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For most people
living in Kunming, Dali is known
primarily as a place to go to
chill out and relax. What is not-so-well-known
is that Dali also has a lot of
great hiking to offer hikers of
all levels.
The
Cangshan mountain range on the
west side of Dali Old Town is
accessible by cable car or the
old-fashioned way: hoofing it
to the top. The hike up takes
approximately two hours whereas
the cable car takes about half
an hour and costs thirty yuan
a one-way ride. The cable car
operates from 8:30 am to 6:30
pm - make sure to give yourself
enough time to get back to the
cable car station if you are planning
on taking it back down to Dali.
Last year the Cangshan area was
designated a 'scenic spot' by
the local government, so anyone
ascending the mountains - on foot
or cable car - must pay 30 yuan
to enter the mountain area.
Whether
you take the cable car or hike
up the mountain, it is advisable
to first hit Zhonghe Temple, which
in addition to a temple features
a small Bai-style restaurant and
a small square with a is a beautiful
view of Erhai Lake as well as
plenty of stores to stock up on
food and water. It is also at
the head of several trails that
stretch throughout the mountain
range.
Hiking
options in the Cangshan range
include trips to lakes, waterfalls,
mountain peaks and temples. For
those looking for a leisurely
hike the Cloud Pass is an easy
choice. The stone path is fairly
flat and winds around six mountains,
past five waterfalls and three
temples. There are also side trails
jutting out from the Cloud Pass
near the waterfalls that lead
upward to clear pools, more waterfalls
and excellent vistas. Stretching
about twenty kilometers, Cloud
Pass can also provide a nice workout.
With road signs and plenty of
other hikers there is no danger
of losing your way.
If
you plan on doing one of the more
difficult hikes, it is a good
idea to check in with the employees
at the Higherland Inn. They are
very knowledgable about trails
in the area and offer free maps
and information for hikers. The
hike to the summit of Zhonghe,
the second highest mountain in
the area at 4,100 meters, generally
takes nine hours for the round
trip hike, so it is recommended
to stay at the inn for a night
to get an early start. In some
places the trail to the top is
a little overgrown but it is not
difficult to follow. Along the
way bright green bamboo forests
and clear mountain streams make
one feel far from the human world.
After
hours of hiking with no signs
of civilization, the summit boasts
a large TV tower with 20 full-time
employees (who are often inside
watching TV). This is a great
place to take a lunch break and
relax a bit before the hike down.
The TV tower employees are very
kind and enjoy talking to passersby.
Upon arriving, it is common to
be greeted with a round of hellos
from the workers. If you have
a tent and want to stay up top
for a while, there is a trail
on the Cangshan ridge that can
be taken north or south, with
beautiful views and small mountain
lakes dotting the way.
The
best time to hike above Dali is
late summer and early autumn as
to avoid the rainy season. It
is advisable to bring some warm
clothes whenever you hike in the
area because cold weather can
move in quickly on the mountaintops.
Source
from GoKunming.com |
