West Lake in Eryuan (洱源西湖) is situated at the foot of Yunlong Peak, the highest peak of Cangshan Mountain in Dali, Yunnan Province, China. Nestled beneath the Fozhong Mountain in the western part of You Suo Town, it serves as one of the important water sources for Erhai Lake. Covering an area of 5.5 square kilometers, the lake is a plateau fault basin, with an average depth of 1.8 meters and reaching a maximum depth of nearly 12 meters.
Comprising three main areas – West Lake, Jiangwei, and Luoping Mountain – along with the Snail River tour line, West Lake is dotted with six villages (Zhangjiadeng, Qingshuitang, Dongdeng, Zhongdeng, Nandeng, Haitang) and seven islands, presenting a picturesque pastoral landscape where villages blend with lakes and vice versa.
Throughout the seasons, West Lake boasts diverse and captivating scenery. The distant mountains form layers of greenery, while the lake surface resembles a tranquil mirror, reflecting the lush greenery of water chestnuts and lotus leaves, swaying gently in the breeze. Rowing on the lake, visitors can enjoy the sight of pastoral houses and fish ponds on the lake’s edge, accompanied by the melodious Bai ethnic fishing songs, immersing themselves in the picturesque scenery.
Moreover, West Lake carries rich cultural significance. During the Ming Dynasty, renowned scholars like Yang Shengan, Li Yuanyang, and Yang Nanjin often composed poetry while boating on the lake. In the 12th year of the Ming Chongzhen reign (1639 AD), Xu Xiake, the famous Chinese traveler, was enchanted by the mountain views, water scenery, and lotus flowers of West Lake, praising them in his travel notes. During the Qing Dynasty, Yang Chengchun, a scholar of Dengchuan, also wrote poems praising West Lake.
Visitors to West Lake can also indulge in a variety of Bai ethnic delicacies, such as raw skin, boiled live fish in lake water, watercress bean soup, claypot fish, stewed plum, carved plum, milk fan, and three-course tea, offering a delightful culinary experience infused with the local Bai culture.
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 2 – 3 hours |
| Ticket Price | 40 RMB |
| Opening Hours | 8.30 – 17.30 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0872-5398888 |
Location and Transportation
West Lake is located at the foothills of Yunlong Peak, the highest peak of Cangshan Mountain, in Dengchuan Bazhi, Eryuan County, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. It is situated more than 40 kilometers away from Dali Ancient Town and lies along the route from Dali to Lijiang. To get there, one can take a bus from the west gate of Dali Ancient Town bound for Eryuan County and alight at You Suo Town.
