Nanzhao Island

Nanzhao Folk Island (Nanzhao Fengqing Dao) is a small island in the northeast corner of Erhai Lake, sitting just off the shore from the village of Shuanglang. Although compact, it serves as a focal point for the wider Shuanglang scenic area and is a regular stop on Erhai cruise itineraries. The island combines landscaped grounds, reconstructed historical architecture, and a handful of viewpoints that together offer one of the most concentrated aesthetic experiences in the Dali region.

The island's name refers to the Nanzhao kingdom, a powerful state that ruled the Dali region from the seventh to the tenth century before being succeeded by the Dali kingdom. Several structures on the island are inspired by Nanzhao-era architecture, including a rebuilt royal pavilion, a carved stone screen, and a small museum-style hall. The most striking landmark is a tall white-marble statue of Guanyin, the bodhisattva of compassion, whose iconography in this region has a distinctive local form associated with a Nanzhao-era legend.

The grounds are landscaped in a classical Chinese garden style, with winding paths, rockeries, bamboo groves, and a small artificial beach that has become a popular spot for engagement and wedding photography. From almost any point on the island, the panorama across the lake toward the Cangshan range is wide and unobstructed, and at sunset the backlight on the water creates one of the most photographed scenes in Dali.

The island is reached by a short ferry from the Shuanglang harbor or as part of a longer Erhai cruise. Most visitors spend one to two hours on shore, which is enough to walk the full circuit and take in the main viewpoints. Pairing Nanzhao Folk Island with a half-day in Shuanglang village makes for one of the most rewarding lakefront itineraries in the Dali area.