Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture district, Yunnan, China

Places to visit near Dali

Dali is a city in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture district, Yunnan, China, home to about 134,040 people. Within 50 km by road there are 151 places to visit — 34 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 42 forts & heritage, 12 buddhist sites and 14 museums. The must-see places are 大理州非物质文化遗产博物馆 (1 km), Dali Bai Nationality Autonomous Prefecture Museum (3 km) and Taihe City (8 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Dali on the map

Dali, Yunnan
Dali, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture district, Yunnan, China. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Dali at a glance

Location
Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture district, Yunnan, China
Population
about 134,040
Coordinates
25.5847° N, 100.2123° E
Places within 50 km
151 (14 must-see)
Best time to visit
August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for museums

Top places to visit near Dali

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Dali: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Dali

Things to see near Dali, by type

Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Dali

80 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Dali. The closest is 向阳水库 (6 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

  • 向阳水库 · lake · Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture · ~6 km
  • Erhai Lake · lake · Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture · ~28 km · Must-see
  • 五茂林水库 · lake · Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture · ~16 km
  • 敬天塘 · lake · Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture · ~16 km
  • 清乐水库 · lake · Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture · ~16 km
  • Nanshuiku · lake · Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture · ~16 km

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Yunnan →

Forts & heritage near Dali

57 forts & heritage within 100 km of Dali. The closest is 大唐天宝战士冢（万人冢） (1 km); the best-known is Taihe City (8 km). Best time: october to february.

All forts & heritage in Yunnan →

Buddhist sites near Dali

16 buddhist sites within 100 km of Dali. The closest is Snake Bone Pagoda (5 km); the best-known is 法藏寺 (18 km). Best time: october to march.

  • 法藏寺 · Buddhist site · Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture · ~18 km · Must-see
  • Chongsheng Temple · Buddhist site · Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture · ~19 km · Must-see
  • Snake Bone Pagoda · Buddhist site · Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture · ~5 km
  • Guanyin Temple · Buddhist site · Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture · ~11 km
  • Beichuan Pagoda · Buddhist site · Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture · ~12 km
  • Hongsheng Temple Pagoda · Buddhist site · Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture · ~16 km

All buddhist sites in Yunnan →

Museums near Dali

14 museums within 100 km of Dali. The closest is 大理州非物质文化遗产博物馆 (1 km). Best time: year-round.

All museums in Yunnan →

Caves near Dali

14 caves within 100 km of Dali. The closest is Phoenix Eye Cave (16 km). Best time: year-round.

  • Phoenix Eye Cave · cave · Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture · ~16 km
  • 山佛洞 · cave · Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture · ~31 km
  • 观音洞 · cave · Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture · ~38 km
  • 金龙洞 · cave · Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture · ~38 km
  • 大石洞 · cave · Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture · ~38 km
  • 雪花洞 · cave · Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture · ~38 km

All caves in Yunnan →

Temples near Dali

11 temples within 100 km of Dali. The closest is Dali City God Temple Main Hall (16 km). Best time: year-round.

All temples in Yunnan →

A one-day trip from Dali

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 37 km on the road.

  1. Start in Dali
  2. 1 km 大理州非物质文化遗产博物馆 · museum, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture
  3. 2 km Dali Bai Nationality Autonomous Prefecture Museum · museum, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture
  4. 7 km Taihe City · heritage site, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture
  5. 9 km Dali Museum · museum, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture
  6. 2 km Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils Film City · park, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture
  7. 16 km Back to Dali

Plan a longer trip from Dali — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Dali

No traveller has reported from around Dali yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

Post an update from the map →

How to reach Dali

    All places near Dali by distance

    Within 15 km of Dali

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Dali by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs3480向阳水库 (6 km)
    Forts & heritage4257大唐天宝战士冢（万人冢） (1 km)
    Other attractions1418凤仪文庙 (12 km)
    Buddhist sites1216Snake Bone Pagoda (5 km)
    Museums1414大理州非物质文化遗产博物馆 (1 km)
    Caves914Phoenix Eye Cave (16 km)
    Temples811Dali City God Temple Main Hall (16 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints37悬崖路段 (15 km)
    Waterfalls56龙泉瀑布 (2 km)
    Parks45Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils Film City (16 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens24Cangshan Botanical Garden (10 km)
    Churches22Dali Catholic Church (17 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves22小普陀 (31 km)

    Dali: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Dali?

    大理州非物质文化遗产博物馆 (museum, about 1 km), Dali Bai Nationality Autonomous Prefecture Museum (museum, about 3 km), Taihe City (heritage site, about 8 km), Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils Film City (park, about 16 km), Dali Museum (museum, about 16 km), Christ Church of Dali (church, about 18 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Dali?

    151 places on Spotwander: 34 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 42 forts & heritage, 14 other attractions, 12 buddhist sites, 14 museums.

    Which is the nearest lake to Dali?

    向阳水库, about 6 km by road; 五茂林水库 (16 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest fort to Dali?

    大唐天宝战士冢（万人冢）, about 1 km by road; Longwei Gate (1 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest Buddhist site to Dali?

    Snake Bone Pagoda, about 5 km by road; Guanyin Temple (11 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Dali?

    Start in Dali, visit 大理州非物质文化遗产博物馆, then Dali Bai Nationality Autonomous Prefecture Museum, then Taihe City, then Dali Museum, then Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils Film City, and drive back — about 37 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Dali?

    August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for museums.

    Towns near Dali

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Dali’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Dali on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.