Erhai Lake Facts & Map: Essential Travel Guide 2025

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Chinese name: 洱海 (Erhai)
Location: Northwestern Dali City, Yunnan Province, China
Best Time to Visit: Year-round, with spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) offering the most enchanting weather
Recommended Duration: Half-day to one full day
Opening Hours: Open all day
Ticket Price: Around 30 yuan
Popular Ways to Explore: Boat cruises, cycling, hiking, and public transport
Top Attractions: Xizhou Village, Zhoucheng Village, Shuanglang Ancient Town, Nanzhao Folk Island

Like a shimmering jade ear cupping the secrets of wind and mountain, Erhai Lake unfolds across the northwestern cradle of Dali. Its gentle curves stretch from north to south, creating a reflective corridor between sky and earth. At 250 square kilometers, Erhai ranks as China’s second-largest plateau lake — yet beyond its sheer size, it is the interplay of water, stone, and sky that captures the imagination of travelers.

Surrounded by the regal silhouettes of the Cangshan and Jizu Mountains, Erhai’s scenery feels like a living scroll painting. Morning mists drift across the water like fleeting thoughts, while sunlit ripples dance like silver poems. To the Bai people who have called these shores home for centuries, the lake is far more than a landscape — it is a living spirit.

Local legends speak of a dragon that once roared through these lands, flooding villages and forests. In an act of communal devotion, villagers built temples to calm the dragon’s wrath. When peace finally returned, the floods subsided and revealed Erhai Lake in its crystalline splendor. This myth lingers in the quiet moments by the shore, where every wave seems to carry echoes of ancient prayers.

Travelers can explore Erhai Lake in countless ways. Glide across its mirrored surface by boat, feeling the timeless hush of open water. Cycle along its western or eastern banks, winding past hidden gardens and timeworn fishing villages. Wander into Xizhou and Zhoucheng, where Bai architecture and tie-dye workshops open windows into local soulcraft. Or simply find a quiet rock, watch flocks of migratory birds skim the surface, and let the hours drift like drifting petals.

No matter how you choose to explore, Erhai invites you into a slow, poetic rhythm — one that LuxTourCN (LTC) celebrates and curates for every traveler seeking to discover Yunnan’s living heart.

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