Arriving in Dali

From DLU: Airport shuttle to Dali old town takes about 40 minutes (¥15–20); or taxi ¥80–100. From Dali Station (HSR, Xiaguan): Take a local bus or taxi from Xiaguan to Dali old town — approximately 30 minutes and ¥20–30 by taxi. Clarify with your accommodation whether they mean Dali old town (ancient city) or Xiaguan (the modern city) when booking.

China Mobile and Unicom SIMs are available in Xiaguan city near the train station; purchase here rather than in the old town. WiFi is available in all old town guesthouses. Mobile signal is strong in town and on the Erhai Lake cycling routes. Standard VPN requirements apply.

Alipay and WeChat Pay are standard in old town restaurants, cafes, and the Three Pagodas ticket office. Traditional market vendors may prefer cash. Cangshan cable car accepts mobile payment. Foreign card linking via Alipay International is reliable.

ATMs at Bank of China in Xiaguan and at a branch near the North Gate of the old town accept foreign cards. Cash is useful for the morning market and smaller village vendors around the lake. Keep ¥400–500 for excursions around Erhai Lake.

Dali is UTC+8. The old town's canal-side paths and early-morning market are pleasant before 08:00 when the tourist activity begins. The 1,900m altitude may cause slight fatigue for the first day, which can overlap with jet lag.

Dali old town has the most English-proficient tourism infrastructure in Yunnan outside Kunming and Lijiang. Guesthouses on Renmin Road and Fuxing Road routinely have English-speaking staff. Cafes along Renmin Road serve as de facto information centres for independent travellers. In emergencies, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture People's Hospital is the main facility; hotel staff are the best first contact for medical navigation.