Cuisine:
Most of the best and charming restaurants in the Xiaguan/Dali area are in the ancient city (Dali Gucheng), where the town is mostly inhabited by ethnic Bai people. The local Bai people still boast some distinguishing characteristics, their Bai cuisine being an important aspect of the culture. Some famous Bai dishes are earthenware pot fish, the "three cups of tea" and milk fan, a kind of dairy product like cheese. These authentic Bai dishes can be found in Dali Gucheng at the Bailixiang and Jingjing Snack House. The Apricot Flower Restaurant also has Bai food and other Chinese regional food. But what has really made Dali famous among foreign travelers is the small backpacker cafes, guesthouses and restaurants on Huguo Lu. Also known as "foreigner's street", this street boasts some great restaurants serving a full range of Western, Yunnan, Bai and Chinese dishes. Each of these restaurants have their own distinct features and menu. Some of the most frequented cafes are the Tibetan Cafe, Cafe De Jack, the Old Wooden House and the Sunshine Cafe. Yunnan Cafe, Dali Window and Claire's Cafe are also very popular. Food is not the only reason people come to the cafes in Dali, the cafes also offer a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere, cool music and cold beer. Many places also have comprehensive travel information, ticket booking service and bicycle rental.

Travel:
The first thing to know about Dali is that the "Dali" you arrive at from Kunming is probably not the one you intend to visit!! There are two "Dalis"; Dali City, officially known as Xiaguan is where most buses pull in. The Dali known as a backpackers paradise with cheap beer, music and guesthouses is another 12km away from Xiaguan. Locals like to call that area "the ancient town" or Dali Gucheng. Most visitors arrive in Xiaguan first and then continue on to the real Dali. Xiaguan is also the place most organized tours stay for the night before or after a day tour to Dali. By Air: Xiaguan is 380km northwest of Kunming. There is a daily flight from Kunming to Xiaguan and there are also some other limited regional flights. But one thing to note is that the flights to and from Xiaguan may change according to seasons, and during peak seasons there may be more Kunming-Xiaguan flights. Xiaguan airport is 15km east of the city center. For most travel services, look in Xiaguan. Unfortunately, there are no public buses running to the airport, since the airport is not frequently used. Although sometimes the airport has a shuttle bus running between the city and the airport, the bus does not run on a regular basis. The best way to get away from the airport to the city is by taking a taxi. This costs around ¥35 and takes 30 minutes. By Train: There is a train which runs daily between Kunming and Xiaguan, In peak seasons there may be another additional train running and schedules may be rearranged. The train from Kunming takes over 8 hours and it is much more efficient and convenient to make the journey by bus. Although Bus #6, 8, 10, 11 all run to the railway station which is located not far from the city center on the east, the best way to get to the railway station is still by taxi, from almost any point of the city, you can get to the station for ¥5 and it takes less than 10 minutes. By Bus: Most travelers choose to travel to Xiaguan from Kunming by bus. City transportation: There are some 10 public bus routes in Xiaguan, the bus fare is ¥0.5 for most of the buses and help-your-self ticketing. Few buses run to a strict schedule but most end at around 21:30 and starts at about 06:30. The meters for Taxis in Dali are only for decoration! If you insist on using them, the starting fare for the first 3km is ¥5. After 22:00 the starting fare is ¥6. The truth is that with ¥5 you can get to almost all the major places in town. To rent a taxi should cost about ¥300 for the day.

Climate:
Although affected by seasonal monsoons, temperatures in Dali are generally moderate, neither too cold nor too hot. However, you should take some warm clothes in case the weather turns unexpectedly cool after a rain.

Attractions:  ( = voted as the highly recommended attractions to visit)