Eryuan Countryside Travel | Rushan Making Workshop, Boat Ride, Countryside Walk and Hot Springs by the Fields

Eryuan Countryside Travel It is a great way to leave the busy Dali Ancient City and experience the tranquil countryside, fields, lakes and Dali's unique history. In Dengchuan, famous for its dairy products, you can not only see the daily production of local milk fans and fresh milk, but also Relax in the local hot springs. Everything here is natural and rural, with no other tourists around. This is a deep immersive trip suitable for everyone. Bring your family, leave the tourist spots behind, and enjoy a leisurely trip.

A complete video of one day in this itinerary:

"I am Aruna, I am from Inner Mongolia and have lived in Dali for ten years. I have a baking studio in Xiaocen Village near the ancient city, where I do some teaching. I like to go camping in nature. I once drove a van for a long camping trip for half a year, so I usually take camping in Shangri-La and other places near Dali. My partners in the deep travel group and I - usually He Chen, Xiaoqi, Xiaochun, Honghong and others - we like Eryuan very much. The fields there change with the seasons, the colors change, the migratory birds fly to the lake, and the reeds turn green and yellow. The friendly sister of the Rushan workshop, the Adu family who drive the boat, and the cattle and sheep we occasionally meet in the village - everything has become more and more familiar with the passage of time. I hope to share these simple and beautiful scenes of daily life with you. "

Possible discomfort :

• Transportation : Most of our travel vehicles are ordinary vans. We are relatively frugal and often carry outdoor equipment on natural mountain roads and country roads, so vans are probably the best choice. Many children like the bumpy feeling and call it a "rocking car."

• Tombs in the mountains : Sometimes guests may feel uncomfortable walking past tombs. In rural Yunnan, many tombs are located on hillsides near villages or even along roads. The relationship with tombs here is different than in urban areas - people pass by tombs while working in the fields, picking mushrooms, gathering herbs or chopping wood. People may even have picnics near tombs. The sunshine, peaceful atmosphere and local customs make this place unique. If you are sensitive to cemeteries, please consider carefully before booking.

  Some video clips along the Eryuan countryside trip: Autumn harvest season:
  In November, migratory birds returned to the lake and more birds of prey were circling.
  Boat ride on lake
  Sheep flock in Muslim village

The tour will experience:

• Dengchuan Rushan Workshop : Visit the daily production process of milk powder, taste fresh milk, or enjoy milk popsicles. If you are lucky, you may see the sister making fresh Rushan.
• Through Villages and Fields : Follow the path through nearby villages and fields.
• Explore the Centennial Village : Wander through the ancient Muslim village, where the sounds of evening broadcasts echo in the air.
• Boating on the lake : Sail along the winding waterways and admire the white-walled and black-tiled villages and the mountains in the distance.
• Relaxing Hot Springs : Enjoy a hot spring bath.
• Local cuisine : Taste the local Eryuan farm-style or halal dishes (about RMB 35-50 per person).

Trip Details:

This tour takes you to a lakeside village 55 kilometers from Dali, far from the typical tourist destination. Pass through natural fields where locals work, visit a peninsula in the middle of the lake, and take a boat through reed marshes and deep into the lake. The area is full of waterfowl, and in the distance you can see the Cangshan Mountains and the Bai village with its white walls and black tiles. This is a picturesque rural landscape that you may have never seen.

On the way, we will stop in Dengchuan, which is an important production area of ​​fresh milk in Dali. There are many milk fan workshops in the town, where you can watch the production process of milk fan, taste fresh milk, and try milk ice cream at a very affordable price of 2-3 yuan.

After the boat ride, we passed a century-old village, where towering banyan trees told of the long history of the village, which could probably be traced back to the Mongolian period 800 years ago.

We will walk along a flower-filled road at the foot of the mountain, which is rarely visited. From this high point, you can overlook the village and the lake. The road is lined with eucalyptus and walnut trees, and there is a lake nearby, green as emerald, surrounded by farmland. We can stop here for afternoon tea, order black tea and fruit, and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the lake and mountains. Lotus flowers are blooming in the lake, and in the evening, people in the village usually go boating to fish. This lake was once full of Egyptian papyrus, and perhaps has a unique connection with ancient Egyptian culture. Sitting by the lake, you can quietly watch the smoke rising from the village on the opposite bank.

Our last stop was our favorite Shimoyamaguchi Onsen . We often go to this hot spring located on the edge of a field. You can buy local snacks such as shachima and sweet milk at the nearby shop, which are perfect for eating while soaking in the hot spring. You can relax in the small hot spring pool or swim in the big hot spring pool. The only thing you need to bring is a swimsuit (which can also be purchased on site, although it may not be very fashionable).

After soaking in the hot springs, we will have dinner at a local restaurant in town (about 30-40 RMB/person, AA). We will return to Dali Ancient Town around 8:00-9:00 pm. If you really like the hot spring hotel, you can choose to stay overnight and take a bus back to the ancient town the next day.

• Distance to Dali Ancient Town : 55 km
• Difficulty: Easy, suitable for infants and the elderly
• Departure time : 1:00pm (confirmed at time of booking, departs later in the summer to avoid the heat)
• Return time : 9:00pm
• Things to bring : swimsuit (need to be purchased separately, may not be very fashionable), towel (provided by the hot spring)
• Children's fee : Same as adults

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