Cangshan Mountain

The Cangshan Mountain, also known as Dian Cang Mountain or Holy Golden Eagle Mountain, is situated northwest to the Dali Ancient City. It is a major summit of southern Yunling Mountain. The Cangshan Mountain stands east to the Erhai Lake facing west to the Black Hui River.

The Cangshan Mountain consists of 19 peaks, all of which have an altitude over 3,500 meters above the sea level. The stretching summits are like a sleeping dragon lying from north to south. One of the main summits, the Malong Peak, has an altitude of 4,122 meters, thus it is covered with snow all the year round.

There are crystal clear brooks between every 2 peaks running down from one summit joining another brook from another summit then all pouring into Erhai Lake. Observing from afar, 19 summits with 18 alternating brooks have made such a unique and fascinating view.

Except the above 18 brooks, there are many lakes over an altitude of 3,800 meters.

There are many interesting places at the foot of the Cangshan Mountain where the culture heritage of Bai minority group spreads. There are the well-known Three Towers of Chongsheng Temple, the Buddhist Picture Tower, the Inaction Temple, the Taoxi Zhonghe Temple, the Nine Dragon Virgin Pool, the three pools of Clear Green Temple and the Enlightenment Temple.

The Snow

It is said that the snow will not melt even in the hottest days of summer. The Snow, one of the renowned 4 top scenes (the Wind, the Flower, the Snow and the Moon) in Dali City, refers to the amazingly beautiful unmelted snow scene on Cangshan Mountain. Mist often lays over the snow capped mountain peaks, which gives visitors an impression of mistery and magnificence.

Azalea Flower

The one thing a flower enthusiastic will never want to miss is to see beautiful azalea flowers grown on Cangshan Mountain.

How to get there

Take a Cable Car

A cable car is now available on the Cangshan Mountain with day tours at the foot of the mountain. The route of cable cars starts the west of Dali ancient town and stops at Zhonghe Temple. It costs 35 yuan for a round trip ticket. There, visitors can walk along Yudai Lu, a 18km newly built path on the waist of the mountain.

Riding a Horse

At the foot of the mountain, local people rent horses, so visitor can choose to ride a horse to Zhonghe Temple. It costs about an hour and about 80 yuan.

Tips

1. The roads on mountains are very intricate, so it would be safer if visitors only walk along Yudai Road.

2. None of the cultural sites along the road charges admission fee, but there is not enough time for tourists to visit all sites within a day so it is advisable that visitors pick some sites that you are interested in to visit.

Ticket Price: Resource Protection Fare-30 yuan;
Recommended Time for a Visit: 2 hours
Recommended Visit Months: From March to May (Visitors can see azalea flowers on Cangshan Mountain.)
Opening Hours: 08:30-18:00

How to Get There?
there are special tourist buses in all Bus Stations and at the gate of major hotels in the city proper.

Opening Hours:
opentime:08:30-18:00 Tourtime:2hs