PLAY YUNNAN GOLF云南 · A GOLF FIELD GUIDE
Play Yunnan Golf/Dali courses/Canghai Golf Club

Dali · Cangshan and Erhai Lake

Canghai Golf Club

大理苍海高尔夫球会

A Nick Faldo round below Cangshan, with sweeping Erhai views and a spectacular downhill par 5 framed by pink sand bunkers.

Local insight from Colin, a Yunnan-based golfer who has played this course. About the guide.

Dali Canghai Golf Club fairway below the cloud-covered Cangshan mountains
Photo: playyunnangolf.com
DesignerNick Faldo
Opened2005
Black tees7,302 yards
OpenDaily

The course

Mountain golf above Erhai

Dali Canghai Golf Club, also known as Dali Stone Mountain, sits below the Cangshan mountains near Dali Ancient City and the Three Pagodas. Nick Faldo's design combines wooded fairways with open views across the valley towards Erhai Lake. The club opened in 2005.

Changes in elevation give the round much of its character. Mountain-facing holes feel enclosed by trees, while the downhill stretches open out towards the lake. The pink bunkers on the 13th provide the most distinctive view: a long par 5 falling away beneath the golfer towards Erhai.

The official club scorecard is par 71, with five tee sets from 5,211 to 7,302 yards. Blue measures 6,437 yards and White 5,912, giving visitors useful alternatives to the long Black and Gold layouts. Choose a tee for your usual carry distances and allow for the slopes and wind on the day.

Putting green and red flag at Dali Canghai with the wooded Cangshan slopes beyond

The Dali setting

Cangshan behind you. Erhai below.

Take time for the scenery between shots: the contrast between the mountain slopes and the open valley is central to this round.

Photo: playyunnangolf.com

Choose your tees

18-hole scorecard

Compare the tee options across all 18 holes. Distances are in yards.

  • Black tee7,302 yds
  • Gold tee6,971 yds
  • Blue tee6,437 yds
  • White tee5,912 yds
  • Red tee5,211 yds
View all 18 holes and tee distances
Dali Canghai Golf Club · 18 holes · yards
HoleParS.I.BlackGoldBlueWhiteRed
14—339339318287260
23—196196165146111
35—535535504471438
44—498470435391358
55—621585552485428
63—251218218180132
74—493462432405340
84—373343310271246
93—158158140128107
OUT35—3,4643,3063,0742,7642,420
105—628587548529476
114—396396345330296
123—208208161146107
135—669602602558520
144—519485485395355
154—472441392360321
164—415415378378340
173—189189152152118
184—342342300300258
IN36—3,8383,6653,3633,1482,791
TOTAL71—7,3026,9716,4375,9125,211

18 holes, par 71: 35 out and 36 in. There are five tee sets, from 5,211 to 7,302 yards. Distances are in yards to the centre of the green. Source: official club scorecard, October 2026.

Inside the round

Five holes to know

Explore the water and bunkers of the 4th, the risk–reward par-5 5th, the uphill par-3 9th, the downhill pink-bunker 13th and the uphill 18th. Each hole has photographs and distances for all five tee sets.

Front nine · Water and mountain views

04FRONT NINE
PAR 4

Water, sand and a Cangshan backdrop

Hole 4 is a long par 4 framed by Cangshan’s wooded slopes. Water borders the left side of the opening tee shot, while a line of mature trees defines the right. At 435 yards from Blue and 391 from White, a well-placed drive helps set up the approach. Bunkers punctuate the route towards the green, with a broad, sculpted bunker guarding its right side. Choose a tee that leaves a manageable second shot, and favour the centre of the green when the flag brings the sand into play.

Black498Gold470Blue435White391Red358
Tee distances · yards
Dali Canghai Hole 4 tee view with water on the left, trees on the right and Cangshan beyond
Hole 4 · Tee view beside the water · Photo: playyunnangolf.com
Fairway bunker on Dali Canghai Hole 4 with the approach towards the green and Cangshan mountains beyond
Hole 4 · Fairway bunker and the route to the green · Photo: playyunnangolf.com
Dali Canghai Hole 4 green approach with sculpted sand bunkers on the right and a turquoise protective cover in the foreground
Hole 4 · Green approach and sculpted bunkers · Photo: playyunnangolf.com
05FRONT NINE
PAR 5

Lay up or take on the water

Hole 5 is a par 5 that starts with a tight tee shot before presenting an interesting second-shot decision. From a well-placed drive, you can lay up short of the sharp dogleg left and leave an approach to the green. The bolder option is a long iron over the water, cutting the corner in an attempt to reach the green in two. Let your lie and the required carry guide the choice: the direct route offers a chance at eagle, while the lay-up keeps the hole a three-shot proposition.

Black621Gold585Blue552White485Red428
Tee distances · yards
Hole 5 tee shot through a tight tree-lined opening at Dali Canghai
Hole 5 · A tight opening tee shot · Photo: playyunnangolf.com
Hole 5 green beside water, with the fairway turning around the lake and Cangshan beyond
Hole 5 · The green beside the water · Photo: playyunnangolf.com
09FRONT NINE
PAR 3

Mountain views out, lake views back

The 9th closes the front nine with a short uphill par 3 and two contrasting views. From the tee, the shot plays towards the green with the Cangshan mountains as its backdrop. At 140 yards from Blue and 128 from White, the hole looks modest on the card, but allow for the rise when choosing your club. Once you reach the green, turn around: the view opens across the valley towards Erhai Lake. Take a moment to enjoy the panorama before heading to the back nine.

Black158Gold158Blue140White128Red107
Tee distances · yards
Dali Canghai Hole 9 uphill par-3 tee view towards the green, houses and cloud-covered Cangshan mountains
Hole 9 · Uphill tee shot towards Cangshan · Photo: playyunnangolf.com
Looking back down Dali Canghai Hole 9 from near the green towards Erhai Lake, with a bunker and houses to the left
Hole 9 · Turn around for the view towards Erhai · Photo: playyunnangolf.com
View across Dali Canghai Hole 9 green towards Erhai Lake and the distant mountains, with houses below on the left
Hole 9 · Erhai Lake panorama from the green · Photo: playyunnangolf.com

Back nine · The downhill 13th

13BACK NINE
PAR 5

Pink sand and a long descent

The long downhill par 5 is the standout view of the round, with pink sand bunkers framing the fairway and Erhai stretching across the horizon. At 669 yards from Black and 602 from Blue, it still asks for a planned route over several shots. Choose a landing area before the drive, then reassess the remaining distance and wind from your lie. The coloured bunkers make a memorable photograph; leaving a comfortable approach is the practical aim.

Black669Gold602Blue602White558Red520
Tee distances · yards
Dali Canghai Hole 13 downhill tee view towards Erhai Lake with pink bunkers beside the fairway
Hole 13 · Downhill tee view towards Erhai Lake · Photo: playyunnangolf.com
Bright pink sand bunkers on Dali Canghai Hole 13 with Erhai Lake and the mountains beyond
Hole 13 · Pink bunkers above Erhai · Photo: playyunnangolf.com
Dali Canghai Hole 13 approach towards the green between sand bunkers with Erhai Lake beyond
Hole 13 · Approach towards the green · Photo: playyunnangolf.com

Back nine · The finish

18BACK NINE
PAR 4

An uphill finish with a lake-view reward

The 18th climbs uphill towards the clubhouse, bringing the round back beneath the wooded slopes of Cangshan. This closing par 4 measures 300 yards from Blue and White, but the rise deserves attention when choosing your approach club. The reward comes as you make your way up the hole: turn back from the fairway and green for sweeping views across Erhai Lake and the mountains beyond. It is a memorable final panorama before returning to the clubhouse.

Black342Gold342Blue300White300Red258
Tee distances · yards
Hole 18 uphill tee view towards the clubhouse, framed by trees and the cloud-covered Cangshan mountains
Hole 18 · Uphill towards the clubhouse · Photo: playyunnangolf.com
Looking back from Hole 18 fairway past golfers and sand bunkers towards Erhai Lake and distant mountains
Hole 18 · Sweeping lake views from the fairway · Photo: playyunnangolf.com
View from Hole 18 green over a bunker and down the tree-lined fairway towards Erhai Lake
Hole 18 · A final lake panorama from the green · Photo: playyunnangolf.com
Course and photograph sources

Gibbous Golf · course layout and hole descriptions · Golfasian · course identity and setting. Prices and access arrangements are confirmed for your date.

Plan the journey

Visiting from Dali

Getting here

The course is in the Cangshan foothills near Dali Ancient City and the Three Pagodas. Include your hotel, railway station or airport pickup point in your enquiry so the transfer can be arranged around your tee time. Private transfers cost extra. Plan a stay in Dali when travelling from Kunming.

Before your round

A driving range is available for a warm-up, and club rental is available. Bring golf shoes, sun protection and a light layer for changing mountain weather. Green fee, shared cart, caddie fee and water are included in the round price; allow RMB 200 per golfer for the caddie tip.

Conditions and tee choice

Check the wind before selecting a club on the exposed downhill holes. Slopes can change both the playing distance and your stance, so use your caddie's local knowledge. Carry a light rain jacket during the wetter months and choose tees that make the long holes enjoyable for your game.

For your driver

大理苍海高尔夫球会

云南省大理市三塔北路，崇圣寺三塔附近

Use the club name and ask to be taken to the golf clubhouse within the resort. Some English map listings use Dali Stone Mountain Golf Club.

Baidu Maps ↗Amap ↗Google Maps ↗

Play Yunnan Golf

Ready for a round above Erhai?

Tell us your date, group size and preferred time of day.

Request a round ↗

Compare golf courses in Dali · Plan for the season · Visitor FAQs

PLAY YUNNAN GOLF · ENQUIRY

Let’s arrange your round.

Send your preferences to Colin for availability and a quote.

Optional extras

Your name, email, any phone number you provide and the golf preferences you enter are emailed to Colin at Play Yunnan Golf. He uses these details to reply, check availability and prepare your quote. FormSubmit processes the form to deliver the email. Please do not include payment details or sensitive personal information.

All tee times are China time (UTC+8). Sending an enquiry does not reserve a tee time. Other ways to contact Colin.
Canghai · DaliRequest a round