Cangshan, Dali, Yunnan

Cangshan, also known as Diancang Mountain, is a mountain range in the southern extension of the Himalayan orogenic belt, belonging to the Yunling Mountains of the Hengduan Mountains. It is located in the central part of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, west of Erhai Lake, between 100 ° 55 ′ 00 "to 100 ° 11 ′ 30" east longitude and 25 ° 34 ′ 30 "to 26 ° 00 ′ 00" north latitude. It is the boundary mountain range between Dali City and Yangbi Yi Autonomous County. The mountain terrain runs northwest to southeast, starting from the Guanglanba Pass west of Huadianba in the north and ending at the Xi'er River in the south. It is about 48 kilometers long and 18 kilometers wide from east to west. The Cangshan Mountain Range consists of 19 peaks from north to south, with elevations ranging from 3074 to 4122 meters. The highest peak, Malong Peak, reaches an altitude of 4122 meters, with a relative height difference of about 2500 meters from the Xipo River Valley and about 2100 meters from Dongpo Erhai Lake

Cangshan is a rising fault block mountain with many hanging cliffs and overlapping waterfall groups. It has well-developed Quaternary glacial landforms and glacial deposits. Jiaofeng and Blade Ridge are found at an altitude of over 3800 meters, while Bingdou and Bingdou Lake are distributed at an altitude of 3300-3800 meters. Ice eroded lakes and their deposits are distributed at an altitude of 2900-3300 meters. Glacier valleys are located below the ice eroded lakes, and all 18 streams in Cangshan are glacier valleys. At the foot of Cangshan Mountain, there are ice gravel layers and ice water gravel layers distributed

Cangshan administrative area belongs to Dali City, Yangbi Yi Autonomous County, and Eryuan County respectively. It is an important water source of Erhai Lake, a national geological park, and an important part of Cangshan Erhai National Nature Reserve, Dali National Scenic Area, and Dali Cangshan World Geopark. It is one of the earliest areas for human development, named after "Marble" and "Dali Ice Age", and one of the most biodiverse areas in northwest Yunnan Province

Formation and evolution

The main body of Cangshan is composed of ancient Cangshan metamorphic rock series. The Cangshan metamorphic rock series has undergone a regional thermal dynamic metamorphic geological process that occurred globally in the pre Cambrian period (2 billion years ago), and is the ancient crystalline basement of the Yangzi block. After experiencing multiple thermal dynamic events, it has also undergone the dynamic metamorphic process of the Himalayan orogeny (about 65 million years ago), forming a variety of metamorphic rock combinations. Colorful marble is one of these combinations

Within a width of about 13 kilometers from east to west, there are two II level tectonic units and five III level tectonic units, which can only be formed under special geological conditions of strong compression and strike slip. This phenomenon is an important geological relic area of crustal movement in the special tectonic parts of the continent, and a typical area with a complete and exposed record system of collision events between the Yangtze ancient plate and the Indian plate in the southwest of the Eurasian plate, providing direct evidence for tracing the early history of continental assembly and dispersion

Location and Territory

Cangshan is located between 100 ° 55 ′ 00 "to 100 ° 11 ′ 30" east longitude and 25 ° 34 ′ 30 "to 26 ° 00 ′ 00" north latitude, in the central part of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. It runs north-south, starting from the old state of Eryuan in the north and ending at the Xi'er River in the south. It stretches for 48.5 kilometers from north to south and is 13-20.5 kilometers wide from east to west. Cangshan administrative area belongs to Dali City, Yangbi Yi Autonomous County, and Eryuan County respectively

Geographical Environment

Geology

Cangshan is located on the side of the Yangzi block of the Eurasian plate in the giant composite orogenic belt formed by the collision of the Eurasian plate and the Indian plate. It is on the eastern edge of the Kangzang Daizi shaped structural fold belt. This is a giant deep fault where the crust rises in the west and falls in the east. The Erhai fault is the boundary between the central Yunnan Plateau and the Hengduan Mountains in this area. The strata are displaced and collapsed during strong uplift, and the uplifted block forms the Cangshan fault block mountain area. The collapsed block becomes a fault basin and accumulates water to form Erhai Lake. A typical inland faulted basin, with a main structural line running northwest, long from north to south, and narrow from east to west

Landform

Cangshan starts from the Guanglanba Pass west of Huadianba in the north and extends to the Xi'er River in the south, running northwest to southeast, with a length of 48 kilometers and a width of about 18 kilometers from east to west. The Cangshan Mountain Range consists of 19 peaks from north to south, with elevations ranging from 3074 to 4122 meters. The highest peak, Malong Peak, reaches an altitude of 4122 meters, with a relative height difference of about 2500 meters from the Xipo River Valley and about 2100 meters from Dongpo Erhai Lake. The lowest point is 1360 meters above sea level (at the confluence of Yangbi River and Xi'er River), and there are 7 peaks above 4000 meters

• Glacier
• The Cangshan Formation belongs to the pre Cambrian Cangshan Group, and its rock composition is mainly composed of gneiss, slate, granite, and marble

Hydrology

The rivers in the Cangshan area all belong to the Lancang Mekong River system. The 18 streams of Cangshan are located on the west bank of Erhai Lake in Cangshan. The upstream slopes of each stream are steep and steep, and the riverbed is cut severely, resulting in a natural landscape of Cangshan with gullies, valleys, and peaks. The slope of the downstream flat dam slows down, and then flows into Erhai Lake. The order of streams flowing from north to south is Xiayi Creek, Wanhua Creek, Yangxi Creek, Mangyong Creek, Jinxi Creek, Lingquan Creek, Baishi Creek, Shuangyuan Creek, Yinxian Creek, Taoxi Creek, Meixi Creek, Zhongxi Creek, Lvyu Creek, Longxi Creek, Qingbi Creek, Mochan Creek, Tingming Creek, and Yangnan Creek. There are 18 streams on the east slope of Cangshan, 7 rivers on the west slope, 4 streams on the south slope, and 3 streams on the north slope

The rivers in Cangshan area belong to mountainous source rivers, characterized by short and small rivers, deep valleys, narrow riverbeds, large height differences, turbulent water flow, strong downward erosion force, and large flow changes during flood and dry seasons. In addition, karst is developed in the north-south oriented marble interlayers of Cangshan, and large streams of spring water emerge from the east-west transverse section. In the exposed areas of rock contact or fault zones, there are also springs of different sizes exposed in the alluvial layer

Climate

Cangshan is located in a low latitude plateau and belongs to a subtropical plateau monsoon climate; The climate on the eastern slope of Cangshan belongs to the subtropical type, while the western slope of Cangshan belongs to the mid subtropical type. The average annual temperature, relative humidity, and ground temperature of Yangbi on the western slope are higher than those of Xiaguan, Dali, and Eryuan on the eastern slope. This is because Cangshan stretches like a huge screen from north to south, blocking the southwest monsoon. The Cangshan Mountain has a tall and prominent vertical distribution of climate. The western slope of Cangshan can be divided into six climate types from the Yangjiang River Valley to the top of Cangshan, namely, subtropical, northern subtropical, warm temperate, mid temperate, cold temperate, and plateau subarctic; The eastern slope of Cangshan can be divided into five climate types from the foot of Cangshan in the western part of Erhai Lake to the top of Cangshan, namely, northern subtropical, warm temperate, middle temperate, cold temperate, and plateau subarctic

Climate type	Altitude/(meters)	Annual average temperature (℃)	Hottest monthly average temperature (℃)	Coldest monthly average temperature (℃)	Annual accumulated temperature above 0 ℃ (℃)
Central subtropical zone	Below 1700 (western slope)	16-18	21-24	8-10	>; 6000
Northern Subtropical	1700-2000	14-16	19-22	7-9	Approximately 5300-6000
Warm Temperate Zone	2000-2400	12-14	17-20	5-7	Approximately 4300-5300
Mid Temperate Zone	2400-3000	8-12	13-17	2-5	About 3500-4300
Cold temperate	3000-3800	3-8	9-13	-3-2	About 1000-3500
Plateau subarctic	3800>	<; 3	< 9	<- 3	< 1000 [8]

Soil

Under the influence of mountainous climate and vegetation, the vertical distribution of Cangshan soil is obvious. From the foot of the east-west slope to the peak, there are six types of soil distributed in sequence: yellow red soil, yellow brown soil, brown soil, dark brown soil, gray dark brown soil, and subalpine shrub meadow soil

Vegetation

According to the records of "Chinese Vegetation" and "Yunnan Vegetation", Cangshan has 9 vegetation types, 12 vegetation subtypes or formations. The vertical band spectrum of vegetation in Cangshan is sparse shrub grassland, warm temperate coniferous forest, semi humid evergreen broad-leaved forest, mid mountain humid evergreen broad-leaved forest, mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forest, cold temperate coniferous forest, and cold temperate shrub meadow from bottom to top

Mountain Range Relationships

Belonging Mountains

Cangshan belongs to the Yunling Mountains of the Hengduan Mountains in the southern extension of the Himalayan orogenic belt. The Hengduan Mountains are one of the world's young mountain ranges, the longest, widest, and most typical north-south mountain range in China, and the only region with both Pacific and Indian Ocean water systems. The Hengduan Mountains are generally referred to as the south-north mountains in the western Sichuan and Yunnan provinces and the eastern Xizang Autonomous Region. There are two types of boundaries for its scope: "broad" and "narrow". Narrowly speaking, the Hengduan Mountains are geologically known as the "Three Rivers Fold Belt" consisting of the Nujiang River, Lancang River, and Jinsha River. In a broad sense, it starts from Qionglai Mountain in the east, extends to Boshula Ridge in the west, is located on the line from Changdu, Ganzi to Markang in the north, and reaches the mountainous areas along the China Myanmar border in the south

Main mountain peaks

Main entry: 19 peaks and 18 streams of Cangshan in Dali

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Yunnong Peak	Canglang Peak	Wutai Peak
Yingle Peak	Xiaocen Peak	Zhonghe Peak
Longquan Peak	Yuju Peak	Malong Peak
Shengying Peak	* Peak	Ma'er Peak
Xieyang Peak	Stretching from north to south [19]

Natural Resources

Biological Resources

Main entry: Cangshan Erhai National Nature Reserve

The vertical band spectrum of vegetation in Cangshan is well-developed, which is a microcosm of vegetation types in the Hengduan Mountains area. The vegetation species in Cangshan, Dali are extremely diverse, making it one of the regions with the richest diversity of higher plant species in China and a key area for biodiversity conservation in the world. There are 208 families, 948 genera, and 2853 species of vascular plants in the region. Among them, there are 44 families, 96 genera, and 350 species of ferns, 5 families, 8 genera, and 11 species of gymnosperms, and 159 families, 844 genera, and 2492 species of angiosperms. It is the origin of type specimens for 180 species of vascular plants

Mineral Resources

Cangshan is the place where "marble" and "Dali Ice Age" are named. Cangshan is rich in mineral resources, and the main ones with resource advantages are marble, limestone, and titanium sand ore

Tourism Resources

Main entry: Dali Cangshan National Geopark

Cangshan Geological and Geomorphic Landscape Area covers an area of 471 square kilometers, including attractions such as Gantong *, Ximatan, Butterfly Spring, Huadianba, Shimen Pass, etc. Ximatan is located at the junction of Yuju Peak and Longquan Peak in Cangshan, with an altitude of 3920 meters and an area of approximately 4500 square meters. It is a "mountain top glacial lake" with pure and clear water quality. The surrounding area is rich in Dali specialty "Gaohe cuisine" and snow tea. The Qilong Women's Pool is a pool of seven springs located between the Malong Peak and the Yuju Peak in Cangshan

History and Culture

Origin of place names

Cangshan, which means green and emerald, is also known as Diancang Mountain. In ancient books, it is also known as Miancang Mountain, Xiongcang Mountain, and Dali Mountain. The Cangshan Mountain recorded in Tang Fancuo's "Book of Barbarians" is: "The mountain top is thousands of zhang high, and the stone edges are green and green." Therefore, Cangshan means "green and green mountain stones. In Bai language, Zaosai means a high mountain where bears roam

Cultural relics and historic sites

• Cangshan Shrine
• Cangshan Shrine, also known as Cangshan Temple, is located at the foot of Zhonghe Peak in Cangshan, 2 kilometers west of the old Dali City in Yunnan Province. It worships the Cangshan God. It is said to have been built in the early period of Nanzhao Kingdom. Cangshan Shrine is a historical commemorative building that reflects national unity and the reunification of the motherland. The remains of the stone chamber of the current temple still exist, and the temple was rebuilt during the Jiaqing and Daoguang periods of the Qing Dynasty. In December 1987, the Yunnan Provincial People's Government announced it as the third batch of provincial-level cultural relics protection units
• Sensing *
• Sensing *, also known as Dangshan *. Built by the eminent monk Li Chengmei in the early Tang Dynasty. In the 16th year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1383), Master Wuji, the abbot, went to Jinling to pay homage to Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang, offering white horses and mountain camellias as tribute. Zhu Yuanzhang was overjoyed, and the imperial edict presented two infinite poems, eighteen poems on land and water journeys, and twelve chapters of poetry to his courtiers. All of them were carved and erected in front of the Gantong Dayun Hall. A famous monk from Yunnan served as his residence in his later years and built a tomb tower there after his passing
• Zhonghe *
• Zhonghe * is named after its location on Zhonghe Peak in Cangshan. Once awarded the plaque "Dian Yun Gong Ji" by Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, it is one of the famous Taoist temples in Dali. Zhonghe * was founded during the period of Nanzhao Kingdom in the Tang Dynasty, and was the center of Diancang Mountain, the "Zhongyue" of the "Five Sacred Mountains" conferred by King Yimou Xunqan of Nanzhao
• Wuwei *
• Wuwei * is located at the eastern foot of Lanfeng in Cangshan. Duan Siping, the "Dali Kingdom" of the Song Dynasty, loved * * and built Wuwei *. When Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, launched a flanking expedition to Dali, he stationed troops near * and had the "Taiwan Garrison"* After that, there is a clear spring that is said to be used to treat diseases, called the "Epidemic Relief Spring". During the Ming Dynasty, there was a period of food cultivation, including mountain gates, halls, two pavilions, old rocks, and Cuihua Tower<
• Cangshan Cliff Painting
• Cangshan Cliff Painting is located in Jinniu Village, west slope of Malong Peak, at an altitude of 2000 meters. It was discovered in October 1994. The cliff painting is painted on a natural cliff stone with a surface area of 120 square meters, covering an area of approximately 30 square meters. The screen is divided into 5 groups, with the cow's head in the center, surrounded by people grazing, * *, picking, hunting, houses (in a dry pen style), dancing, as well as pictures of male and female intercourse, totaling more than 200 pictures. According to research, this painting belongs to the Neolithic Age. In December 2003, it was listed as the sixth batch of provincial-level key cultural relics protection units by the Yunnan Provincial People's Government

Intangible Cultural Heritage

Cangshan is one of the earliest developed regions by humans. There are 12 national level protections, 20 provincial level protections, 25 state-level protections, and 45 city (county) level protections for both material and intangible cultural heritage resources

Major Events

Main entry: Cangshan Meeting

As evidence of the spread of Taoism during the Nanzhao period, the Cangshan Meeting was an important event. The Cangshan Alliance was a major event in the political relationship between the Tang Dynasty and Nanzhao. In the tenth year of the Zhenyuan reign of Emperor Dezong of Tang Dynasty (794 AD), Yimou Xun sent envoys from three directions to express his desire to naturalize to the Tang Dynasty. Tang Dynasty envoys held the "Cangshan Alliance" with Nanzhao

Mythology and Legend

Legend has it that when Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, invaded Dali, he led his troops to cross the Cangshan Mountains and stationed at Ximatan to wash horses, hence the name. Ximatan has a high altitude, thin air, strong cold air, and significant climate change. Legend has it that when people shout loudly by the pond, the vibration of the air will trigger rain, so Ximatan is called "Longqiu". According to Li Yuanyang's "Diancangshan Zhi", "The Book of Han states: