Erhai Lake

Chinese name: 洱海 (Er Hai)
Location: Dali, Yunnan Province 
Ticket: Erhai Lake cruise CNY142.00
Estimated tour time: Half day to one day
Recommended time to visit: All year round
Nearby attractions: Dali ancient town, Cang Mountain, Xizhou ancient town, Nanzhao Island of Folk Culture, Butterfly Spring, etc.

Located in Dali City, Erhai Lake is considered a Mother Lake of locals (Bai Minority) and it was cordially called as Gold Moon by Bai people. An elegant and graceful lake in plateau, Erhai Lake of Dali is the second largest freshwater lake in Yunnan Province and a seventh largest one in China. Erhai was called Yeyushui or West Erhe in ancient times. The lake got its name from its ear-shape as ear called Er in Chinese. Lying against Mt. Cangshan, Erhai Lake possesses great charms especially with a Moon Scene, which is one of the Four Greatest Scenes in Dali (other three are flowers of Shangguan, winds of Xiaguan and Snow of Mt. Cangshan. If look down in the sky, the Erhai Lake is also a crescent-shape, peacefully lying between Mount Cangshan and some dams.

● Highlights of Erhai Lake

The lakeshore can be explored by hiking. Highlights include Erhai Park and the Butterfly Springs on the Western bank. Islands on the lake – including Guanyin Ge, Jinsuo Island , Nanzhao Folklore Island and Xiaoputuo Island – are also available for visits.

The lake is an important food source for the local people, who are famous for their fishing method: their trained cormorants catch fish and return them to fishmongers. The birds are prevented from swallowing their fish by rings fixed around their neck.

Nanzhao Island of Folk Island

This is one of the three islands which you find in Erhai Lake. It is also popularly known as the Nanzhao Love Island. There are various sights to see on this island including eight which are man-made. You can find the Nanzhao Summer Palace, the Guanyin Acuoye Statue, the Taihu Rocks, Square of the Patron Gods, the Statues of “Mother Shayi”, and more.

Little Putuo Island

This is an island which is very close to the Wase Village and is the smallest of the islands present. One of the greatest attractions of this island is the Ming-dynasty Little Putuo Temple. Worshippers can visit either of the two floors available in the temple to worship Avalokiteshvara or Buddha Bodhisattva.

Jinsuo Island

Translating the name of this island to English, it translates to the golden shuttle. There is also a Yinshuo Island, the silver shuttle, which is smaller and is located at the southeast of the Jinsuo Island. The Jinsuo Island is also home to the Jade Dragon Palace. As a traveler, there is a visitation fee of 20 Yuan. The Three Courses of Tea which the Bai houses provide is something to enjoy.

Luoquan Peninsula

If you want to get a great view of the Jade Erhai Lake and the Silver Cangshan Mountain, then the Luoquan Peninsula is an excellent location to visit. Other attractions include the Guanyin Pavilion and the Luonquan Temple. 

Riding a bike

For those who want to enjoy the actual Erhai Lake, the best way to explore is through riding a bike. People can ride boats and go to small islands where temples are built. Around Erhai Lake is a circuit ideal for cycling. Enjoy some fun cardio experience riding the bike with the lake, the villages and the mountain as your backdrops. 

You can also enjoy dining by the lakeside to eat those popular local cuisines. The food you at here will definitely be fresh since the fishermen get their fish from the lake. Thus, the Erhai Lake is not just a feast for the eyes and your mind, but also your tummy. Enjoy local fish at their freshest on one of the local diners in the area. Try the carp which is very popular. The water is clear and clean so you know the food is safe.

● Geography of Erhai 

Erhai is situated at 1,972 metres  above sea level. In size, the North-South length of the lake is 40 kilometresand the East-West width is roughly 7–8 kilometres. Its area is 250 square kilometres, making it the second largest highland lake of China, after Dianchi Lake. Its circumference reaches 116 kilometres, its average depth is of 11 metres and the total storage capacity of 2.5 billion cubic metres .

The lake serves as a backdrop to all of Dali City and sandwiches Dali Town in the west against the Cang Mountain. The lake's head is at Shangguan Town, its northern extremity, and its southernmost point is at Xiaguan Town. The lake receives water from the Miju and Mici Rivers in the north, the Bolou River in the east, and smallers streams from the Cang Mountains in the west. Yangbi River, to the south, is the lake's outlet and eventually flows into the Lancang River (Mekong River).

As it took shape at the end of Ice Age as a result of sedimentation and erosion, the water in Erhai Lake is crystal clear with high transparency clarity, which made the Erhai Lake with great reputation as A Immaculacy Gem Amidst Mountains or A Gem on Plateau since ancient times.