[2025 Dali Attraction] Travel Guide for The Scenic Sorts of The Cangshan Mountains (Updated May)

| You Have to Experience the Romance of Erhai Lake!. | 3-Day and 2-Night In-Depth Tour to Unlock the Romantic Secrets of Dali✨ | Average budget: CNY 1,500–2,000 (including transportation 🚗, food, and accommodation) --- I. Must-See Attractions ✅ 1. Dali Ancient City The ancient city is the quietest in the early morning. The stone roads, Bai ethnic houses, Wuhua Tower, and Wenxian Tower are classic places to check in. In the evening, you can visit Foreigner Street Night Market, taste roasted milk fans and Erkuai, and feel the local atmosphere. 2. Cycling Around Erhai Lake 🚴 It is recommended to start from Caicun Pier, cycle along the ecological corridor to Panxi S Bay, where the lake and mountains are picturesque along the way. You may encounter an Internet-famous coffee shop ☕️, order a drink 🥤, and stare blankly at Erhai Lake 🏝️. If you have enough time, you can rent a car 🚗 to drive around the east coast of the lake. The waterfront homestays in Wase Town and Shuanglang Ancient Town have beautiful scenery (the landscape rooms cost about CNY 500–800/night). 3. Cangshan Mountain & Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple Take the Cangshan Ximatan cable car to the top and overlook the panoramic view of Erhai Lake. The Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple are a landmark of Buddhist culture. It is recommended to take photos 📷 with Hanfu, which is very beautiful. The ticket price is CNY 75 💰. 4. Xizhou Ancient Town & Zhoucheng Tie-dye 👗 The pastoral scenery and Bai ethnic houses (such as the Yan Family Courtyard) in Xizhou are worth a visit. You must try "Xizhou Baba 🍞" (sweet and savory). Zhoucheng is the hometown of tie-dye. You can experience intangible cultural heritage handicrafts and take away a piece of "Dali Blue" tie-dye cloth 👗. 5. Fengyangyi Ancient Tea Horse Road It became popular because of *Meet Yourself*. It retains the 1,900m ancient road and is suitable for taking ethnic portrait photos. There are coffee shops and cultural and creative studios in the village, where you can experience the slow life of the integration of the old and the new. --- II. Food Map 🗺️ 1. Snacks & Desserts 🍧 - Roasted Milk Fan: Rolled with rose sugar or brown sugar, it has a rich milky aroma. - Xizhou Baba 🍞: Baked over charcoal fire, the outer layer is crispy and the inner filling is sweet. - Clay Pot Roasted Milk 🥤: Slowly cooked in a pottery pot, the milky aroma is mixed with caramel aroma, which is heartwarming and healing. --- III. Accommodation Recommendations 1. West Bank of Erhai Lake -Caicun Homestay: Cost-effective (CNY 200–400/night). In the early morning, you can walk to the pier to watch the sunrise 🌅 and avoid the crowds. 2. Shuanglang Ancient Town -Waterfront Landscape Room: It is recommended to stay in Internet-famous homestays 🏠 such as Erhai Xinglai, where you can enjoy the sea view when you open the window. It is suitable for couples or photography enthusiasts 📷. 3. Dali Ancient City 🎈 -Bai Ethnic Courtyard Inn: Such as Dali Xiaoyuanzi, it is quaint, conveniently located, and very quiet 🤫 at night. --- VI. 3-Day Itinerary Reference - Day 1: Dali Ancient City → Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple → Night Tour of Foreigner Street - Day 2: Cycling around Erhai Lake (Caicun - S Bay) → Xizhou Ancient Town → Zhoucheng Tie-dye Experience - Day 3: Cangshan Cableway → Fengyangyi Ancient Tea Horse Road → Go to the North Gate Vegetable Market to purchase fresh flower cakes 🍪 before returning --- ✨The beauty of Dali lies in the sparkling waves under the moon over Erhai Lake, the blue and white on the tie-dye cloth, and the slow-paced life. Avoid the crowds, ride a bicycle, and wait for a sunset. This is the right way to experience the romance of Dali ✅!

A Dali vacation requires peace of mind 🤦🏻‍♀️ When I was having a headache from the traffic jam caused by the March Street National Festival, I dragged my big suitcase and myself to Tapang Ancient Courtyard. Walking through the long bluestone path of the corridor, accompanied by koi along the way, What came into view was a simple and elegant courtyard. The chessboard under the hexagonal pavilion has not yet been put away, As if waiting for someone to return. It is said that half of Dali's beauty is attributed to sunny days, But rainy days here are not disappointing. “After the rain, the evening mist clears, and the new pond is full of green water.” Holding a Jianshui purple pottery cup, slowly sipping the aroma of high mountain tea, Watch the clouds on the Cang Mountain blush secretly. The twilight adds a soft filter to this quiet world, This journey has become peaceful and beautiful. Flowers in vases, incense burning in golden stoves, and ink accumulating on brush rests. There are real calligraphy and paintings in the blue and white porcelain vases in the living room. I have seen many beautiful "props" in homestays these years, But I am truly touched by such beautiful and real details. Finding a little elegant comfort in ordinary life is not something to be trifled with. I woke up after a good night's sleep and found that it had cleared up. Basking in the sun in the courtyard, walking the birds, teasing the fish, and drinking tea, I experienced retirement life in advance, and it felt pretty good. The shadows of the leaves sprinkled on the mottled walls, It feels like the old buildings are glowing 🌟 Restoring old buildings to their original state is expensive. What is even more precious is that the people who do this have long-term vision and a little persistence in their ideals. “Tapang Ancient Courtyard” The more I savor it, the more I find this unassuming name wonderful. Perhaps the more connotation something has, the less it needs a false reputation. [Suggested Itinerary] Day 1: March Street - Dali Ancient City Day 2: Erhai Ecological Corridor - Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple - Tie-dye handicraft experience at the Three Pagodas Intangible Cultural Heritage Park [Food Recommendations] Wase Caixiangyuan, Xiaoyuanzi Fatty Chicken, Jianshui Spicy Chicken Feet, Yunnan Hipster Caravan Cuisine, Zhenhua Restaurant, Fly Me to the Moon [Tips] 1️⃣Traffic jams during the March Street National Festival are very serious. It is recommended to rent an electric car or walk. 2️⃣The quality of the goods sold at the stalls during the National Festival is good, better than usual. You can buy them if you need them, especially medicinal materials, nuts, and handicrafts. I highly recommend the braised chicken, it was so delicious that I felt like I had misunderstood it before 🤦🏻‍♀️ 3️⃣Be sure to bargain for pedicabs. It is reasonable to pay about 5 yuan more than a taxi. 4️⃣There is a long queue at Wase Caixiangyuan. It is recommended to call in advance to confirm whether the dishes you want to eat are sold out.😂😂

The majestic Cangshan Mountain lies quietly by Erhai Lake, writing an epic of Earth's evolution over 1.9 billion years. Dali Cangshan Geological Park is the essence of this epic. Glacial relics, alpine lakes, streams and canyons, fault cliffs... The diverse geological wonders tell the story of the Earth's changes over time. Stroll through the park and touch the ancient rocks, as if you can feel the pulse of the Earth; listen to the singing of the streams, as if you can hear the flow of time. This is a paradise for nature lovers, a haven for geologists, and a great place for everyone to feel the power of nature and awe of life. 🌟 Best time to visit: All year round, flowers in spring and summer, snow in autumn and winter. 🚗 Recommended route: Take the Gantong Cableway up the mountain, hike along Yudai Road, and enjoy the scenery of Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake. ⚠️ Note: The altitude is high, so keep warm and protect yourself from the sun, and do not overexert yourself. Come to Dali Cangshan Geological Park and start a geological journey through time and space!

The scenery of Cangshan Mountain is stunningly beautiful, with the main peak's snow scenery being majestic and spectacular, and it is one of the famous 'Four Scenes of Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon' in Dali. Here is a travel guide for Cangshan Mountain: - Cableways: - Gantong Cableway: Adjacent to the Buddhist holy site Gantong Temple, it leads directly to the scenic spot of Qingbi Stream Pool in Cangshan Mountain. Along the way, you can overlook the Cangshan Erhai and the entire Dali basin, with the mountain waterfalls and valley streams clearly visible. Attractions along the way include: Gantong Temple, Jizhao Hermitage, Thousand Buddha Temple, Qingbi Stream, Zhenlong Chessboard, and Cangshan Grand Canyon. - Xima Pool Cableway: Divided into upper, middle, and lower three stations, it is the longest cableway on Cangshan Mountain, truly 'one cableway through three sceneries', with layers of green mountains, pine and fir forests, and brilliant mountain flowers all embellished here. Attractions along the way include: Seven Dragon Maiden Pools, Xima Pool. - Zhonghe Cableway: It is the shortest and most secluded route, but also the most thrilling and exciting, with an open cable car, feeling the forest sea and mountain wind along the way. Attractions along the way include: Peach Stream, Zhonghe Temple, Longan Cave, Phoenix Eye Cave, Seven Dragon Maiden Pools. - Jade Belt Cloud Trail: At the end of summer and beginning of autumn each year, the water vapor condensed from Erhai Lake rises along Cangshan Mountain and meets the cold air descending from the top of Cangshan Mountain, forming a slender cloud at the mountainside, called 'Jade Belt Cloud'. The north-south continuous hiking trail on the waist of Cangshan Mountain is also known as 'Jade Belt Cloud Trail'. Attractions along the way include: Qingbi Stream, Seven Dragon Maiden Pools, Phoenix Eye Cave, Zhonghe Temple, Biyu Pool, Huanglong Cave. Due to the robustness of Cangshan Mountain and the complexity of the mountain roads, it is advised not to deviate from the Jade Belt Road when touring, otherwise, it is very easy to get lost if you stray into the deep mountains. Also, as the altitude of Cangshan Mountain is high and the temperature is low in the morning and evening, it is recommended to bring cold-weather clothing when going up the mountain.

The Cangshan Zhonghe cableway is the closest one from Dali old town, about 5km to get there. If like me, you’re scared of heights, it might be a very big challenge. I was scared all the time since the cable car is completely open, and keeps on climbing the mountains for around 30mins (it was endless for me!) When you arrive at the top, if you don’t get off, the cable car won’t stop, so make sure you get off, cause the fear will be 100% worth it. On top you will find an amazing old Buddhist temple, Zhonghe temple, facing an awesome view. It’s authentic and quite, I think it is one of the most beautiful temple I ever saw in China. I am so glad I made it through that cableway! P.S. In case you don’t want to take the cableway there’s a passage for hiking. I discovered once arrived on top and asked locals, they told me to descend it might take 2 to 3 hours. Not sure how long it will take to come up, but ask some locals they will direct you. #ancientarchitecture#ancientlandmark#historicculture#loveflowers#naturalwonders#culturalattractions#hiking