Cangshan Mountain, Dali (Zhonghe cableway)

-
The Cang Mountains (Cangshan) are a mountain range west of Dali City. Their snow-capped peaks, flowing clouds, murmuring brooks, diverse flora, and historical temples make them one of the most famous attractions in Dali. It is a great place to enjoy a bird's eye view of Erhai Lake and Dali Ancient Town. Cable car and hiking are both great ways to enjoy the scenery of the mountains.
However, you have to know there are three cableways in the mountains: Ximatan Cableway, Zhonghe Cableway, and Gantong Cableway. I just know after I know my tour package is going to Zhonghe Cableway. If you do not want to spend any money for the cableway, you can actually hike too. However, it is not really a hiking friendly terrain. Hiking is a popular way to enjoy the mountain scenery. Near Tianlong Babu Studio City at the foot of Cangshan Mountain is a hiking route, and many locals take their morning exercise along this route. Visitors can hike this route, too. It takes about one hour to reach Yudai Rd (Jade Belt Rd), a 18km (11 miles) walking trail on the mountainside. Walking along Jade Belt Rd, you can not only get a bird’s eye view of Erhai Lake but also enjoy many attractions like Longyan Cave, Zhonghe Temple and Qilongnv Pool. Nearly all the attractions along Jade Belt Rd have stores selling water and food, so there is no need to take much along with you. Also, the vegetarian food offered by Zhonghe Temple is worth a try.

Cableway Costs:

  • Ximatan Cableway: 300 yuan for a round trip, 150 for one way
  • Gantong Cableway: 80 yuan for a round trip, 50 for one way
  • Zhonghe Cableway: 60 yuan for a round trip, 30 for one way
Obviously, the best cableway is at Ximatan Cableway. The Zhonghe Cableway I went is so boring and the panoramic view is so limited. Maximum disappointment. I felt I have been conned by the tour agency. Ximatan Cableway is the longest one, with a length of 5,555 meters (18,225 feet), and takes you to an altitude of about 4,000 meters (13,123 feet). Ximatan Cableway has a mid-way station where you can get off to take some pictures. The whole journey is about 40 minutes. If it is too windy, you will end your journey at the mid station. As the most expensive cableway, it offers the best scenery. You will enjoy panoramic views of Dali Ancient Town and Erhai Lake, and see different mountain scenes: from pine forests and alpine lakes to patches of snow.
The highlights of Cangshan at Ximatan cableways are:
1. Xima Pond (‘Washing Horses Pond’)
Ximatan (洗马潭) is an alpine lake with an altitude of 3,920 meters (12,861 feet). It is famous for its limpid water and enchanting scenery around it. From March to May, blooming azaleas and lush brushwood make the lake more gorgeous. According to legend, Kublai Khan, the emperor who founded Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), once bathed his horses in the pond when he defeated the Dali Kingdom. So it was named Ximatan, ‘Washing Horses Pond’.

 2. Qingbi Stream (‘Clear Green Stream’)
The Cang Mountains consists of 19 peaks. There is a brook between each of the peaks, 18 brooks in total. Qingbi Stream (清碧溪) is the most famous one. It is very relaxing to walk in the tranquil forest and listen to the gurgling stream.

 3. Butterfly Spring
Butterfly Spring (蝴蝶泉) is at the foot of Yunnong Peak, about 40 km from Malong Peak. It is like a gem laying in the green shade of the mountains. If you visit between April and May when all kinds of flowers are in blossom, you will see thousands of bufferflies around the spring.
While Gantong and Zhonghe cableways, you will just see Buddhist temple and that's it. Overall, I really do recommend to visit the Cangshan Mountain but only Ximatan Cableways. If you do not want to spend that much, just go up with cable car and hike all the way down. If it is still expensive for you, maybe you can just skip this tourist spot.
Ticket Price: CNY100
Business Hours: 8.00am - 6.00pm (daily)
Best time to visit: March - May
Recommended?: 4/5. Yes and only Ximatan cableway
Location: 86 Guanyin Rd, Dali Shi, Dali Baizuzizhizhou, Yunnan Sheng, China, 671003

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hawker Center @Jalan MacAlister, Penang

-
Image
What will people think first when we talk about Penang? Penang Hill? Batu Feringghi? Hard Rock Cafe? I doubt any of them come first but their local food! Penang famous with their local foods and that is the reason there are a lot of hawker center at Penang. One of them is at Jalan MacAlister. No name for this hawker center but the local good foods are concentrated here. A lot of hawker stall like this here. There are just too many to choose from. Prawn Mee @RM5.00 Outlook: 3/5 Creativity: 3/5 Taste: 3/5 Price: 2/5 Overall: 2/5 - As I mentioned in my previous post at Raodifang, I just hate to eat a prawn mee with small prawns in it. Loh Mee @RM5.00 Outlook: 3/5 Creativity: 3/5 Taste: 2/5 Price: 2/5 Overall: 2/5 - Nothing special for an expensive small portion. Carrot Cake in chinese style @RM6.00 Outlook: 3/5 Creativity: 4/5 Taste: 4/5 Price: 3/5 Overall: 3/5 - We ordered two plates and one plate is very delicious and fragrant but another one is too s
Read more

Sports Shooting Club Hatyai (SSC)

-
Image
Most of people think if you travel to Hatyai and not visiting their temples, you are just wasting your time at Hatyai. As for my personal opinion, if you come to Hatyai and did not go to Sports Shooting Club (SSC) Hatyai to experience the shooting experience with a real gun, I think you are not just wasting your time at Hatyai but you are wasting your time being a human. You only live once and there is no better way to understand these guns than coming over to SSC.   Their gun selections are enough to satisfy your urge. From rifle, pistols, revolvers to shotguns. You would be surprised that their rifle is the cheapest. The price is stated from 890 baht nett for a 15 rounds.  I have tried the rifle, beretta and this Smith and Wesson 4506 .45 ACP. This 45 is my favorite among all with 50m shooting range and 8+1 capacity. One of the most expensive gun to rent here. Basically you are shooting at the target paper like this. You can adjust the range of the target to your prefer
Read more

Kedai Kopi Lotus, Kota Kinabalu

-
Image
Kota Kinabalu doesn't have huge hawker center like you will see in Peninsular Malaysia or Kuching but I have to reckon that the best hawker center in Kota Kinabalu is in Kedai Kopi Lotus. Kedai Kopi Lotus themselves do serve their own food which was very terrible and beyond edible state. So do not eat anything from this restaurant. You just pick the stalls beside this restaurant. There are 4 stalls which I will introduce one by one to you but the only stall which will not be introduced is the stall which is selling Guo Tie ( a kind of dumplings) -  not my favorite. The best and the most popular stall of all is this chicken wing stall. Everyone is there lining up for them either taking away or dining there. You may need to wait for 15-20 minutes for it. However, it will be definitely worthwhile. RM2.65/pc for this chicken wing. The reason it is taste so good is because of the perfect combination of the honey and the BBQ fragrance. They blend it so well inside the fresh and
Read more

Bao Seng Durian Farm, Balik Pulau

-
Image
Have you ever stay in a Durian Farm before? No? At Bao Sheng Durian Farm, you can do it! This 6.7 acres durian farm has been established in Balik Pulau since 1959. It really took them full 60 years to get the fruit of their hard work. Their villa is well equipped with air-con, hot shower and LCD TV with hundreds of Blu-Ray quality movies in it! They have existing queen size or king size bed and extra bed can be requested. To get close and personal with the King of Fruit...the accommodation charges will be Deluxe Villa is charged at RM280/night and standard villa will cost you RM180/night. They only have 1 Deluxe Villa and 2 Standard Villa only. So it is very easy to be fully booked during the durian season. Advance booking is greatly recommended for at least 3 months ahead so that you will be able to choose the right schedule for the durian you wish to taste. Why stay in a durian farm? This is what you see when you open the window with all the durian trees around you. The fre
Read more

Aroii Thai @Shaftsbury Square

-
Image
Thai Boat Noodles is a trendy authentic Boat Noodles originated in Bangkok Kwan Riam Floating Market located between Soi Saereethai 60 and Soi Ramkhamhaeng 187 where the vendors cook food in the little boats. It gains popularity not only with the locals but the tourist alike due to its sophisticated aroma riched soup based with sultry smooth Thai glass noodle that consists of more than 10 ingredients to prepare a piping hot bowl of comfort food. Aroi Thai Boat Noodles will target both Thai food lovers as well as casual diners looking for good food in a fascinating Thai atmosphere. Recently there is an interesting Thai restaurant which is known as Aroii Thai opened at Shaftsbury Square at Cyberjaya. The interesting part is all their food and drinks are only RM1.90++/each. I am not joking and I thought it was a gimmick too when I first heard of this. So I decided to drop by all the to Cyberjaya for a visit.  Aroii in Thai means delicious. This delicious eatery is always packed with
Read more

Tasik Biru Kangkar Pulai, Johor Bahru

-
Image
At Johor Bahru, there is a majestic blue lake which is known as Tasik Biru Kangkar Pulai. It is a hidden gem within Masai, Johor Bahru.  The reason it is blue is because of the iron ore quarry nearby. The blue color is from the mineral called copper sulphate but I am not sure if that's the real reason for it because whenever there is a blue lake like this, there will be a iron ore quarry beside of it. Another good example is Tasik Biru Bukit Ibam Muadzam Shah, Pahang. I believe there are other more which you can share with me the location of the blue lake with an iron ore quarry beside it on the comments below. Thanks. A panoramic view of the blue lake. Click to enlarge the picture. To get to here, simple key in "Tasek Biru Kangkar Pulai" into your Waze app. It will leads you directly to this place. There are no designated parking place, so you just have to park beside the main road.  It is not difficult to hike because I saw kids have no problem cli
Read more

Champ's Bowling Centre, Sandakan

-
Image
Not really much entertainment in Sandakan even though they are just beside the sea. No nice beach for water activities and the nearest island like Pulau Selingan and Turtle Island are about 90 minutes away. As for the town itself, basically is this bowling centre called Champ's which has a very nice and good condition bowling alley, bowling shoes and bowling bowls if to compare with bowling centres like in KL.  Not very big at all for their bowling centre which only has 12 lanes. Their shoes look so new! Here is a demonstration on how to bowl. Looks pro...I wonder how is the end result. So what do guys think? Is it a strike? They have a lounge here as well. And a cafe too! The price of the bowling is cost at RM4.80 per game per pax. We went at their most peak hours so their price basically has not much different than our KL City price. As for the bowling shoes is chargeable at RM2.00 per pax. FYI, the prices not inclusive government tax of 6%. Seriou
Read more

Marini's on 57 @KLCC

-
Image
In Singapore, you will see high class restaurants open their restaurant with Marina Bay Sands view. In KL, it will be the Petronas Twin Tower instead. However, to allow you to dine with the tower so up close and personal to you, it got to be Marini's on 57. Outstanding view which will just leave a memory of a lifetime to you.  You are very encouraged to make advanced reservation before visiting unless you are coming here for a common daily dining. This restaurant is located at Tower 3 and the entrance is near where the Chanel shop is. You will see a man with black suit at the entrance to escort you to their lift. Their lift is only going to take you to 57th floor which is where this restaurant is located. If you plan to dine by the window, they do set a minimum spending of RM300++/pax. Do not worry about it because you will easily spent more than that even with just main course and drinks only. This level is divided to two parts which are the restaurant and the bar. So
Read more

Restoran Hin Kee Hong Kong Dim Sum, SS2

-
Image
I have a good news to you guys...your eyes no longer have to suffer because my lens is back!!! So wait no more and take you guys to a dim sum shop called Restoran Hin Kee at SS2. Okay, my following review will keep on comparing with the best dim sum I had so far which is at Restoran Hee Lai Ton @Shaw Plaza .  Siew Mai @RM4.60++ Outlook: 3/5 Creativity: 3/5 Taste: 3/5 Price: 3/5 Overall: 3/5 - Al I can say is normal. Not bad but not the best. Cheowchou Siew Mai @RM4.20++ Outlook: 3/5 Creativity: 3/5 Taste: 3/5 Price: 3/5 Overall: 3/5 - It really does taste ordinary to me. Steamed Vege Dumpling @RM3.80++ Outlook: 3/5 Creativity: 4/5 Taste: 3/5 Price: 3/5 Overall: 3/5 - Very new to me. It taste slightly like Chives Dumpling . It is good to have the first experience here. Abalone Dumpling @RM4.55++ Outlook: 4/5 Creativity: 4/5 Taste: 4/5 Price: 3/5 Overall: 3/5 - They are using baby abalone for it. Very creative and delicious. However, quite expens
Read more

Sin Kee Bak Kut Teh, Kota Kinabalu

-
Image
There are two best bak kut teh in Kota Kinabalu that I have known so far. One is known as Yu Kee Bak Kut Teh  and the other one is known as Sin Kee Bak Kut Teh. There are just located one street away from each other. However, both of them got the same jam packed customers as you can see from the picture above. You just cannot detect any available seat around. This is how good they are. The one and only chef in action to prepare the whole bak kut teh to all the patrons. The surprising part is the serving speed was extremely fast. Usually when you see so many people, you might think you will need to wait for quite some time but he can make sure you will get your food at the fastest speed. These are the prices after GST is imposed.  They do have other dishes to serve too apart of their famous Bak Kut Teh. However, my advice is just stick with their Bak Kut Teh no matter how much the waiter/waitress to push you to order more. The moment you sit down, they will straight aw
Read more