Cangshan Mountains

The mountain wall to the west of Dali, with hiking trails, two cable car routes, and a few high temples and teahouses. The 'jade belt' (Yudai) walking path runs at around 2,600 m elevation along the eastern face of the range for nearly 20 km, with views over the old town and lake the entire way.

Two cable cars reach the mountain. The Gantong Cable Car, near Three Pagodas, climbs to a midway station with access to the Yudai path. The Ximatan Cable Car further south reaches a higher point with views over a small mountain lake (Ximatan). Allow a full day if you want to combine cable car with a long walk. The mountain weather can change quickly — bring layers, even in summer.

things to do sight hiking
A story
Cangshan rises 4,122 metres at its highest peak — Malong — and runs as a 50-kilometre ridge along the western side of Erhai Lake. The Bai people consider Cangshan sacred; nineteen named peaks each correspond to one of the eighteen streams that descend the eastern face into the lake, plus one extra peak for spiritual completeness. The forests on the upper slopes are home to leopard cats, black bears, and a tiny relict population of Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys. Snow on the summits in winter gives Dali the 'snow' in its famous four-element motto.

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