Erhai Lake is known as the pearl of nature, and its beauty is difficult to find. However, there are some places around Erhai that are considered to be the most beautiful, including attractions such as Little Putuo, Nanzhao Style Island, Luoquan Peninsula and Shuanglang.
Recommended for winter outings
First of all, Xiaoputuo is a small island, shaped like a seal, located in the Erhai Lake**. The circumference of this small island is just over 200 meters and is made of limestone. Little Putuo is known for its ancient architecture and tranquil surroundings. The island's buildings were built during the Ming Dynasty and were renovated in 1982 to reveal a pavilion-like two-storey building, with one floor dedicated to the Nyorai Bodhisattva and the second floor dedicated to the Guanyin Bodhisattva. Legend has it that when Guanyin opened up the Dali Dam in this place, he dropped a Zhenhai seal and formed this small island, so the Guanyin Pavilion on the island is called Little Putuo. Especially at the end of October every year, Little Putuo becomes a habitat for flocks of seagulls, where visitors can get up close and personal with the seagulls, creating a beautiful and intoxicating picture.
Secondly, Nanzhao Style Island is one of the three islands in Erhai Lake, formerly known as Yuji Island. This island is rich in cultural landscapes and island scenery. In the dock square on the island, you can admire the bronze sculpture of "Sha Yimu" and ten pillar-shaped stone statues, representing the 10 sons of Sha Yimu. There are also buildings such as Guanyin Pavilion and Nanzhao Palace on Nanzhao Style Island, which show the characteristics of the times of multi-ethnic cultural integration in the Nanzhao period. The Taihu Lake Stone Community Scenic Area on the island is a unique scenery, showing a variety of weird and magical Taihu Lake stones, constituting a beautiful community.
Luoquan Peninsula is a tourist area on the east coast of Erhai Lake, across the sea from the ancient city of Dali. This is the best location to enjoy the scenery of Cang'er, including Tianjing Pavilion, Guanyin Pavilion, Luoquan Pagoda, Luoquan Temple and other attractions. In particular, the Luoquan Temple and the pagoda have undergone several destruction and reconstruction, and have retained their unique architectural features, such as the characteristics of square eaves and rooflessness. The Luoquan Peninsula is also an ideal place to enjoy the scenery of Erhai Lake.
Finally, Shuanglang is located on the northeast shore of Erhai Lake, surrounded by small islands on both sides, and is famous for its sea-watching scenery close to Erhai Lake and overlooking the nineteen peaks of Cangshan Mountain. There are rich historical and cultural monuments, including the ruins of the Vaisha battlefield, Zhengjue Temple, Yuji Nunnery, etc. In addition, visitors can also enjoy the unique Bai dwellings in the double corridor, and visit the characteristic house buildings such as Yang Liping's Moon Palace and Zhao Qing's Qinglu.
Each of these places shows the unique natural scenery and cultural charm around Erhai Lake, which attracts countless tourists with its unique plateau lake scenery and long cultural history, and is a tourist destination full of charm.