mid-Autumn Festival, on the 15th, we walked all the Three Pagodas, Xizhou, and Corridors. Except for the Three Pagoda Reflection Pool, which took 20 minutes, there were almost no lines at other spots—the core was not staying inside the ancient city.
Q: Is there traffic jam when driving to Dali during Mid-Autumn Festival? How do you solve parking problems?
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the section from Dali Station to the Old City was really congested. Around 6 p.m. on September 15, the navigation for the section from Wenwenlou to the South Gate of the Old City showed deep red, and it took 40 minutes to walk 3 kilometers. In the end, we took a taxi to Caicun, then rode from Caicun into the Old Town, which was much faster. For parking, the South Gate parking lot of the Old City is ¥30 all day during holidays, and is usually full before noon. I recommend parking at the Sanyue Street parking lot on the west side of the old city, which takes about 12 minutes to walk into the old town, with more parking spaces. Don't drive to the Caicun dock when you go to Erhai Lake; the Longkan dock parking lot is hard to get a spot on holidays.
Q: How to book a Mid-Autumn trip to Dali on Tongcheng Travel for the most cost-effective way?
I booked a Mid-Autumn trip to Dali on the Tongcheng Travel app and share a three-step money-saving method for [flight / hotel / scenic area tickets] to save money and enjoy more travel fun:
Q: What else can you do in Dali during Mid-Autumn Festival?
The biggest activity on Mid-Autumn night is moon viewing by Erhai Lake. The Haixi Ecological Corridor is open for free at night. The moon rises from the east side of the sea, and the reflection on the water is especially beautiful, so you don't have to pay for a boat ride. In the ancient town, Foreigners' Street and Fuxing Road are illuminated until 11 p.m., and bars and roasted milk fan stalls are open. If you want a quieter experience, you can go to Caicun Wharf and bring a picnic mat; many locals also wait for the moon there. Note that in mid-September, the sea breeze is strong and temperatures drop to around 16°C, so be sure to bring long sleeves and light jackets.
