[iopq]

Dali is maybe my favorite town in China. Not popular enough to be overwhelmed by tourists, but still possessing a lot of bars and restaurants that you could ostensibly just spend a few weeks there having fun. There's the lake, the mountains, the hot springs, the night life.

[seanmcdirmid]

I've been to Lijiang a few times now (not on purpose, but we had a few company retreats there), and it works really well even if its a hot place on the tourist map these days. But the first time, we did an overland from Chengdu to Lijiang, and I just remember Zhongdian (sometimes called Shang-ri-la for publicity) as an absolutely magical big city in the Tibetan plateau (likewise Litang in Sichuan).

[iopq]

Lijiang is absolute garbage, it's all night clubs and totally ruins the old town's feeling. I tried to get a beer for 120 RMB, but they said they were out and offered the 150 RMB beer, so I noped out. I got a cocktail for like 100 RMB, but they didn't even shake it with ice for me. WTF

150 RMB is $21.71 now, but it used to be almost $25 at that time's exchange rate

In comparison, I got some of the best cocktails I've ever had at a bar in Dali for 65 RMB

[seanmcdirmid]

> it's all night clubs and totally ruins the old town's feeling.

Ya, totally agree. But there are nice things to do around Lijiang, at least (mountains, gorges). And I have fond memories drinking with Chinese friends there. You aren't going to get great drinks in tourist towns anyways, not like the fancy bars in Beijing/Shanghai.

[iopq]

Beijing bars are too expensive or the drinks are too weak. I haven't found a bar that is actually a good value for cocktails, so I usually go out for beers which are surprisingly good

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g303781-d12429...

this bar in Dali is the best one I've been to in China

[seanmcdirmid]

You need to know the scene. But my info is 7 years out of date.

[iopq]

Beijing is so big, but if you go into a random bar it's usually crap, I wonder why that is