Dali

Plan your arrival around your first stop

Dali has both Dali Railway Station and Dali Airport. Choose your onward connection only after deciding whether your first stop is Dali Ancient City, Xiaguan, or Shuanglang.

For Dali Ancient City, the Dali government lists rail-station bus and direct tourist-shuttle options. It also lists airport-bus service to Dali Ancient City or Xiaguan. Treat these as starting points for your plan and confirm the current service details with the operator before travel.

Keep Nanzhao Folk Island as a separate transfer

Nanzhao Folk Island is in Shuanglang Village, on the northeastern part of Erhai Lake. The official destination listing says visitors take a ferry from the south-side pier in Shuanglang to reach the island.

That means an island visit has two distinct parts: get to Shuanglang first, then make the ferry crossing. Do not assume that a rail or airport connection takes you directly to the island.

A simple decision order

1. Pick your first base: Dali Ancient City, Xiaguan, or Shuanglang.
2. If arriving by rail or air for Dali Ancient City, compare the official bus and shuttle options listed for that destination.
3. If visiting Nanzhao Folk Island, allow time to reach Shuanglang and then take the ferry from its south-side pier.
4. Recheck live transport arrangements before leaving, since the official pages identify access options but are not a substitute for same-day operating information.

Keep the plan flexible

Dali is easiest to handle when each transfer has one purpose. Rail and air bring you into Dali; the Ancient City has listed onward options; Nanzhao Folk Island requires the Shuanglang ferry step. Keeping those movements separate makes the day easier to adjust if your arrival changes.