A Day Exploring Er Hai Lake - Dali

Er Hai Lake has so much to offer, beautiful views and plenty of activity, with the mountains providing the loveliest backdrop. 

Before we even reach the lake's edge we enter a little hidden treasure of a temple, the care taker lovingly tends the religious artifacts and relics with cigarette perpetually poised between lips. 

Found this little treasure at the general's house. 

As we circumnavigate the lake we reach the little monastery at the top of the lake.  It is exquisitely decorated with various deities. 

Erhai Lake is the one of the largest highland lakes and one of the seven biggest fresh water lakes in China.  Erhai means, 'sea shaped like an ear', in Chinese due to the lake being ear shaped and as large as a sea. 

The lake covers an area of 250 square kms and is located about two kms east of Dali. It is like a crescent lying between Cangshan and Dali city as seen from Cangshan Mountain and makes a spectacular show.

Lining the banks of Erhai Lake are fishing villages, Bai farming villages, ancient temples, historic towns and the ancient city of Dali. It is just as intriguing to watch the people living in their traditional way.

Chillies drying on the edge of the road

While the scenery is exquisite, it is the local people living their lives that makes for an equally interesting dimension.

We enjoyed drinking the traditional Bai tea in this most serene location with our driver who spoke no English and us with only 2 words of Mandarin between us.  It made the day all the more special as we had to create shared meanings and understandings in the absence of a common language.  Quite a few pictures were drawn and hand gesticulations to ensure we were clear.  Not sure - anyway it was a fantastic day. 

The surrounding islands, temples and villages are incredibly beautiful.

The majestic scenery of Erhai Lake and Cangshan Mountain is quite breathtaking with the mountain peaks often reflected in the lake.