Thanks again. TFU is the only option for inbound on the CA flights from LAX. I'll check if I can exit Chengdu via CTU-DLU.
To my surprise, the addition of the DLU leg barely moved pricing. One of those inexplicable quirks of airline pricing (to me at least). Alternate routing through Kunming instead of Dali is much more expensive.I've never been to either place, but my friends who have say Dali is a beautiful destination, while Kunming is best primarily as a base to reach surrounding attractions, like the Stone Forest and Dongchuan.