5 Days Dali Muslim Tour with Weishan Old Town

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Dali to Weishan
   Explore Ancient Towers & Alleyways in Weishan Town

   At around 9 a.m., your tour guide will pick you up at your hotel and drive you to Weishan county. This is a famous historical and cultural city in China and also the birthplace of the Nanzhao Kingdom (738-902). After arriving, check into the hotel.

   The day is yours for relaxation and exploration in Weishan Ancient Town, where you can discover everything by yourself. Besides the charming old residential houses, the city's major draw is the antique structures that are in good condition, like Gongchen Tower and Xinggong Tower, each having its unique feature. Take a stroll through the tiny streets and find a few nice craft shops that you can visit. Moreover, you can savor some of the local specialties like Qingdou Gao 青豆小糕 (green bean cake) and Parou Ersi 粑肉饵丝 (rice noodled with stewed pork) and have a taste of the local life.

   

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   3-Star Hotel in Weishan
2. Day 2: Weishan to Dali
   Visit Donglianhua Mosque, Experience Hui Family Life, Stroll Dali Ancient Town

   After breakfast, drive northward to Donglianhua Village, the largest Hui ethnic community in this area. This village was established in the early Ming Dynasty and has a history of over 600 years.

   Arriving in 40 minutes, your guide will lead you to visit the Donglianhua Mosque in detail. The temple covers an area of approximately 5,867 square meters and is mainly painted in grey-blue and white. The main hall is 9 meters high and can accommodate a thousand people for prayer. The front porch is decorated with brackets and Islamic-style carvings. The four-story minaret is 14 meters high and is the most distinctive feature of this temple. As the most important religious site in Donglianhua village, it also preserves many historical relics including plaques and stone carvings that are worth seeing.

   Afterwards, take you to visit a Muslim family in the village and gain a deeper understanding of their daily life. Visit their house and taste the butter tea. Lunch will be arranged in a local Muslim restaurant, such as lamb kebabs, Lamian Noodles, pilaf, etc.

   

   In the afternoon, travel to Dali to explore the Dali Old City, which is perfectly nestled between Mount Cangshan and Lake Erhai. The area has been the center of the Bai culture for more than 1200 years. The old city is displayed in a chessboard design, linked by paths paved with bluestone. Fuxing Road is the most frequented street in the old city, along which the southern and northern gates are located, with a total length of 1500 meters. The shops that line both sides are built in the architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties. You have the option to go up the Wuhua Tower at sunset (at your own cost), and take a Cangshan and ancient city panoramic view.

   Enjoy dinner at a local halal restaurant in Dali, where you can taste lamb hotpot, large plate chicken, and more. After dinner, check into a hotel in the Dali Old Town. You can explore Dali's nightlife on your own at night.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Dali
3. Day 3: Dali Exploration
   Cruise Erhai Lake and Explore Historic Mosques in Dali

   Today's visit in Dali will begin at Erhai Lake. Erhai Lake is 40 kilometers long from north to south and is the second largest lake in Yunnan Province after Dianchi Lake in Kunming. It is regarded by many tourists as the most relaxing place in China. For a more leisurely trip, you will take a boat tour around Erhai Lake, enjoying the beautiful scenery of the surrounding mountains, Bai ethnic villages and flocks of migratory birds.

   

   The cruise boat is going to dock at Xiaoputuo (小普陀) Island. This is a limestone island to the east of Erhai Lake that was named for its likeness to Putuo Mountain in the South China Sea. The island's rocky areas where little trees grow create a special natural bonsai scene. One of the island's attractions is a two-storey Ming Dynasty pavilion with divine statues inside the pavilion. After the tour, go back to Dali Ancient Town for a halal lunch.

   In the afternoon, be taken by the guide to the South Gate Mosque of Dali. This mosque is one of the top 100 ancient mosques in China and it dates back to the Yuan Dynasty. The temple marries traditional Chinese and Islamic architectural styles and adopts a quadrangle courtyard-style layout. In the temple, there used to be screen walls and stone archways which have all been damage but still appear ancient and simple. The South Gate Mosque as a significant carrier of Hui culture in Dali, is not only a worship place for believers but also a window for tourists to comprehend the Islamic culture and experience the diversity of ethnic customs.

   

   Perhaps you want to learn about the culture of the Bai ethnic group. Then you can visit the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture Museum on your own during the remaining time. It houses over 7,000 items including ethnic cultural relics, other materials and marble masterpieces, many of which are rare treasures, such as the chime bells from the Warring States Period; models of paddy fields, pottery houses and pottery horses from the Western Han Dynasty to the Jin Dynasty; Statues of Guanyin and Maitreya from the Dali Kingdom of Nanzhao. Of course, you can also stroll around the ancient city once again and enjoy the leisurely time.

   Dinner will be enjoyed at a halal restaurant in Dali.

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   4-Star Hotel in Dali
4. Day 4: Dali to Yongping
   Discover Yongping’s Qudong Mosque and Traditional Hui Village Life

   After breakfast, drive for 2 hours to reach Yongping County, where you will visit the Qudong Mosque. This serves as the local center for Muslim religious activities, featuring a layout with inner and outer courtyards: the inner courtyard houses the main prayer hall, north and south wings, and a three-storey minaret. The main hall boasts elegant and ancient architecture, its spaciousness and distinctive design making it the finest mosque in the entire county.

   

   After the visit, stroll through this Hui village to learn about the daily lives of local Muslims. Lunch will be served at a halal restaurant in Yongping County.

   Return to Dali in the afternoon. You may arrange your time freely — relax at the hotel or explore on your own.

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   4-Star Hotel in Dali
5. Day 5: Dali Departure

   Good morning, enjoy your last time in Dali. After breakfast, your driver will pick you up at the agreed time and transfer you to the railway station or airport for departure. This is the end service of your 5-day Dali muslim tour in Yunnan. Hope you have a great time with us. See you next time.

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