Things to do in Dali

Knowing that tickets to the Shaanxi History Museum are hard to get, I tried signing up for a guided tour. I was surprised by how reliable the service was from a large platform. The guide, Zhang Xiaojing, sent me the important information and meeting point the day before. He was also there early the next day to wait for everyone. Thanks to Xiaojing, the explanations were excellent, covering the most famous treasures and unique exhibits in Halls 1, 2, and 4 very clearly.

It's quite a large complex, and inside there's a stele erected by Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou, Yuwen Yong, for his father—worth seeing. Ancient trees stand tall, many over 900 years old. Climb to the innermost Wanshou Tower for a panoramic view of the tower nestled among the trees, and gaze at Mount Hua in the distance, enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Take a stroll through the Tang Dynasty Never-Sleeping City on a pleasant autumn evening. The evening breeze is cool, the lights are dazzling, and the atmosphere of the Tang Dynasty is palpable. Street performances are everywhere, and tourists come and go, creating a lively scene. No need to plan a route; just wander around and explore as you please. Immersed in this world of lights, feeling the warmth of everyday life and ancient charm, this is what small satisfactions in ordinary days are all about. Chang'an's autumn nights are as bright as ever.

It's free! Haha, you can easily spend a whole day there. I suggest visiting the Xi'an Museum before the Shaanxi History Museum. If you've already seen the Shaanxi History Museum, there's no need to go there! Haha, because there's really not much to see in it! The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is inside the Xi'an Museum, so you can visit both! You can't go up the Small Wild Goose Pagoda.

Our guide at the Luobo Museum, Mr. Pei, was excellent. He was considerate of the artifact display cases, reminding the children in our group and others to keep a safe distance to avoid obstructing photos or leaving handprints. His explanations were engaging and detailed, although latecomers sometimes interrupted him. Overall, it was a good experience, and we saw all the museum's treasures and popular artifacts within the limited time – definitely worth it.

Teacher Tangtang's teaching is really excellent! 🤩🤩 I learned a lot from her throughout the course. She reminded me of my high school Chinese teacher, someone incredibly knowledgeable! ✌︎' ֊'🥳🥳🥳 In short, I really enjoyed it! 🥰🥰🥰

From Yuntaishan, we boarded a bus bound for Luoyang. The journey was long — more than four hours on the road. We left at 2:30 pm and only arrived close to 7:00 pm, which meant our first day in Luoyang was largely consumed by travel. That evening, drained from the ride, I managed only a brief visit to Yingtianmen, illuminated against the night sky.The following day was devoted entirely to two of Luoyang’s most iconic sites: the Longmen Grottoes and the White Horse Temple. After exploring the temple, we caught bus no. 58 directly to Luoyi Ancient City. By then, the hours of walking through grottoes and temple grounds had left us physically exhausted. Still, the ancient city welcomed us with free admission and a promise of cultural immersion.Dinner was taken at a basement food court along Minzhu Street. By the time we finished, night had fallen, and Luoyi Ancient City had transformed. The streets glittered with lanterns, music pulsed through the air, and the atmosphere was electric. Crowds gathered near the lake to watch 天女散花 — the “Fairy Scattering Flowers” dance performance — though we chose not to linger.Luoyi Ancient City (洛邑古城) remains one of China’s most authentic living historic districts. Here, 3,000 years of dynastic history — from the Zhou to the Ming — can still be felt in its preserved city walls, pagodas, canals, and performances. It is not simply a relic of the past, but a vibrant cultural stage where history and daily life coexist.

Because we had children with us, we opted to take the sightseeing bus up and down, which was very relaxing. We got a close look at the pagoda, took photos, and learned about its history, especially the plaques at the north and south gates: "Soaring high above the heavens, overlooking the mortal world"—for over 1000 years, the pagoda has achieved this.

Add this to your itinerary if you're visting Xi'an! I have been to the quarter 3 times. Walk along the main path of the quarter BUT make sure you also walk down the narrow alleyways! There are LOTS of shops and food stalls you don't want to miss. Open 24/7 too so make sure you visit!

Teacher Meng's explanations were exceptionally good, making the visit very rewarding. However, the children in the group were extremely noisy, rolling around on the ground, and despite Teacher Meng's repeated reminders, it was no use. The parents also ignored it, which was quite frustrating. Kudos to Teacher Meng again; she is incredibly dedicated!