Travel Vlog | 3 Days in Dali, Yunnan, China

On January 1, 2020, my dad and I took a spontaneous 3-day trip to a southern Chinese region: Dali (located in Yunnan Province).
During the trip, we were greeted by a very friendly group of local people (and dogs), who introduced us to the local history, culture, and cuisine. I learned a lot of historical lessons along the way, as well as emerged myself in the serenity of the natural landscape. Now, I would love to share my experience with you, and hope it'll intrigue you to take the trip yourself and record your own version of Dali in memory.
As ironic as 2020 turned out afterward, it only made me more grateful that I got to spend some quality family and friends time at such a hospitable and beautiful region at the beginning of this new decade -- filled with hope.
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Location Details:
1:55 Mandala House (大理吉廓酒店) : www.dianping.com/shop/G8jNYswQ...
3:46 TangCafe (唐咖): www.dianping.com/shop/H2TvYuAk...
7:38 Shangxi Historical Market Town (沙溪古镇): www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...
10:56 Rainbow Farm (彩虹农场): www.dianping.com/shop/H8IpHrC2...
12:38 Shuanglang (双廊): www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...
13:07 Sun Palace (太阳宫): www.trip.com/travel-guide/att...
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Equipment: Canon 5D Mark IV
Music: www.bensound.com

[@piscator2813]

Been to Dali 3 times, will probably retire in Dali. Such a lovely town.

[@charlottechen75]

Definitely! Actually met a U.S. lady who actually relocated to Dali and been there for 3 years

[@rinsengthai2682]

This video deserved more attention 😊 keep up you're good work❤

[@charlottechen75]

Thanks for your kind words! 😊

[@VictoriaLouise]

WOW!! I’ve recently moved to China with my boyfriend and we’re hoping to travel around Yunnan over CNY! Loved this vlog! 🤩

[@charlottechen75]

Congratulations! Hope you guys had a wonderful trip and get to visit more provinces

[@kashcorner1528]

Lovely vibes ❤️❤️❤️🌟🙌 Thank you!

[@yananneteoh9818]

Good video. Great camera shots, such fine details and I love the close ups on the food. You deserve a bigger following and Ive subscribed. It 'd be great to ha ve lotd of humourous moments. Thank you for sharing.

[@charlottechen75]

Hi Anne, thank you for your sweet comment, it means a lot 😊 hoping to do more when things get closer back to normal 🤞

[@RajOswal]

Wow. Love your style. You deserve a better following. I'm in!

[@pjz2007]

Great story telling, good camera shots. Can’t wait to see more of them.

[@charlottechen75]

Thank you so much! Currently planning for the next one ☺️

[@alexc8209]

great video thanks. i went to Dali in 2012 and loved every second of it. it was great to be reminded of that trip. Subbed

[@charlottechen75]

So glad to hear, I miss it as well! Hope they open up again soon

[@carmenliu9699]

Wow, this video is awesome. Great job photographer Chen！Looking forward to our next trip😍

[@charlottechen75]

We’ll be taking many more trips together in the future 😘😘😘

[@tshungchingtay4838]

Awesome, I have been to Dali once and definitely will go back again

[@LouisDaubersies]

Good vlog ! Thanks for this video!

[@bobmaxjeff]

I was in Dali in 2019, we had a good tour guide, she was only able to speak mandarin. I, unfortunately only spoke Cantonese and English. My wife had to do all the translations for me, but a lot of information was lost. After seeing your descriptive video, I can appreciate it more. I love Yunnan province, hopefully will go back for another visit. Thank you for a wonderful video.

[@udz5480]

very beautiful place!

[@hyasnglahi8105]

I miss Dali.. missing the people I became friends with.. 😥😥😥

[@charlottechen75]

Hope you get to visit again soon after the pandemic ❤️

[@cheahkoksoon]

Well narrated! Good job.

[@charlottechen75]

Thank you 😊

[@faga000]

Preparing to travel to Dali and Lijiang with my girlfriend for Chinese New Year, this video made us felt more hyped about the trip! Beautiful video, great shots and the reflection at the end is just too perfect, thank you!

[@charlottechen75]

That’s so exciting!!! Hope you and your girlfriend are having an amazing time there!

[@liedjong2171]

beautiful place ❤❤❤

[@RawVeganAthleteAndreas]

Wow thx for sharing this! 🙂

[@viceieva]

Awesome 😍

[@our4feettravelers760]

wow looks amazing there we would love to go some day

[@charlottechen75]

Thanks! Hope you guys get to make the trip soon!

[@Thedevil5000]

❤️

[@loyaluwang4228]

Amazing watching from India

[@rikoajeng]

Really beautiful city 😍

[@charlottechen75]

I agree! 😆

[@rikoajeng]

@@charlottechen75 I wish I can go there someday

[@detrickguillory7537]

Absolutely beautiful! Thank you for your wonderful video & lovely narration.

[@charlottechen75]

Thanks for your support!

[@lloveyou8125]

haha，l always see you

[@lloveyou8125]

l feel you love china

[@detrickguillory7537]

@@lloveyou8125 Yes, I do love beautiful China. Looking forward to returning & visiting other countries for the first time like Japan, New Zealand, … Once this pandemic is over, I am on my way. What is your number 1 city & country you want to visit?

[@lloveyou8125]

@@detrickguillory7537 l cant speak english and need Make money，l havent go abaord yet maybe Norway ….

[@justfindit]

This needs to get popular... fast

[@charlottechen75]

Thank you so much for the support Josh! 😆🙈

[@mochichichi2458]

Wow I wanna go too!!

[@charlottechen75]

Hope you can soon!

[@Bravevanguard]

I hope you will make more videos.

[@travelandlaughs9281]

Not sure if you are still active on here, but my boyfriend and I are watching this video and happened upon it by chance. I would have thought you had 10k subscribers or something! The quality is amazing, and we have now added Dali to our travel list! We miss travel so much. 😭 I hope you are well. If you ever decide to keep uploading, we will for sure keep watching!

[@charlottechen75]

Thank you so much for you warm message 😭 really made my day. This was my first serious travel video, and unfortunately covid hit right after. I did acquire more equipments lately so I’m very eager to take the next trip and video. Your comment really encourages me to keep shooting. Hope we both get to travel again soon 😊 🙌

[@travelandlaughs9281]

@@charlottechen75 OMG YOU ANSWERED SO FAST! 😇😁 Yes, my significant other and I miss travel so so much. 😭 We were supposed to go to Japan, and then Covid hit...2017, 18, and 19 were great travel years for us. Let's hope things get better soon and OMG YES please keep doing travel videos once we can travel again! Your video was so informative and in-depth, and your personality seems awesome. 😁 Plus, the camera shots were amazing. Honestly, him and I kept pausing your video while watching it and talked about how good it was hahaha. I am 27, idk how old you are but I really want to spend my time traveling now. 😭 Hopefully soon! I hope you are safe and well, and your dad is doing ok? ✨

[@charlottechen75]

@@travelandlaughs9281 Japan is amazing! I’ve only been to Tokyo and travelled down to Osaka, but I’m so ready to go to the Hokkaido area after covid. Amazing haha we’re the same age! Gotta see the world starting young. My dad is doing fine too thanks for asking. Hope you and your family stay safe as well!

[@PriyankaTimesFiles]

Nice : Priyanka from london

[@lulumeow146]

Nice channel 👍👍🥰

[@dr.misbahharoonkhan6881]

Haven't shown Dali city, butterfly park, cangSheng and so on. I don't know if bad monkey is still in old town?.

[@lenndailou8814]

Wow! This is awesome. New subscriber😊

[@charlottechen75]

Thank u and welcome! 😊

[@lenndailou8814]

@@charlottechen75 you are nice

[@califitness6786]

Great vlog! Keep it up:)q

[@charlottechen75]

Thank you ☺️☺️

[@lifeislikethat-raj7798]

Are you in China ?

[@UnsettledJourney]

What's your favorite thing about going to visit China? We like traveling too and invite you to our page to join our journey!

[@jinniu]

Can you tell us the name and address of the noodle place?

[@charlottechen75]

Hi Carl, the noodle place is called “Rainbow Farm (彩虹农场)”. It doesn’t have an exact address, but you can input the Chinese name on map or the Chinese Yelp to find it. They’re always fully booked though so you’ll need to reserve by phone as early as possible and let them know if you are joining for lunch, afternoon tea, or dinner. FYI they don’t offer any menu; the ingredients are sourced organically from their farm, so depending on the season you would get served different things during your slot.

[@RajOswal]

hi I'm going to be going to Dali in two weeks for 2-3 nights and was inspired by this video. Can you share the links and /or contact information for some of the spots that you mentioned like the farm restaurant lunch place and the village at the northeastern edge of Erhai lake (sun and moon palaces)?

[@charlottechen75]

Hi Raj. Thanks for the support and suggestion! I just added the timestamps and links to some of the places under the video description. The unfortunate thing is that the only way I can find the restaurants and hotels are through the Chinese-equivalence of Yelp (dianping.com), which I don't think provides english translation. But I added the Chinese names next to them, so you can show them to your hotel or guide and see if they can help you find them. Hope you have a good trip!

[@bingobeat]

I am student of dali University ...dali is heaven of South west china

[@charlottechen75]

So jealous! You get that heavenly view everyday!

[@RajOswal]

Can you provide a link to Mandela House or the Chinese name?

[@charlottechen75]

Mandala House (大理吉廓酒店) : www.dianping.com/shop/G8jNYswQEsTEVbsF

[@shirlowcristosky3358]

耶稣基督爱你

[@senhuachang1689]

手真的稳！嘻嘻😁

[@charlottechen75]

哈哈哈 其实单反加镜头超重... 太难了😂 很多防抖是后期加上的.

[@lloveyou8125]

@@charlottechen75 哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈

[@LimYulu]

Remember Dali remember demi gods and semi devils

[@simonkimber1152]

Dali is great…. Little over restored but beautiful…. Not easy to visit at present and their tourism industry is suffering…. Shanxi ancient town is way better and far more sympathetically restored… now all done but a ghost town

[@charlottechen75]

Main impediment is the rough road leading to Shaxi, but totally worth the trip imo. Hopefully the town will be ready for visitors when the border opens again

[@simonkimber1152]

@@charlottechen75 apart from the road… shanxi town is ready …. Just needs zero Covid to be over

[@alan85]

"Before we knew it, we were welcoming the first sunrise of the decade... and a new virus. Hello, 2020!"

[@maximumsec]

No, it's not a dog paradise. I just came back from 12 days in Dali and I saw just a few dogs. To make it look like the people's main happiness and purpose is to have a dog is plain ridiculous and I am sure the people there would be surprised to hear what is said in this Vlog.