Town in Yunnan, China
Dali for solo travelers
Is Dali good for solo travel?
A lakeside old town below the Cangshan mountains and China's best-known nomad and slow-travel base. Cool, clean air and cheap rent; crowded in holidays and thin on formal coworking and English.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Limited |
| Safety | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Solo women | Very comfortable for solo women, including cycling around the lake. Normal precautions apply on remote paths. |
How to meet people in Dali
Hostels and cafés in Old Town, guesthouse yoga and creative events, bicycle groups on Erhai, and the Chinese remote-work crowd in Shuanglang.
Good things to do alone
- Cycle the Erhai lake loop
- Hike a Cangshan mountain path
- Wander Xizhou's Bai courtyards and market
- Eat Bai grilled cheese and baba bread
- Take a Bai tie-dye class in Zhoucheng
Where to stay in Dali
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Dali Old Town | First-timers: guesthouses, cafés, walls and gates, walkable |
| Xizhou | Quiet Bai village; slower long stays, local food |
| Shuanglang and Erhai east shore | Lake views, retreats and long stays; needs a bike |
| Xiaguan | The modern city: train station, hospitals, shops |
Solo travel across China
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Chengdu | 5/5 | Limited |
| Beijing | 4/5 | Limited |
| Shanghai | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Xi'an | 4/5 | Limited |
| Chongqing | 4/5 | Limited |
| Hangzhou | 4/5 | Limited |
| Yangshuo | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Lijiang | 4/5 | Limited |
| Xiamen | 4/5 | Limited |
| Dali | 4/5 | Limited |
| Huangshan | 4/5 | Limited |
| Kunming | 4/5 | Limited |
| Qingdao | 4/5 | Limited |
| Nanjing | 4/5 | Limited |
| Changsha | 4/5 | Limited |
| Pingyao | 4/5 | Rare |
| Dunhuang | 4/5 | Rare |
| Guilin | 3/5 | Limited |
| Shenzhen | 3/5 | Limited |
| Guangzhou | 3/5 | Limited |
| Zhangjiajie | 3/5 | Rare |
| Suzhou | 3/5 | Limited |
| Harbin | 3/5 | Limited |
| Sanya | 3/5 | Limited |
| Lhasa | 3/5 | Rare |
| Shangri-La | 3/5 | Rare |
| Jiuzhaigou | 3/5 | Rare |
| Kashgar | 3/5 | Rare |
| Wuhan | 3/5 | Limited |
| Tianjin | 3/5 | Limited |
Quick answers
Is Dali good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). A lakeside old town below the Cangshan mountains and China's best-known nomad and slow-travel base.
How do you meet people in Dali?
Hostels and cafés in Old Town, guesthouse yoga and creative events, bicycle groups on Erhai, and the Chinese remote-work crowd in Shuanglang. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Dali?
Limited.
Is Dali safe for solo female travelers?
Very comfortable for solo women, including cycling around the lake. Normal precautions apply on remote paths.
More about Dali
Going to Dali solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Dali meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.