As one of the four scenic spots of Dali's "Wind, Flower, Snow and Moon", Cangshan can take into account natural scenery, hiking and cultural Zen experience, and can also efficiently visit the core scenic spots through three different cableways.
I. Basic Overview
• Geographical location: It is located in the western mountainous area of Dali Ancient City, Dali City, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture. It is located between Erhai Lake and Yangxi River. It is the boundary mountain between Dali City and Yangxi Yi Autonomous County.
• Composition of the mountain range: Cangshan is composed of 19 peaks. From north to south, they are Yunlang, Canglang, Wutai, Lotus, Baiyun, Heyun, Sanyang, Lanfeng, Snowman, Yingle, Guanyin, Zhonghe, Longquan, Yuyu, Malong, Shengying, Foding, Ma'er and Shiyang. The peaks are generally above 3,500 meters above sea level, and the highest Malong Peak is 4,122 meters above sea level. Nineteen peaks and two peaks are sandwiched between a stream, forming a total of eighteen streams, which are Xiayi Creek, Wanhua Creek, Yangxi, etc. from north to south, and finally flow into Erhai Lake.
• Climatic characteristics: Located on the low-latitude plateau, it belongs to the subtropical plateau monsoon climate, with tall mountains and obvious vertical distribution of climate. The eastern slope of Cangshan can be divided into 5 climate types, and the western slope can be divided into 6 climate types.
II. Natural landscape
• Cangshan Snow: Cangshan Snow, which does not disappear after summer, is the most of the four famous scenery of Dali's "Wind, Flower, Snow and Moon". The white snow is white and crystal clear under the sunshine. Li Yuanyang, a writer in the Ming Dynasty, once praised: "The sun is beautiful, the mountains are snowy, and the nineteen peaks of Yaotai".
• Jade Belt Clouds: At the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, when it is sunny after the rain, white clouds often appear in the middle of the nineteen peaks of Cangshan Mountain. After gathering, it is like a white jade belt across the green mountainside, stretching for dozens of miles, and the sun does not disperse. Zhang Yangdu, a Qing Dynasty, once praised it with the poem "When autumn comes and rains, the sky will seal the jade belt as the mountain prince".
• Ximatan: Located on a platform on the top of Yugu Peak, the second peak of Cangshan Mountain, at an altitude of 4097 meters, with an oval pot bottom shape, the pool is crystal clear and not dried up all year round. The pool is covered with alpine rhododendron shrubs, and not far below it are the original forest belt of Cangshan fir and the bamboo forest belt.
• Qingbi Creek: It is one of the eighteen streams in Cangshan. It is named after "the water is green and clear to the bottom". The stream flows down from the mountain, forming three waterfalls with beautiful scenery. It is one of the famous scenic spots in Cangshan.
III. Cultural landscape and cultural heritage
• Religious culture: Cangshan Valley hides many thousand-year-old temples, such as the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, Gantong Temple, Zhonghe Temple, etc. These temples carry a profound Buddhist culture and the belief of the Bai nationality.
• Historical sites: Cangshan was once an important passage for the Southwest Silk Road and the Chama Ancient Road in ancient times. The famous Bonan Ancient Road passed through it, witnessing the hardships of commerce and the integration of civilization.
• Literary legend: In Jin Yong's martial arts novels, Cangshan is described as the birthplace of the "Dian Cang School" of the martial arts sect. In addition, there are also folklore such as Wangfuyun, which adds a mysterious color to Cangshan.
IV. Core attractions and how to play
• Cableway tour (adapted to different needs): Three cableways adapt to different play needs, and the ticket price and route have their own emphasis. The Ximatan Cableway is the first choice for climbing to the top. The ticket price for the whole trip is 150 yuan, and the half-way is 80 yuan. From Tianlong Babu Film and Television City, it goes directly to the 3,700-meter viewing platform, and you can walk 200 meters to Ximatan. From May to June, the rhododendrons in the mountains are reflected in the pool, and the scenery on the snow top in winter is beautiful; feel the cable The adult ticket is 110 yuan, and the combined ticket with the ticket of Butterfly Spring or Tianlong Eight Film and Television City is 122 yuan, which goes directly to Qingbixi. After leaving the station, you can walk to Jizhao Temple, which is suitable for half-day leisure; Zhonghe Cableway is relatively niche, and the open hanging chair can enjoy the same frame of Cangshan and Erhai Lake at low altitude. Those who are afraid of heights should choose carefully, suitable for easy viewing. Tourists of the scenery.
• Hiking route (optional according to difficulty): The classic Yudai Road is 18 kilometers, and there are basically no steep slopes at an altitude of 2600 meters. Novices can walk the 5-kilometer essence section from Gantong Temple to Zhonghe Temple. Along the way, you can see pine forests, streams, and encounter Yudai clouds. If you like light hiking, the 3.5-kilometer route from Jizhao'an to Qingbixi is very suitable, and you can experience the fun of going back to the stream. Advanced players can challenge the Ximatan Ring Road. You can see the moraine landform and the rhododendron all over the mountain for 8 kilometers, but you need to prepare your mountaineering equipment and reserve a 6-8-hour itinerary.
• Humanities and niche check-in: Jizhao Temple is known as "the most beautiful nunnery in China". The garden is full of meat and is very ornamental. You need to make an appointment in advance for 20 yuan per person. After dinner, you can have a cup of Cangshan green tea in the courtyard, which is full of Zen. As the royal temple of Nanzuo, Wuwei Temple is clean and sweet in the epidemic spring water behind the temple. It is said that it is the place where Duan Yu became a monk, which is suitable for tourists who like martial arts culture. Taoxi Valley is suitable for camping and picnics. Along the stream, you can meet Bai villages and feel the quietness of the mountains and fields.
V. Suggestions for itinerary planning
• Easy check-in for a day: Arrive at the Gantong Cableway Station before 9 a.m., take the cable car up the mountain, go straight to Jizhao Temple to eat vegetarian food and shoot meat, and then go to Qingbixi to see the Sandie Waterfall; in the afternoon, walk 2-3 kilometers along the Yudai Road, enjoy the distant scenery of the mountains and seas along the way, and then take the cable car down the mountain, and buy a baked milk fan on the way back. Snacks.
• One-day in-depth hiking: Get up early and take the Ximatan cableway to go up the mountain. First, check in to the cloud cafe on the 3,700-meter observation platform, then walk to Ximatan to enjoy the lake view. Then walk along the Yudai Road to Zhonghe Temple. On the way, overlook the panoramic view of Erhai Lake on the observation platform, and finally go down the mountain from the Zhonghe cableway. The whole process is reserved for 6-8 hours. , remember to bring enough water and dried food such as flower cakes.
• Half-day Buddhist leisure: In the afternoon, go to Jizhao'an to drink Cangshan green tea and take a lot of meat, and then stroll around the Gantong Temple to enjoy the quiet scenery in the mountains. In the evening, go down the mountain and go to Dali Ancient City to eat a special Bai nationality, which is both leisure and comfortable.
VI. Food recommendation
• Characteristics of the temple: You can drink Bai Sandao tea in Gantong Temple or Jizhao Temple. The taste of "one bitter, two sweet and three aftertaste" hides the hospitality of the Bai nationality. With Cangshan wild vegetables and fungi in Suzhai, it is light and delicious.
• Special snacks: You can buy grilled milk fans around the ancient city of Dali or scenic spots. After charcoal grilling, they are wrapped in rose sauce, and the milk fragrance is rich. The sweet rose stuffing and salty minced meat stuffing of Xizhou Baba are very classic. When they are first baked, they are crispy and delicious, and can be used as energy replenishment when hiking.
VII. Accommodation recommendation
• Around the ancient city of Dali: there are a variety of choices, from homestays of about 200 yuan to special inns of 800 yuan. It is convenient to travel, and you can also visit the night view of the ancient city at night, which is suitable for tourists who want to balance the excitement and convenience of travel.
• Around Gantong Temple: Most of the homestays are mainly in the breeze, and the price is 300-600 yuan. In the morning, you can enjoy the mountains and the sea of clouds, and you can walk to the cableway entrance. It is suitable for those who plan to get up early and climb the mountain.
• High-end experience: If you have enough budget, you can choose the Banshan Hotel near the Canghai Yunshang Grassland, which can overlook the panoramic view of Cangshan and Erhai Lake, and the photo rate is extremely high.
VIII. Practical tips
• Transportation: There is a direct bus to each cableway at the Tourist Center at the South Gate of the Ancient City of Dali, every half an hour; you can also take bus No. 8 to Tianlong Babu Film and Television City, and then transfer to the Ximatan Cableway.
• Equipment: The temperature difference on the mountain is large, so you should bring a windproof coat regardless of the season. It is recommended to bring a down jacket when you climb to the top of the horse pool; wear non-slip hiking shoes to avoid slipping on gravel or moss. Oxygen bottles can be bought in advance in the ancient city, about 20 yuan per can.
• Others: The Ximatan Cableway is easily closed in the morning due to the weather, and it is recommended to arrive before 9 o'clock; there are few supply points in the scenic spot, and you should bring enough water and dried food such as flower cakes when hiking; no noise is prohibited in the temple, and do not pick the meat of Jizhao Temple.