The Dali EDITION is the first EDITION hotel in Yunnan: 151 rooms, suites and private pool villas at 2,090m on the slopes of Cangshan, looking over Erhai Lake. Best for travellers who want full-service international luxury in Dali, with a proper spa, a heated 25m indoor pool and four restaurants, rather than a village inn. Opened June 2026. Best windows: March to May and October to November.
The Dali EDITION sits at 2,090 metres on the slopes of Cangshan, looking straight out over Erhai Lake. Shenzhen studio Cheng Chung Design built it low and white, in aged timber, bluestone and Erhai lake pebbles, and a natural spring runs through the grounds, feeding its gardens and terraces. It opened in June 2026 with 151 rooms, suites and private pool villas, most of them from 60 square metres and turned towards the lake or the mountain.
Highlights
- Between mountain and lake set at 2,090m on the Cangshan slopes, with most rooms facing Erhai Lake or the Cangshan ridge, and a natural spring running through the gardens and terraces.
- Rooms from 60 square metres 151 rooms, suites and private pool villas in warm timber and natural tones. The 250m² Presidential Suite has its own indoor pool, courtyard and terrace.
- Four restaurants and a tea house Market at EDITION cooks seasonal Yunnan produce all day; KUSHO grills over local hardwood charcoal, izakaya-style; the Lobby Bar runs from trolley afternoon tea to cocktails; a Chinese restaurant draws on Bai architecture; and an outdoor tea house tells the story of the Tea Horse Road.
- A spa rooted in Cangshan five treatment rooms open onto a quiet courtyard, using mountain pine, seasonal blossoms and mineral salts. Signatures include a pine-wood massage and a jade hot-stone ritual.
- Heated indoor pool a sunlit 25m pool with a vitality pool, sauna and steam room, plus a yoga terrace facing the mountain and gong sound baths.
- Out on the mountain guided foraging walks (mushroom hunts in season), sunrise runs on Cangshan and Bai tea sessions, and a woodland-themed kids' club for younger travellers.
Inside The Dali EDITION
Staying at The Dali EDITION
01 How is The Dali EDITION different from Dali's boutique inns?
It's a different kind of stay. Many of Dali's best small hotels are courtyard inns in Bai villages such as Xizhou and Shuanglang, with a handful of rooms and a family feel. The EDITION is a full-service resort: 151 rooms, four restaurants and a tea house, a spa, a heated 25m indoor pool, a gym and a kids' club, set up on the mountain with the whole lake in view. The two pair well: a couple of nights in a village inn, then the EDITION for space, service and the spa.
02 Where is The Dali EDITION and how do you get there?
It sits at 2,090 metres on the slopes of Cangshan, above the western shore of Erhai Lake, within easy reach of Dali Old Town and the Three Pagodas. Dali Railway Station, served by high-speed trains from Kunming, is about 23km away, and Dali Fengyi Airport about 39km: roughly an hour by car from either. On a private journey with us, the transfers are arranged for you.
03 When is the best time to stay at The Dali EDITION?
October to May is Dali's dry season: clear skies, sharp views of Cangshan and big light over Erhai. March to May brings spring blossom, and October and November are crisp and golden. June to September is the rainy season, with cloud on the mountain and afternoon showers, but the hills are green, wild-mushroom season is on, and the heated indoor pool and spa come into their own. Avoid Golden Week (1–7 October) and Chinese New Year if you can.
