Flourishing Bikes | Around Erhai Lake Cycling Guide

On September 7, I, Landy, and some friends cycled around Erhai Lake. Everyone took photos and recorded data for us, providing a lot of material for this article.

I boldly used the word "guide" in the title, hoping the following content lives up to that name.

1

Before Cycling

First, if you use a cycling app, you can refer to the following roadbooks/routes/tracks (different apps have different names):

Xingzhe: Search for roadbook "3607953"

Strava: Search for route "Flourishing Bikes"

Hei Niao: Search for roadbook "1024113"

Liang Bu Lu: Search for track "Flourishing Bikes around Erhai", there are two tracks available

Keep: First select "Outdoor Cycling", then search for route "Flourishing Bikes"

These are all tracks starting from the Flourishing Bikes Ancient City Shop, going around Erhai Lake and returning to Flourishing Bikes. The total distance is about 130km. If your starting point is different, it doesn't matter; find the simplest way to merge onto this route.

Before starting your ride, you need to make two choices:

Choice 1: One-day around the lake vs. Two-day around the lake

This depends on your cycling ability and purpose.

Cycling ability is the primary factor. You need to seriously assess whether you can complete about 130km in one day. You can refer to your previous cycling or other outdoor experiences to make a judgment.

Secondly, consider your cycling purpose this time. Is it simply to complete the challenge of cycling around Erhai Lake, or do you want to use cycling to visit more scenic spots, fully enjoy the scenery, and learn about the culture?

Choice 2: Clockwise vs. Counterclockwise

We recommend cycling clockwise around the lake for two reasons: first, clockwise keeps you closer to the lake, giving you a better view of the water; second, only the lakeside of the East Erhai Road has a non-motorized vehicle lane, making cycling relatively safer.

2 Cycling Route

Overview of the Erhai Lake Cycling Route:

Erhai Lake is a long lake oriented north-south, so the roads around the lake are mainly distributed on the east and west sides. As shown in the picture above, a greenway called "Erhai Ecological Corridor" has been built on the west side of the lake, with a total length of 46km (the 48km in the picture is incorrect; the real starting point is not at "National Fitness Center" but at "Ecological Corridor Starting Point" 1.8km away). This road almost covers the entire west side of Erhai Lake. It only allows pedestrians and bicycles, and all other motor vehicles are prohibited. Therefore, in terms of safety, scenery, and road conditions, this road is very suitable for cycling. The sections outside the Erhai Ecological Corridor are public roads with asphalt surfaces, shared with vehicles. Remember to use the non-motorized vehicle lane on the right.

Below, I will divide the route around Erhai Lake into 5 segments using five key locations: A: Flourishing Bikes Ancient City Shop, B: Ecological Corridor End, C: Shuanglang Ancient Town, D: Airport Roundabout, E: Ecological Corridor Starting Point. I will explain each segment in detail:

First Segment: A-B

Flourishing Bikes Ancient City Shop - Ecological Corridor End

Entering the Erhai Ecological Corridor

We chose Xiaoyizhuang Road to go to the lakeside. This is the shortest route from Flourishing Bikes Ancient City Shop to the Erhai Ecological Corridor. The end of the road is a small alley, but don't be afraid; go straight to the end. When you see the screen wall below, don't think it's a dead end. The corridor entrance is right next to the screen wall.

Whether to go to Xizhou

Consider your cycling time. If you choose a two-day trip around the lake, we recommend not missing this town with rich history and culture. You can exit the corridor near Haishie Park to go to Xizhou Ancient Town. After exiting the corridor, go straight for two kilometers, and you will see Flourishing Bikes Xizhou Shop. If needed, you can store your bike and luggage there and walk to explore the ancient town.

Second Segment: B-C

Ecological Corridor End - Shuanglang Ancient Town

Two Ways for the North Section of Erhai

Another way for the north section of Erhai is along the red route in the picture, passing through Shangguan Town. This route is about 6km shorter than the original. If you need the roadbook for this route, you can search for "4713272" on Xingzhe.

Don't Be Misled by the Shuanglang Service Area Sign

Before arriving at Shuanglang, you will see a sign like this. It refers to the Shuanglang Service Area on the expressway, which is actually 5km away from Shuanglang Ancient Town.

Height Difference Between Motor Vehicle Lane and Non-Motorized Vehicle Lane

There is a long section where the non-motorized vehicle lane is lower than the motor vehicle lane, with a height difference of about 3-5 cm. Vehicles often park on the non-motorized vehicle lane, forcing us to ride on the motor vehicle lane. Be careful not to fall off your bike because of this.

Third Segment: C-D

Shuanglang Ancient Town - Airport Roundabout

Internal vs. External Roads in Shuanglang Ancient Town

Considering that most readers of this article are tourists visiting Dali for the first time, our track chooses the route that passes through Shuanglang Ancient Town. This way, you can visit Shuanglang's ethnic culture street while cycling around the lake, and you can also choose a good restaurant for lunch here.

If this is not your first time in Shuanglang, or if you don't want to be crowded, you can choose to take the East Erhai Road outside Shuanglang, bypassing the ancient town. This option involves one climb, and at the top of the slope, you can overlook the entire Shuanglang Ancient Town.

All Five Climbs Are on This Segment

All the climbs around Erhai Lake are on this segment. Apart from the slope outside Shuanglang, there are five other climbs. Each climb is not long, and the gradient is not steep.

Fourth Segment: D-E

Airport Roundabout - Ecological Corridor Starting Point

Xingsheng Bridge

At this point, you have cycled to the southwesternmost side of Erhai Lake. When you see Xingsheng Bridge, remember to get onto the bridge. There are two ways to get onto the bridge: one is to follow the motor vehicles on the auxiliary road to go around onto the bridge, the other is to carry your bike up the steps. You can use this method when there is heavy traffic.

Passing Through an Alley

After seeing the Luyue Hotel, do not turn left on the main road. Instead, choose the small alley directly in front of the hotel to go through. Follow the alley to the end. After exiting the alley, first turn right, then immediately turn left after 50 meters. Go straight for 370 meters to reach the entrance of the south section of the Ecological Corridor.

Fifth Segment: E-A

Ecological Corridor Starting Point - Flourishing Bikes Ancient City Shop

Exiting the Ecological Corridor

Look for the "Yueqi Seaview Hotel". Exit the Ecological Corridor from here, and you will find the road back.

Beyond the Cycling Route

About Tourist Attractions

Regarding the introduction of attractions along Erhai Lake, I believe you have seen related content on many platforms. Starting from Dali Ancient City, you will pass in order: Panxi S-Bend, Lang Bridge, Xizhou Ancient Town, Haishie Park and Twin Trees, Shuanglang Ancient Town, Luwo Mountain, Xiaoputuo, Wenbi Village, Tianjing Pavilion, Dali Santorini (Ideal State), Xingsheng Bridge, and Longkan Dock. Except for Haishie Park, which requires a one-day advance reservation, and Tianjing Pavilion, which requires a ticket, all other attractions can be visited for free directly. We also found a hand-drawn map to introduce the distribution of these attractions.

Of course, if you are interested in the history and culture of Dali, you can further explore the Bai architecture and screen wall culture along the way, visit the local Benzhu temples along the route, look for the estuaries of the 18 streams of Cangshan Mountain, and even study the specific location where Zhuge Liang captured Meng Huo seven times, or explore the origins of the Tang Dynasty Tianbao War.

About Peak and Off-Peak Seasons

Dali is a tourist city with distinct peak and off-peak seasons. Generally speaking, the summer and winter vacations, as well as May Day and National Day, are the peak seasons in Dali, while the rest of the time is off-peak.

During peak season, there are many people and vehicles. The popular spots on the Ecological Corridor, such as Panxi S-Bend and Longkan Dock, are overcrowded, and even bicycles experience traffic jams during peak hours. The congested section at Longkan Dock is about 800m, and at S-Bend, it is about 2km. On the East Erhai Road, areas near Shuanglang Ancient Town, Wase Xiaoputuo, and Haidong Ideal State have heavy traffic, so pay attention to safety.

During off-peak season, there are fewer tourists, and the areas along Erhai Lake are relatively quiet. Visitors still gather at S-Bend and Longkan, but it's not congested. If you want to enjoy the most peaceful view of Erhai Lake, off-peak season cycling is a good choice.

Impact of Dali Climate on Cycling Around Erhai Lake

Temperature: The lowest temperature in Dali occurs in January, ranging from 5-15°C. It is cooler in the morning and evening, so keep warm. The highest temperature occurs from late May to mid-June, ranging from 15-28°C, occasionally reaching 30°C, which is the highest temperature in Dali. Dali has high altitude and strong UV radiation throughout the year, so be sure to apply sunscreen.

Rainy Season: From late June to early September is the rainy season in Dali, with most rain being showers or thunderstorms. This has some impact on cycling, but not too much. We suggest taking shelter during heavy rain and waiting for the rain to change, while during light rain, you can cycle in a raincoat. The rain changes quickly in the rainy season, often leading to beautiful clouds and rainbows. Plus, cloudy weather means less intense UV radiation and cooler temperatures, which is why the rainy season is also a peak season.

Windy Season: From early December to the end of April is the windy season in Dali. During this time, it basically blows every day, with varying intensity. Typically, the wind is stronger in the afternoon. Based on previous guests' experience, if you are doing a single-day ride, you will encounter headwinds on the Haidong section in the afternoon, so be mentally prepared.

Pay attention to your physical condition

① Do not drink alcohol or stay up late before departure; it's best to have a regular and light diet.

② During the ride, your palms and buttocks will bear a lot of pressure and become painful. You can relieve this by changing riding positions.

③ After cycling, relax your body with stretching, which can effectively prevent muscle soreness.

Night Cycling Environment

Most situations requiring night cycling occur in the fifth segment. The Erhai Ecological Corridor has no streetlights. An alternative is to take the Dali Line (Dali Road), which has streetlights on most sections. Whichever road you choose, be sure to slow down and pay attention to safety.

About Food, Accommodation, and Supplies

If you choose a one-day trip around the lake, we suggest having lunch in Shuanglang Ancient Town. If you choose a two-day trip, we suggest having lunch in Xizhou Ancient Town on the first day, having dinner and staying overnight in Shuanglang, and having lunch in Haidong Town on the second day. These locations have many choices for food and accommodation.

There are many small shops and supermarkets along the route around Erhai Lake, so you don't need to worry about supplies. Don't carry too much water and food before departure; minimize your load as much as possible.

About Repair Points

Bicycle repair points along the Erhai Lake route are mainly located in Xiaguan City, the Ancient City area, or in towns along the way. Most sections are far from repair points, so it is recommended to bring portable repair tools just in case. If you rent a bicycle from Flourishing Bikes, we will do our best to support you in solving any problems, and if necessary, we will send a vehicle for rescue.

About Huolala (Lalamove)

Calling a Huolala truck in Dali is relatively convenient, but pay attention to the booking time; it's best not to be later than 18:00. If no one picks up the order, you can try increasing the price on the system. Someone will come if the price is right.

I hope the above information can help those who come to Dali for cycling. We will continue to improve and update based on this foundation, providing everyone with more practical and reliable information about cycling around Erhai Lake.

Special thanks to the friends who provided support for this article: Landy, Wu Shuang, Lu Xiaoche, Lao Wang, Zhang Xuan, Da Shuo, Zhao Yong, Piao Piao, Xiang Cai, A Shan, and Kai Shui.

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