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Voykit pocket guide · China
Weishan
巍山
A half-day stop between Dali and the south: see the old town and Weibao Mountain, then move on. One night if you want a slow evening on the pedestrian street.
Weishan is a quiet Yi and Bai county town 2 hours south of Dali, known for its intact Ming-Qing old town, a relaxed pedestrian street and the Taoist temples on Weibao Mountain. It works as a half-day detour from Dali or a one-night stop on the way to Lincang or the south.
- Country
- China
- Local name
- 巍山
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (rainy and humid), Chinese New Year week
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CNY
- Money
- Alipay and WeChat Pay accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB and Amex cards; single payments over ¥200 carry a fee of about 3% on a foreign card (smaller ones are free), and per-payment and yearly caps apply — check the app. Keep a second way to pay.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥150–250 excl. bed · Mid ¥250–400 excl. bed · High ¥400+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- A roaming eSIM from outside China routes traffic through its home network, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work without a VPN — the simplest setup.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire 119 · Ambulance 120
- Plugs
- Types A, C, I · 220 V · 50 Hz · Many sockets take flat two-pin (A), round two-pin (C) and angled three-pin (I) plugs; UK plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: No tip; upmarket hotels add 10–15% service.; Taxis and DiDi: No tip.; Tour guides and drivers: Expected on organised tours: about ¥100–200 a day for a guide, ¥50–100 for a driver.; Hotel porters: Not expected; ¥10–20 in luxury hotels.
- Water
- Not for drinking from the tap; bottled water ¥2–5, and kettles and free bottles in hotel rooms. Restaurants serve hot water or tea.
- Toilets
- Public toilets are frequent and free; squat toilets outside hotels and malls. Carry tissues — many have no paper.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Street noodle bowl | ¥10–15 |
| Local tea in a teahouse | ¥15–30 |
| Beer (bottle) | ¥5–10 |
| Taxi within old town | ¥10–20 |
| Bus to Weibao Mountain | ¥5–10 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- DLU · Dali Fengyi Airport
- About 2 hours by bus or taxi from Weishan; check direct bus connections.
Typical fares
- Bus Dali (Xiaguan) → Weishan
- about ¥25, about 2 h (check)
- Taxi old town → Weibao Mountain
- ¥50–70 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The old town is walkable. To reach Weibao Mountain (10 km (6.2 mi) south), take a local bus or taxi from the bus station. Bicycles can be rented at some guesthouses.The old town is walkable. To reach Weibao Mountain (6.2 mi (10 km) south), take a local bus or taxi from the bus station. Bicycles can be rented at some guesthouses.
See and do
Known for
- Old town pedestrian street
- Weibao Mountain Taoist temples
- Yi and Bai minority culture
- Nanzhao Kingdom heritage
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Dali | Bus from Weishan Bus Station to Xiaguan (Dali's south bus station), about 2 hours | About 2.5 h |
| Weibao Mountain | Local bus or taxi from Weishan old town, about 20 min | About 30 min |
Sleep
- Old town (Nanzhao Town)
- Guesthouses and boutique hotels on or near the pedestrian street; most convenient for sightseeing.
- Near Weishan Bus Station
- Budget options and easier access if arriving late; about 1.5 km (0.9 mi) from the old town.Budget options and easier access if arriving late; about 0.9 mi (1.5 km) from the old town.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | 你好nǐ hǎo |
| Thank you | 谢谢xiè xiè |
| How much? | 多少钱？duō shǎo qián? |
| I don't understand | 我不懂wǒ bù dǒng |
| Where is the toilet? | 厕所在哪里？cè suǒ zài nǎ lǐ? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and a nod; use surnames with a title; avoid: Hugs and cheek kisses
- Face: Disagree privately and indirectly; avoid: Correcting or embarrassing someone in front of others
- Gifts: Give with two hands; expect the gift to be refused once or twice and opened later; avoid: Clocks, umbrellas, white flowers, sets of four
- Business cards: Present and receive with both hands, read it, keep it on the table; avoid: Writing on it or pocketing it at once
- Queues and crowds: Hold your ground politely in scrums at buses and lifts; avoid: Taking pushing personally
- Temples: Walk clockwise around Tibetan stupas and prayer wheels; remove hats; avoid: Touching statues or photographing where signs forbid
- Politics: Listen; follow your host's lead; avoid: Raising Tibet, Taiwan, Xinjiang, 1989 or the party leadership
- Numbers and colour: Red and 8 are lucky; red envelopes carry money gifts; avoid: Writing names in red; the number 4
Scams and watch-outs
- Weibao Mountain temple area charges a ¥50 admission (check); the forest below is free but mostly eucalyptus.
- Last buses from Dali (Xiaguan) to Weishan leave by late afternoon; confirm return times if day-tripping.
- English is very limited; have your destination written in Chinese characters.
Weishan is very safe for tourists. Watch for uneven paving on the old street and occasional stray dogs. Summer heat can be intense; carry water.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Weishan yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Old town pedestrian street
- Weibao Mountain Taoist temples
- Yi and Bai minority culture
- Nanzhao Kingdom heritage
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Weishan, revision 5239512 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5239512
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/weishan). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.