DaLi LOFT Travelling With Hostel

Hidden behind Dali Ancient Town's South Gate on Shuanghe Road, this adults-only loft hostel sits a short walk from the old city's marble-paved lanes and the Erhai Lake shoreline to the east.

Soundproofed rooms with private bathrooms and tile floors keep street noise out; lockers, a drying rack, and an on-site washing machine serve longer-stay guests. The coffee house and bar anchor a shared lounge where board games and a pool table draw an older, quieter crowd than typical backpacker spots.

A tour desk organises walking routes through the Bai villages north of town, and the shuttle service covers the 30-minute run to Dali Railway Station. At a 9.2 rating across 113 reviews, the hostel punches well above its two-star bracket.