Dali with kids
Dali with kids
Activities, places to eat, stays, and slow explorations that work better with children.
Kid-friendly activities
Kid-friendly activities
Sorted by age, family, and nature-experience tags — easier trips children can really join.
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DALI · FAMILY
Kid-friendly restaurants
Places tagged as easier for meals with children.
西西弗柴窑面包（纯素）（Sisyphus Wood-Fired Oven Bread (Vegan)）
My friend Sisitong mentioned this bakery, saying it's her favorite vegan bakery. Achieving such flavor without butter, milk, or eggs is truly remarkable. Since my knowledge is limited, I'm excerpting a well-written introduction to Sisyphus from Dali Eco House. Original link: Dali Eco Life Guide (May issue) #02 Good Food: Giving New Meaning to Repetitive Work. Address: Under the big green tree in Sufangzhou Park. Business hours: Wednesday to Sunday.
Zhaishu Vegetarian Restaurant (宅菽素餐馆)
Zhaishu (宅菽): The new location is now open on Cangshan Avenue. It offers a wide variety, leans toward Western-style dishes, and is affordable. The broad bean braised rice is very unique, and there are also mushroom rice dishes. The new place is cleaner, more spacious, and has more choices. The old location used to be a regular spot for many people in the community. I've been there several times too.
「素乐」素餐厅（Sule Vegetarian Restaurant）
Sule: Located on Santa Road, clean and fresh, very modern, flavors lean toward Northwest Chinese, noodles are good, for example, there is oil-splashed chili noodles, many friends like it. Various coffees are also available (Americano 6 yuan). The outdoor seating environment is good, tables and chairs are comfortable.
Bing‘s （Brunch 和西餐甜品）（Bing's (Brunch and Western Desserts)）
A refined Brunch and dessert shop with Gelato ice cream, carefully crafted Western dishes and desserts. The owner of Bings, Bingbing, is a Le Cordon Bleu pastry chef who previously ran a well-received Brunch shop and an ice cream shop separately. The latest shop, now located on Xinmin Road, combines both. Many well-traveled visitors have been there and given high praise. From first entering the food industry more than ten years ago, to learning new cooking skills on her own, independently opening several small shops, and continuously furthering her training, Bingbing has now grown into the current Bings Xinmin Road shop, a fairly large space that blends various elements. Bingbing is one of the examples of Dali's new independent women. In Dali, many stable and high-quality shops are mostly run by women, who generally possess the traits of being eager to learn, resilient, and down-to-earth. In addition, they are not only excellent at work, but also very good at having fun, and their personal lives are wonderful as well. Pay tribute to them. Entry written by: Jason. Image
向月球飞去（Brunch）（Fly Me to the Moon (Brunch)）
When Fly Me to the Moon opened around 2013: it had an open Western kitchen and bar, with a row of small round tables and chairs set up outside in the alley of Guangwu Road, giving it a strong French café-restaurant vibe. Not just in Dali, but across China, it was considered quite trendy. At that time, we were running a late-night diner nearby, and we would often chat until 8:00 in the morning, then go together to Fly Me to the Moon for breakfast (back then, few places opened that early). We'd have a bowl of 片儿川 (Pian'er Chuan) noodle soup or dry noodles, and a cup of Americano. Many of our best memories
朴石烘焙（Simple Stone）（Simple Stone Bakery (Pushi Baking)）
You can sit comfortably on the sidewalk near Dali University, sometimes just to sit for a while and have a cup of coffee. American coffee is 12 yuan, and it's fragrant and strong enough. The bread is baked very well (European-style bread, high hydration, natural yeast). A ciabatta sandwich (braised beef) and a cup of coffee make a very good meal. Their chicken liver pâté sandwich is also good. Pizza and desserts are all good. There is also homemade specialty ice cream, wine, and cocktails, all of which are good. I'm not a particular expert on Western food, but I feel that from the people to the food, the quality is very good.
DALI · FAMILY
Child-friendly stays
Stays tagged as child-friendly or family-friendly.
喜院 | 小院子南区的实惠民宿（Xiyuan | Affordable Homestay in the South District of Xiaoyuanzi）
I recommend this homestay because I have stayed here myself. After I checked out of my previous place and started living as a long-term traveler, I stayed here for almost a month. The price is affordable: a room with a living room and a private small courtyard costs around 150-180 per day in the low season, while a single room costs 100-150 per day. For real-time prices and other room types, you can check on Ctrip: Xiyuan Villa. Although the South District is a standard residential community and this homestay doesn't have much of its own character, it is
芳舍会客厅（Fangshe Parlor）
"Fangshe" is a homestay carefully built by Moya and Micheal. They also have a wild farm. Moya is the host of our "Family Farm Farm-to-table Brunch" and also a teammate of Honghong Crossfit. Ctrip booking link: Fangshe Parlor. Xiaohongshu: Dali Fangshe Parlor. Fangshe, just a step away from Sanyue Street, is not only a warm stop on the journey but also an ideal place to share family happiness.
望乎所以 | 田野边独立惬意的理想独栋两间房民宿（Wanghu Suoyi | A cozy standalone two-room homestay by the fields）
I first learned about this homestay last year from a hiking guest who stayed at two such rural homestays. She recommended this one to me: refined, simple, and free. The decor is beautiful, but the other one was more flashy, just for taking good photos, with the main effort in marketing. The owner would pose for videos in the yard every day, filming back and forth without any concern for disturbing guests. Old house, recommended to book the whole courtyard for a perfect stay. Your browser does not support the video.
空气花园 | 精致安静的传统院落民宿（Kongqi Huayuan | A Refined and Quiet Traditional Courtyard Guesthouse）
I first learned about Kongqi Huayuan (Air Garden) when my good friend 147 often stayed there during visits to Dali. The owner, A-Xiang, is also an outdoor enthusiast and would go hiking with us. It is a refined traditional courtyard, attached to an old courtyard, and also has a white new building, located near San Yue Jie (Third Month Street), very independent. The owners A-Wei and A-Xiang maintain it carefully and it looks beautiful. I remember there is a plum tree in the courtyard; every spring, the tree is full of plum blossoms, falling like snow. From any angle, the courtyard is a beautiful picture. You can refer
有田野大草坪和开阔视野的乡村民宿 | 面包树花园（Rural guesthouse with fields, a large lawn, and open views | Bread Tree Garden）
Ctrip booking link. Learn the latest records of Bread Tree Garden guesthouse: Xiaohongshu | Bread Tree Garden. At first, I did not know the owner Ye Xiaoxian; even now we have only added each other on WeChat. Once I went to the guesthouse where Xiaohou was staying, and her husband Li Yan had a gift for me. The two of them started joining a hike in 2022, came again last year, ate at my home, and chatted together; to a large extent we are friends. This time Xiaohou brought her one- or two-month-old baby Xiaobao for a vacation and stayed at Xiaoxian's guesthouse. In such a situation, the service and facilities need to be thoughtful and detailed to be suitable.
黛黛家的带餐的乡村亲子民宿（Dai Dai's Country Family Homestay with Meals）
About the name: Most guests are mothers and children who come to Dali for study tours. I hope the sunshine of Dali can shine into and stay in the children's hearts forever. So I named it Nanyu Shiguang. About the location: On Tencent, Baidu, and Amap, directly locate: Nanyu Shiguang. The location is in Chongyi Village, less than 3 km from Xiaguan (Dali urban area). From the homestay to Erhai Lake, it is a 3-minute walk. In the village, the pharmacy, supermarket, and vegetable market are a 5-minute walk away. Cangshan Botanical Garden is 3 km away, and Yew Farm is 3 km away.
DALI · FAMILY
Kid-friendly bookstores
Bookstores and reading spaces that are nice for exploring with children.
DALI · FAMILY
Explore on your own
Places where a family can wander slowly and discover Dali at its own pace.
沙溪（Shaxi）
130 kilometers from the ancient city. Everyone who goes says they like it, exceeding expectations. It is a small town on the Tea Horse Road. The ancient town is maintained by a Swiss foundation, so it retains its original appearance without any reckless changes. A few steps outside the town is the Heihui River, where you can stroll along the river, surrounded by fields, feeling relaxed and happy. Find a place called Banshan Coffee (just as a landmark), walk there to overlook the ancient town and the valley. If you have more time, Shibao Mountain is also a good nearby attraction, with many cliff carvings of Buddha and hiking trails. You can search for "Shadengjing Grottoes Area", there are hiking trails going up (it is an exploratory route, ordinary people should be cautious, with the app: maps.me, you can see the track). I have only been to three good local restaurants: Dazhong Restaurant (fish soup is very good), Lihua Restaurant (beef and local dishes), Longfeng Ruiying Restaurant, affordable and delicious. Cafes: Raven Coffee and Chichaqu (desserts). You can rent a car to go (it is recommended to take the Niusha Line, few people and beautiful, turn up the mountain at Niujie, the road in the village before entering the Niusha Line is not very good, you will doubt you took the wrong road), or you can take the bus to Jianchuan from the Cangshan Gate on Route 214 and transfer to a rural bus at Diannan Town. In addition, every morning at 9 o'clock, there is a shuttle bus from the Lanlinge Hotel on Yu'er Road in the ancient city to Shaxi Lanlinge. Call this number in advance to confirm 18887265969, or there is a car that runs to Shaxi every day 17387207019 Xiao Yang, about 80 per person. Entry written by: Jason. Images
诺邓（Nuodeng）
Famous for Nuodeng ham, 180 kilometers from Dali, it is an ancient village on a hillside. Historically, it produced salt and was economically prosperous, with salt-horse ancient roads crisscrossing. Due to its remote location, there are generally not many tourists. The village is quaint, and the nearby mountain villages are suitable for hiking and walking. Along the way, you pass Yangchimiyu Wild Hot Spring. Now that the expressway is open, transportation is faster. I recommend a guesthouse I have stayed at: Xinkailai Guesthouse, phone 15087295015. Although not famous, it is affordable, with home-style living, ham, local chicken, earthen stove, and friendly people.
适合自己去的苍山溪流（苍山 (Cangshan) streams suitable for going alone）
There are many streams in 大理 (Dali), but finding one that is easy to get to, pretty, safe, and beautiful is not easy. To reach 清碧溪 (Qingbi Creek) at this spot, just follow the stream in the direction of the mountain; you can walk a long way, and it is very simple. Once you get there, you will know; no problem. Choose a place you like and stop. This place is suitable for children of any age and adults to play. There are streams, waterfalls, and even pool jumping. When I lived nearby,
青索村 | 古村落和弥苴河上的古桥（上关）（Qingsuo Village | Ancient Village and the Old Bridge over the Miju River (Shangguan)）
Qingsuo Village is located in Shangguan Town on the north shore of Erhai Lake in Dali City. Legend has it that in 225 AD, Zhuge Liang divided his army into three routes for a southern campaign and led his troops here. Because the Miju River blocked the way, he ordered the soldiers to gather green rushes and twist them into ropes, allowing the army to cross the river smoothly. The village was named Qingsuo Village, and the bridge was named Qingsuo Bridge. In the 23rd year of the Chenghua reign of the Ming Dynasty, Qingsuo Bridge was dismantled, and a magnificent three-arch stone bridge was built on the original site and renamed Tianqu Bridge. One day, when I visited Qingsuo Village on the way, I happened to meet a guest who had participated in Brother Ding’s rural cycling trip. The guest could not forget it, and returned the next day to picnic on the bridge. A few meters away, the Yong’an River runs parallel. So it is not only during the River Lantern Festival that this place is special; visiting at ordinary times is also a pleasant trip. The Miju River and the Yong’an River run parallel in this ancient village, only ten meters apart. Your browser does not support the video tag. Every year on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, the most grand festival in Qingsuo Village, Shangguan Town, is the River Lantern Festival. On this day, the nearby Bai villagers gather around Tianqu Bridge. People hang colorful sacrificial items on Tianqu Bridge. The elderly chant scriptures and burn incense here, praying for favorable weather and a bumper harvest, commemorating ancestors, and releasing souls from purgatory. At dusk, pairs of young men and women, full of piety, go to the Benzhu Temple to worship and make wishes. They come to the river, light exquisite river lanterns one by one, and place them into the Miju River, letting them drift downstream. Entry written by: Jason. Images
无为寺（山里走走）（Wuwei Temple (A Walk in the Mountains)）
5 kilometers from the old town, Wuwei Temple is a quiet temple (compared to Jizhao Nunnery). It was a royal temple during the Dali Kingdom period, where several emperors became monks. It is said to be the prototype of Tianlong Temple in Jin Yong's novel Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils. Our "Kuosongping Light Hike | Fields · Streams · Forests" ends near here. You need to take a taxi to the parking lot below (map landmark: Chenjiabao), then slowly walk up along the mountain path (20 minutes). This is the best way to visit Wuwei Temple. Going directly to Wuwei Temple is possible, but it greatly reduces the fun. From the parking lot at the foot of the mountain, follow the stepped path upward through a small valley, with the path on both sides of a stream. In summer, you can bring children to play in the water here; it is very safe. Further up, there are ponds and a majestic mountain gate, which you cannot see if you go directly to Wuwei Temple. It will be an interesting short hike through forest and streams. At the end are two thousand-year-old Tang cypresses and the ancient Wuwei Temple, a place locals also like to visit. When you go for a walk here, you can also visit Li Zhenhao's Shanzia Nature Studio | Cafe nearby. She has many plant specimens collected from travels around Yunnan, and it is also a cafe open to visitors. Another nearby place to visit: Cangshan Nature Image Museum. Entry written by: Jason. Images
阡禾温泉（下山口）（Qianhe Hot Spring (Xiashankou)）
Locals have a habit of soaking in hot springs, especially when winter arrives or at the first snowfall. Many friends' first reaction is "go soak in the hot springs at Xiashankou." Where to go? Dali has many hot springs, and Qianhe Hot Spring is one we often go to ourselves. Direguo is convenient for tourism, and Niujie is a bit farther, though there are also some good choices; Niujie has some relatively refined hot spring hotels. Qianhe Hot Spring is one in Xiashankou, run by a family, and not large, so you don't have to walk far. It has a larger swimming pool.