[Dali | Dreaming of Autumn in the Realm of Wind, Flowers, Snow, and Moonlight]

When the clouds of Cangshan fall into the embrace of Erhai Lake, and the ancient city's ginkgo trees gild the blue stone paths, autumn in Dali gently sketches a poetic scene of wind, flowers, snow, and moonlight. From September to November, this thousand-year-old ancient city enters its most pleasant season—golden rice fields, translucent clouds, mountains and sea embracing, all your distant dreams come true here. 📍 Five Autumn Secret Spots ❶ Erhai Ecological Corridor "Oil Painting Gallery" 🚴 Cycling experience: 23 km barrier-free path through golden rice fields 📸 Perfect photo spot: Wait for the "Jesus rays" at Caicun Pier at 7 AM 🐦 Special spectacle: Siberian red-billed gulls arrive in late October as the advance team ❷ Cangshan Jade Belt Road "Cloud Walk" 🍁 Autumn color index: Late October from Ximatan to Gantong, the forest is ablaze with color 🚠 Lazy option: Take the Gantong cable car for a panoramic view of the hundred-mile Erhai 🧺 Picnic recommendation: Enjoy a Bai-style bamboo basket lunch at Zhonghe Temple platform ❸ Xizhou Ancient Town "Rice Field Concert" 🌾 Golden ocean: October rice field café offers limited-time "Rice Fragrance Latte" 🎵 Rural notes: Field jazz nights every Wednesday and Saturday at Zhou Café 🎨 Handmade experience: Join the autumn plant dyeing class at the Blue Continuation Tie-Dye Workshop ❹ Jizhao Nunnery "Zen Autumn" 🍵 Buddhist time: Taste Cangshan snow tea in the succulent courtyard and admire century-old ginkgo 🥗 Vegetarian legend: Line up at 11:30 for the "best vegetarian meal" 📿 Spiritual healing: Participate in morning chanting and pick wild autumn fruits with the master ❺ Shaxi Ancient Town "Time Capsule" 🐎 Tea Horse Road legacy: Buy freshly harvested walnuts from Yi villagers on Friday market day 🌌 Stargazing: Autumn constellation identification event by Yujin Bridge 🏮 Secret feast: Bai family dinner "Eight Bowls and Three Dishes" by reservation at Ouyang Courtyard 📅 Dali Autumn Festivals ▪️ September: Erhai Opening Festival (Millennium fishing lights reappear) ▪️ October: Bai Harvest Festival (Three Spirits folk activities) ▪️ November: Wuwei Temple Ginkgo Festival (Millennium ancient tree leaf-falling celebration) 🍁 Limited Flavors 🔸 Roushan Autumn Pear Roll: Fresh roushan wrapped in snow pear and baked 🔸 Erhai Osmanthus Fish: Fishermen’s fresh catch steamed with Cangshan wild honey 🔸 Yangbi Walnut Paste: Walnuts from century-old trees ground on site 🔸 Xizhou Crispy Baba: Autumn limited rose brown sugar filling 🏡 Autumn Stays ✅ By Erhai: Mingyue Songjian·Erhai (Terrace for gull watching) ✅ In the rice fields: Xilinyuan·Rice Field Branch (Window view of Cangshan) ✅ Inside the ancient city: Jixia Mountain·Dali (Immersive cultural experience) 📸 Photo Guide ▪️ Ethnic style: Rent Bai costumes and shoot in Zhou Ancient Courtyard ▪️ Cinematic feel: Shoot the "Heavenly Road" to Erhai on Hongsheng Road ▪️ Cultural lens: Early market scenes capturing local elders with bamboo baskets 💡 Helpful Tips ❗ Day-night temperature difference: Bring a light down jacket (summer clothes at noon/winter clothes early and late) ❗ Upgraded sun protection: UV index remains high, SPF50+ needed ❗ Travel tip: Rent new energy vehicles (easy charging around the lake) ❗ Cultural etiquette: Do not step on thresholds or point at statues in temples 🌾 When the autumn wind stirs waves in the rice fields, you will understand—every journey is to find your own poetry and distant place between Cang and Erhai.