The three elegant pagodas arise on the Cangshan Mountain slope overlooking the Erhai Lake. The tallest of the three, Qianxun Pagoda, has 16 tiers that reach a height of 69.13 metres. Its structure, similar to the Small Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province, is in an architectural style typical of the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The two smaller pagodas to its west and north, each 42.19 metres high with ten tiers, have a luxurious appearance with their exquisite carvings. They were built in the Five Dynasties (907-960). More than 600 rare relics of the states of Nanzhao and Dali were discovered in the three pagodas during the 1978 reconstruction, making them even more famous.

Erhai (literally, Ear Lake), just as its name implies, is similar in form of an ear. Two kilometers east of Dali, it is a fresh water lake, and in the middle of it, there are islets and sandbars. Covering 250 square kilometers, the blue, rippling lake and the snow-covered Mt. Cangshan add radiance and beauty to each other. The scene is, therefore, described as "Silver Cangshan and Jade Erhai".

Three main islands and several temples and villages along the lake's dry eastern shore are worth visiting. About an hour by boat from Xianguan is Golden Shuttle Island (Jinsuo Dao), with a small fishing community on the east side and a cave for exploring. On the shore, directly north of the island, is a rocky peninsula crowned by a pavilion and temple. Sacred Buddhist buildings, destroyed and rebuilt many times, have stood on this spot for nearly 1,500 years. Luoyuan Temple was badly damaged during the Culture Revolution but has been put back together and has great charm. Visitors can have their fortunes told by an old priest who guides them in shaking and selecting a single bamboo stick from a bundle of 100. The numbered stick corresponds to a specific fortune.

A tiny, picturesque temple island, Xiao Putuo Dao, dating from the 15th century, is devoted to Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy. The outside walls have been restored with pointed caves is especially nice. On the shore nearby is the fishing village of Haiyin, whose boatmen are steeped in the lore of the lake. One of their specialties is night fishing for the huge 40-kilogram (88-pound) 'green fish'

Butterfly Spring (Hudie Quan) is located on the peak of Cangshan Mountain, about 27 km north of the ancient city of Dali. The spring is regarded as a symbol of love among the local Bai people who believe that two lovers committed suicide here in order to be together. Their wish was granted ehrn they were made into butterflies that return to the site every spring when the tree flowers bloom. At the southern end of the spring, is a museum of butterflies displaying 45,000 butterfly samples belonging to 400 species and 11 families. Around April 15 each year, young Bai come here with their lovers to socialize, dance and sing.

Cangshan Mountain, also known as Diancangshan, runs north and south just west of Dali and northwest of Xiaguan. The mountain is most famous for its natural scenery of streams and paths through the mountains. Melted from snow on the upper slopes of Cangshan, the mountain streams are clear and pristine. The snowcapped peaks are often shrouded in fog and appear imposing and mysterious. Like the rest of Dali and Yunnan, the mountains are lush and green with trees, flowers and other wild vegetation