Four Design-Led Stays Around Dali and Erhai Lake

Dali is summed up locally by wind at Xiaguan, flowers at Shangguan, snow on Cangshan and moonlight over Erhai. The buildings around the lake give those phrases something to lean on. The four places below differ sharply from one another: an artist's house, a courtyard compound inside the old town, a director's stone house beside the water, and a retreat started by a group of designers. They suit different parts of a trip.

Qinglu: An Artist's House Above the Lake

Qinglu sits high on Yuji Island, around an open courtyard planted through the year. Artist Zhao Qing built the house; the scholar Nan Huaijin gave it its name. Materials are organised by the five elements, with hard and soft surfaces set against each other, and Erhai's changing light keeps the effect calm rather than theatrical. From the upper slope the view takes in the lake and the Cangshan range, and sunset is the hour to be in the common areas. Rooms are duplexes with ceilings above five metres. The lowest level serves as dining room and lobby, with old coral, silver and folk pieces hung loosely around it. This is a private house with rooms rather than a conventional hotel, so confirm visiting and room-access arrangements before planning a stay.

THE ONE Ancient City Courtyard: A Compound Inside the Walls

Inside the old town, THE ONE Ancient City Courtyard sits up the slope from the south gate. Designer Hu Gang combined Hui-style architecture with Bai vernacular forms, producing a compound of courtyards and villas rather than a single block. A dry-landscape garden sets a contemplative tone, and from the terraces the view opens over rooftops to Erhai and Cangshan. Singer Faye Wong has stayed here, and scenes from the film Breakup Buddies were shot on site, but the appeal is more practical: a quiet base within walking distance of the old town's streets. Vehicle access inside the walls is restricted, and the hotel arranges transfers and luggage help; check the current rules with them before arrival.

Guishu: Stone, Sea and a Director's Eye

Across the lake in Shuanglang, Guishu was built as director Zhang Yang's home over four years. Local masons carried stone up the slope and worked it by hand, and the architect Ba Xun combined that Bai stonework and grey tiled roofs with steel and glass. The front door is made from salvaged boat timber that had been soaked in Erhai. The main building has three levels, with a viewing terrace above and an atrium for receiving guests below; a lower annex extends into a pool that meets the lake. Late afternoon and sunset are the best times to be outside. The house stands in Dajianpang Village on the She Mountain peninsula, close to the water. Rooms are spacious and use large windows to keep the lake in view, though the property is still a village house at heart. Ask about access to the pool and public areas when booking.

Wushe: A Designer Collective's Quiet Retreat

Wushe began in 2011, when Lao K and several designer friends cycled around Erhai and decided to build a guesthouse together. The project became a shared ideal: a place shaped by designers but not dominated by a signature style. Its plainness is deliberate. Stone walls are 60 to 70 centimetres thick, wooden floors have underfloor heating, and the beds use high-quality mattresses. The aim is a comfortable relationship between guest and space rather than visual display. Erhai is close, and the horizon fills the view. For travellers who want quiet, solid materials and a retreat that does not ask to be photographed at every turn, Wushe is the most restrained of the four.

Before You Book

All four are small and individually run, so policies vary. Some common areas may be open only to staying guests; others may admit outside visitors by arrangement. Confirm access, transfers, room type and any seasonal restrictions with the property or local tourism information before setting out, and note that the old town and the lakeshore villages operate different traffic rules. Qinglu suits architecture and sunset, THE ONE puts you inside the old town, Guishu is about water and Shuanglang, and Wushe is the quietest of the group. Book through official channels, and treat the houses as homes rather than attractions.