Erhai Lake Near Dali: Shores and Bai Villages
Choose a west-shore Bai village visit or an eastern lakeside stop near Dali: Gusheng, Luoquan and Shuanglang, plus the 129 km shore corridor.
Photo: chet ong / Pexels
Contents
Erhai is a highland lake beside Dali in Yunnan. From above it looks like a crescent moon resting between the Cangshan range and the Dali plain, and despite its name, which means sea, it is a lake.[1] A 129 km ecological corridor runs around the shore, has operated since 2020 and links 23 traditional Bai villages.[2]
Choose one shore for a practical day
For a west-shore village visit, consider Gusheng, a typical Bai village with more than 2,000 years of history and well-preserved old buildings. About 80 households run homestays there, so it suits you if you want a village and architecture focus.[2] Read the Dali report on Gusheng and the Erhai corridor.
On the east shore, Luoquan Peninsula faces Dali Old Town across the water, with views of the old town, the Three Pagodas and Cangshan. Shuanglang sits on the northeast shore, a former fishing village, and nearby Yuji Island keeps well-preserved Bai houses, each with flowing water and flowers. March to May and September to November are the best months to visit the area.[1] Read the Dali visitor profile for Erhai.
Things to Do
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Boats are a separate plan
A visitor profile confirmed in March 2021 described long and short scenic cruises. The long route stops at Xiaoputuo (20 minutes), Nanzhao Folk Island (1 hour) and the Taoyuan pier at Butterfly Spring; the short eco cruise from Longkan pier near Dali Old Town stops for an hour at Luoquan Peninsula. Seagulls gather around Xiaoputuo from late October.[1] Confirm the current departure point, route, operating date and fare with the boat operator before you plan a boat day.
Walk a shore section
The corridor has welcomed more than 18 million visitors since it opened.[2] Rather than trying the whole 129 km, choose a village or a stretch of shore that suits your day, and arrange transport and your return locally.
For broader regional planning, see our China travel guide.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture People's Government website: 洱海. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
- [2] Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture Government website, reporting from Dali Daily: 大理市：“廊道经济”释放绿色生态红利. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gusheng, a Bai village with more than 2,000 years of history, is on the west shore. Luoquan Peninsula is on the east shore and Shuanglang on the northeast shore. Choose by the setting you want.
Gusheng has well-preserved old buildings, and Yuji Island near Shuanglang keeps Bai houses with flowing water and flowers at every home.
Luoquan Peninsula is on the east shore across from Dali Old Town, with views of the old town, the Three Pagodas and Cangshan. Shuanglang is on the northeast shore and was a fishing village.
A visitor profile confirmed in March 2021 listed a long route with stops at Xiaoputuo, Nanzhao Folk Island and the Taoyuan pier, and a short eco cruise to Luoquan Peninsula. Confirm the current departure point, route and fare with the operator.
Yes. The Erhai ecological corridor is 129 km long, has operated since 2020 and links 23 Bai villages.
March to May and September to November.
Pick one priority, such as Gusheng on the west shore, Luoquan on the east or Shuanglang to the northeast, then arrange transport or a boat for your date.
