Xiaguan Hot Springs

An authentic, non-touristy temple.

Visit Guanyin Temple and several islands. Go with a group and enjoy a great day out. Boats can be easily arranged as the owners come into town to drum up business and you can see what you are getting from the photobooks they carry. Ferry rides at real stations cost around ¥30. There are signs indicating that fishing boats and paddle boats can't carry tourists, although it is unclear what the definition of tourist is.

A deep blue pool that periodically swarms with countless butterflies, with a legend to go with it: Long ago, a young woman named Wen Gu and a young man named Xia Lang were in love. But the prince took a fancy to Wen Gu and kidnapped her. Xia Lang rescued his beloved, but the soldiers pursued them and, unable to defend themselves, the star-crossed lovers jumped into the deep pond. Early the next morning, out of the pond flew a pair of beautiful butterflies, and then countless butterflies flew to the pond from all over, fluttering and dancing in the air. For many hundreds of years since, the pond has been a gathering point for young men and women to dance, sing, and spend time with the butterflies.

The site also includes a fairly nice hillside park with trees and birds, a small butterfly breeding centre, a Butterfly Museum (蝴蝶管) with hundreds of mounted butterfly specimens, and (the highlight) the "world of butterflies" (蝴蝶世界), a big greenhouse where you can see lots of butterflies flying around. You can pay an extra ¥15 for a ride to the pond on a sort of oversized golf cart, but it's probably not worth it - it's less than a kilometer and a nice walk anyway.

Offering one of the best preserved Buddhist structures in China. However, the compounds behind the pagodas were destroyed during the 1920s earthquake and later in the Cultural Revolution and were rebuilt starting in 1986. The Central Pagoda is almost 1200 years old and represents a period when Dali was a Buddhist Kingdom. The Congshen Temple behind the Three Pagodas has been rebuilt and reopened, after deteriorating in the 20th century due to earthquakes, fires and the Cultural Revolution. It is a massive complex that continues far up the mountain, where a climb to the top of the pagodas rewards with a beautiful overlook of Dali Ancient Town and Erhai Lake. Worth a visit for the Tang architecture, numerous golden statues of the Buddha and Guanyin with influences from both India and China, dragon fountains, and two small museum showcases. While you're there, don't miss the eccentrically translated "Shadow Agglomeration Pond" (聚影池), where you can see the reflections of the three pagodas in a very picturesque way. The large rock on a pedestal covered with small holes may be a bit of a puzzle—a hint is that it's called the "Frog Call Stone" (蛙鸣石)

The complex also includes a small but tasty vegetarian buffet, open 11:30 to 13:00, ¥20. The tables have a charming but perhaps slightly self-serving couplet in Classical Chinese: "Thrift is the greatest virtue; luxury is the worst vice."

You can pay extra for a ride up the complex on a sort of oversized golf cart, but it's probably not worth it because the sights are basically all next to each other in a line from the entrance.

Worth a visit. It has an extensive collection of exhibits, with half signs are translated into English. The museum grounds are beautiful as well, the exhibits are set around a traditional garden.

Xizhou has almost 200 national heritage listed private houses dating from the Qing Dynasty. The houses are among the best examples of traditional Qing architecture in China and are exquisitely detailed. Chinese style with local touches. Building craftsmen from Xizhou were famous throughout Southeast Asia and travelled to Vietnam, Myanmar and throughout Southwest China to build and decorate houses. When they made their fortune, they returned to Xizhou to build their own homes. As most of these houses are occupied, you must be on your best behaviour, knock and enter with permission. The best way to see the finest examples are with a local guide as many of the interesting houses are difficult to find. Nonetheless, with a little legwork and good manners you can locate plenty of interesting architecture on your own. The family estate of the Yan clan is preserved as a museum and open to the public, and while an excellent example of the architecture of the very rich is too commercial and compares poorly with more ordinary family homes in the township. Definitely worth a visit for a getaway if you need a break from the more modern Dali Old Town.