Tourists and local people in ethnic attire at the ancient town of Dali, a Bai ethnic prefecture in Yunnan province. Dali is a hot spot drawing tourists from both home and abroad for its natural landscape and rich cultural legacy. [Photo by Du Wenbin/China Daily]

They don't fear the presence of humans. Some even fly toward the food held by visitors and take it away.

The scene is breathtaking and in your face and practically a moving picture with the blue water and sky, white clouds and snow-capped mountains in the distance.

It is the mid-January, supposedly the coldest period in the Dali Bai autonomous prefecture, Yunnan province.

Yet, I cast off my heavy overcoat once we land at Dali Airport after a four-hour flight from Beijing. The slight chill in the air is nicely balanced by the warm sunshine and refreshing breeze caressing my skin on the 30-minute drive to the island.

The heavenly site is just the tip of the iceberg in the prefecture's Cangshan-Erhai area, which the local government is striving to turn into a leisure center.

The construction of a self-drive camp and tourist center along the Erhai coast has begun, says Ma Jinzhong, executive deputy director of the prefecture's tourism development committee.

A total of five upscale hotels, including the Hilton, opened last year.