Landscape Hotel Dali
by the TopOfHotel team
A 4-star where the pool and the restaurant both look straight out over Erhai Lake, for noticeably less than the same view costs inside the Ancient Town.
A 4-star where the pool and the restaurant both look straight out over Erhai Lake, for noticeably less than the same view costs inside the Ancient Town.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Rooms come in a modern Chinese-Yunnan style, clean and on the spacious side. The ones to book are the Lake View rooms, which add a private balcony looking out over Erhai Lake with Cangshan Mountain behind it. Early mornings are the payoff — mist over the lake makes for a view most reviewers call out, alongside how clean the rooms are kept.
Food and amenities
The outdoor pool is the main draw, ringed by the lake view, which is what sets a swim here apart from the standard hotel pool. The restaurant serves Yunnan and Chinese food with Erhai in front of you, and reviewers single out both the cooking and the view while you eat. Free parking is a genuine plus if you're renting a car to explore.
Location and getting there
You're about 5 km from Dali Ancient Town, a 5–10 minute drive or a cheap local tuk-tuk. It suits people renting a car, since parking is easy. Erhai Lake sits right nearby — you can rent a bike from the hotel and ride the loop, which runs roughly 40–50 km and fits into a day. Dali Airport (DLU) is about 13 km out, near a 30-minute drive.
Things to know before booking
The trade-off is the location: this isn't inside the Ancient Town, so reaching the old walls, Three Pagodas and the night-time restaurants on Renmin Road means a short drive each time. You're also away from the shops and the after-dark food scene, which means evenings are either at the hotel restaurant or a trip into town. Worth weighing if you'd rather stumble out the door straight into the old streets.
Our take
If the view is what you're after, Landscape Hotel Dali is the smart pick — Erhai Lake and Cangshan together, an outdoor pool facing the water, and a restaurant with the same outlook, all for around $51 a night and a 8.5/10 score. Best for couples and families happy to swap an Ancient Town address for a better view at a fairer price.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- You get Erhai Lake and Cangshan Mountain in the same view, from both the rooms and the pool — a combination most hotels here can't manage.
- The outdoor pool is the main draw, ringed by the lake view, which makes a swim here feel different from the usual hotel pool.
- The restaurant serves Yunnan and Chinese food with the lake in front of you, and reviewers single out both the cooking and the view at the table.
- Free parking is a real advantage if you're renting a car to drive the Erhai loop yourself.
- Better value than Ancient Town hotels charging for a comparable view — rooms start around $51 a night.
- It isn't in the Ancient Town. Reaching the old walls means a 5–10 minute drive or a local tuk-tuk, so it's less convenient if you want to wander out on foot.
- You're away from the shops and the night-time restaurants, so evenings mean either eating at the hotel or heading into town.
- With the pool and lake view as the headline, the surroundings are quieter and more spread out than a central guesthouse — not the spot if you want the Ancient Town buzz on your doorstep.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Dali
Day tours, attraction tickets and experiences around Dali — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
See activities in DaliAffiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Insider Tips
- Ask for a Lake View room — the Erhai Lake view at sunrise is the best reason to stay here.
- Rent a bike from the hotel and ride the Erhai Lake loop — it runs roughly 40–50 km and you can do the whole circuit in a day.
- Eat at the hotel restaurant — prices come in below Ancient Town places of the same standard, and you keep the lake view.