“Honeymoon Perfection! Dali-Lijiang-Lugu Lake 7-Day Elopement Guide, Hand-in-Hand Teaching You How to Shoot

Itinerary Overview Duration: 7 days 6 nights Budget: 18,000 RMB for two (including flights + accommodation + meals + transportation + experiences) Suitable for: Couples who love nature and culture, pursuing romance and privacy Core Highlights: Off-the-beaten-path secret spots + deep cultural experiences + highly photogenic locations --- Detailed Itinerary Day 1: Dali · The First Encounter of Wind, Flowers, Snow, and Moon Itinerary: Cycling on the west coast of Erhai Lake - Xizhou Ancient Town - Zhoucheng Tie-dye Experience · Erhai Lake Cycling (9:00 AM - 11:00 AM) · Advantages: Few people and beautiful scenery, S-shaped road and dead trees in the water create an ink painting atmosphere · Photo spots: Caicun Pier extended boardwalk (backlit silhouette), Panxi Village S-curve (wide-angle aerial shot) · Transportation: Rent an electric bike (50 RMB/day) or charter a car (300 RMB/day) · Xizhou Ancient Town (2:00 PM - 4:00 PM) · Advantages: Bai ethnic residences and rice fields symphony, try freshly baked Xizhou baba · Photo spots: Corner building with yellow walls (afternoon side light), red wall by rice fields (1 hour before sunset) · Zhoucheng Tie-dye (5:00 PM - 6:30 PM) · Experience: Make couple’s tie-dye scarves by hand, immersive intangible cultural heritage Accommodation: Designer guesthouse near Dali Ancient Town (recommended “Jixia Shan”, 800-1200 RMB/night) Food: Wild mushroom hotpot, Rushan cheese, Bai ethnic three-course tea --- Day 2-3: Lijiang · Soft Moments under the Snow Mountain Itinerary: Baisha Ancient Town - Yuhu Village - Shuhe Night Tour · Baisha Ancient Town (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM next day) · Advantages: Origin of Naxi culture, snow mountains in sight, many boutique cafes · Photo spots: Baisha Archway + snow mountain in one frame (morning front light), 7sea Bar terrace · Yuhu Village (3:00 PM - 6:00 PM) · Advantages: Explore Rock’s former residence, horseback visit to Dragon Girl Lake (better value than snow mountain scenic area) · Photo spots: Dragon Girl Lake reflection (before sunset), stone residence alleys · Shuhe Ancient Town (7:00 PM - 8:30 PM) · Advantages: Quieter than Dayan Ancient Town, listen to folk songs under the stars Accommodation: Boutique inn in Shuhe (recommended “Prajna”, 600-900 RMB/night) Food: Cured pork rib hotpot, chicken bean jelly, Naxi grilled fish --- Day 4-5: Lugu Lake · The Starry Sky and Morning Mist of the Mosuo Daughter Kingdom Transportation: Lijiang → Lugu Lake by charter car (4h, 600 RMB/car) Itinerary: Lake cycling - pig trough boat tour - Mosuo home visit · Lige Peninsula (8:00 AM - 10:00 AM) · Advantages: Heart-shaped lake bay landmark, morning mist like a fairyland · Photo spots: Viewing platform panorama (best by drone), peninsula boardwalk (backlit portrait) · Caohai Walking Marriage Bridge (4:00 PM - 5:30 PM) · Advantages: Golden reed marsh and symbol of Mosuo culture · Best shooting time: Soft dusk light in autumn · Mosuo Home Visit (7:00 PM - 8:00 PM) · Experience: Gather around the stove to hear walking marriage stories, learn to sing Mosuo love songs Accommodation: Lake view room in Lige Village (recommended “Shilili”, 1000-1500 RMB/night) Food: Steamed stone pot fish, Sulima wine, pork fat meat --- Day 6-7: Shaxi Ancient Town · The Ultimate Romance of the Tea Horse Road Transportation: Lugu Lake → Shaxi by charter car (5h, 800 RMB/car) Itinerary: Ancient town stroll - Xianfeng Bookstore - horseback visit to ancient villages · Sideng Street (9:00 AM - 11:00 AM) · Advantages: World endangered architectural heritage, original ancient market preserved · Photo spots: Ancient stage under the phoenix tree, Yujin Bridge morning mist · Xianfeng Bookstore (3:00 PM - 5:00 PM) · Advantages: Poetic space transformed from granary, couples can customize bookplates · Hualong Village (5:30 PM - 7:00 PM) · Experience: Horseback ride along Heihui River, encounter Shaxi’s version of “Mirror of the Sky” Return: Shaxi → Dali Airport (2h drive) --- Pre-trip Key Tips 1. Transportation combo: Intercity charter + city electric bike rental, flexible and time-saving 2. Photography gear: Bring a polarizer to reduce lake surface glare, prepare a drone (Lugu Lake requires flight registration) 3. Honeymoon perks: Note “honeymoon” when booking hotels, may receive complimentary wine/flower arrangements 4. Budget control tips: · Travel in off-season (March-April/November) to save 30% · Choose a mix of “guesthouses + high-end hotels” --- Cost Breakdown (divided by economy/luxury) Item (RMB) Luxury Round-trip flights 6000 6 nights accommodation 6000 Meals 2500 Charter transportation 3000 Experience activities 1500 --- Conclusion: This itinerary abandons conventional check-ins, linking the most touching honeymoon scenes in northwest Yunnan through intangible cultural heritage crafts, secret cycling routes, and starry sky conversations. Follow this guide, and you won’t just be travelers—you’ll be the leading couple in your own story.