Dali Cangshan

Dali Cangshan

Dali Cangshan is a national geopark.

Cangshan, also known as Diancang Mountain, gets its name from its lush green slopes and snow-capped peaks. Stretching over 50 kilometers, Cangshan consists of 19 peaks that rise majestically toward the sky, most reaching an elevation of around 4,000 meters, with their summits covered in snow year-round. From south to north, these 19 peaks are: Xieyang Peak, Ma’er Peak, Foding Peak, Shengying Peak, Malong Peak, Yuju Peak, Longquan Peak, Sanyang Peak, Zhonghe Peak, Shengguanjian Peak, Yingle Peak, XuRen Peak, Lan Peak, Sanyang Peak, HeYun Peak, Baiyun Peak, Lianhua Peak, Wutai Peak, Canglang Peak, and Yunlong Peak. Among the 19 peaks, Malong Peak is the highest, with an elevation of 4,122 meters.

The 19 peaks of Cangshan are interspersed with 18 streams, each lying between two peaks. These streams flow eastward into Erhai Lake. From south to north, the 18 streams are: Yangnan Stream, Tingming Stream, Mocan Stream, Qingbi Stream, Long Stream, Lüyu Stream, Zhong Stream, Tao Stream, Mei Stream, Yinxian Stream, Shuangyuan Stream, Baishi Stream, Lingquan Stream, Jin Stream, Mangyong Stream, Yang Stream, Wanhu Stream, Xiayi Stream.

Cangshan boasts beautiful natural landscapes and a wealth of scenic spots. These include the world-famous Butterfly Spring, the perilous yet fascinating Fengyan Cave and Longyan Cave, the historic General’s Cave, the Nanzhao Dehua Stele, the ancient Gantong Temple, and Zhonghe Temple, among other cultural relics. At the mountaintop, you’ll find stunning natural attractions such as the colorful Huadianba Plateau, Xima Pool, Huanglong Pool, and ancient glacial remnants. Ancient people summarized many of Cangshan’s natural wonders into the “Eight Scenic Views of Cangshan,” namely: Morning Colors Like a Painted Screen, Cangshan’s Spring Snow, Clouds Like a Jade Belt, Fengyan Cave’s Radiance, Layers of Blue Pools, Jade Bureau Floating Clouds, Stream Waterfalls and Round Rocks, and Golden Sunset Glow.

Cangshan’s scenery is famed for its snow, clouds, springs, and rocks. The snow that never melts even in summer is the crown jewel of Dali’s “Four Scenes of Wind, Flowers, Snow, and Moon.” The glistening white snow on Cangshan, draped in silver, appears pure and crystalline under the sunlight. Throughout history, poets and writers have penned countless praises for Cangshan’s snow, and many folk legends surround it. The Ming Dynasty literary figure Li Yuanyang once wrote: “The sun shines on Cangshan’s snow, nineteen peaks like a jade terrace.”

Legend has it that in ancient Dali, a year brought a group of plague gods who spread disease everywhere, causing epidemics in river and coastal regions. Many people perished, and the suffering was immense. Two siblings from at the foot of Cangshan returned after studying magic and were determined to rid the people of this scourge. The brother summoned fierce winds, while the sister brought heavy snow, driving the plague gods to the top of Cangshan. To protect the people from further harm, the brother turned into the god of wind, and the sister into the goddess of snow. Together, they froze the plague gods to death on the mountain peak with strong winds and snow. Since then, the snow on Cangshan has never melted, becoming the foremost of the “Four Scenes of Wind, Flowers, Snow, and Moon”—Cangshan’s Snow. The 19 peaks of Cangshan all stand over 3,500 meters above sea level, with the highest, Malong Peak, reaching 4,122 meters. Due to the high altitude, the peaks are extremely cold year-round, covered in snow that glistens brilliantly under the sun, creating a spectacular sight.

The clouds of Cangshan are equally renowned. Gathering and dispersing, they sometimes appear as light as mist and other times thick as ink washes. Among the ever-changing cloudscapes, the most magical are the “Wangfu Cloud” (Gazing Husband Cloud) and the “Yu Dai Cloud” (Jade Belt Cloud). The “Wangfu Cloud” refers to a solitary white cloud that often appears on Yuju Peak during winter and spring. It drifts up and down, seemingly looking around with longing. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that whenever it appears, fierce gales suddenly sweep down from Cangshan toward Erhai Lake. The “Yu Dai Cloud” refers to the phenomenon in late summer and early autumn, when, after rain and clearing skies, layers of white clouds gather halfway up the 19 peaks of Cangshan. These clouds slowly stretch out, resembling a pure white belt cinching the emerald mountainside, extending for dozens of miles and lingering throughout the day. Remarkably, the “Yu Dai Cloud” is said to foretell agricultural abundance—the more frequently it appears, the more favorable the year’s weather will be. A local Bai ethnic farming proverb says: “When Cangshan ties a jade belt, even hungry dogs eat white rice.”

Jade Belt Cloud

Most commonly appearing in late summer and early autumn after rain and clearing, the Jade Belt Cloud forms as a milky-white, ribbon-like cloud wrapped around the middle of Cangshan, splitting the mountain’s hundred-mile expanse in two—hence the name “Cloud Like a Jade Belt.”

On autumn mornings after rain, wisps of cloud begin to form midway up Cangshan, gradually coalescing into a flawless white silk ribbon. This ribbon stretches across the 19 peaks like a jade belt, bisecting the undulating mountain range. Then, slowly, it transforms into myriad blooming snow lotuses atop the mountain summits, only to vanish in the blink of an eye like willow catkins dancing in the spring breeze. Legend says this phenomenon signals the descent of Guanyin (the Goddess of Mercy), heralding a year of favorable weather. A Qing Dynasty poet, Zhang Yangduo, once praised the wondrous Jade Belt Cloud with the verse: “In autumn rains’ aftermath, behold its splendor; Heaven drapes a jade sash o’er the mountain’s shoulder.”

Wangfu Cloud

In autumn and winter, a tufted white cloud often lingers atop Yuju Peak of Cangshan, neither dispersing nor moving. Resembling a sorrowful princess gazing down at her lover banished to the ocean depths, this is the legendary “Wangfu Cloud” from folklore. Whenever it appears, fierce winds roar, waves churn on Erhai Lake, and boats cannot sail—thus it is also called the “No-Crossing Cloud.”

Legend says the Wangfu Cloud is the incarnation of Princess A’Li of the Nanzhao Kingdom. She fell in love with a young hunter from Cangshan, but her father opposed the relationship. He summoned a sorcerer named Luo to kill A’Long (the hunter) and cast him into the ocean, where he turned into a stone mule. The heartbroken princess died on Yuju Peak, her spirit transforming into a white cloud that generates furious winds, vowing to blow away the sea to find her lover. Ever since, during autumn and winter, a pure white, drifting cloud often rises from Yuju Peak toward the vast sky. Against the blue sky, it appears exceptionally pure and beautiful—like a fair maiden standing atop Cangshan, gazing toward Erhai Lake. Whenever it appears, fierce winds stir the sea, and waves crash violently. The winds seem determined to blow away the ocean and reveal the stone mule on the seabed, never resting until their mission is complete.

The springs of Cangshan are also famous. At elevations above 3,800 meters on the 19 peaks, there are many high-altitude glacial lakes, remnants of the Quaternary glaciers. Additionally, the waters of the 18 streams tumble down in waterfalls and layered springs all year round. Nourished by the pure, sweet spring water, Cangshan teems with vitality. Around the glacial lakes, dense primeval forests grow, alongside many rare trees and exotic flowers. The flowers of Cangshan have long been celebrated, contributing significantly to the mountain’s fame. “Over a million people in the United States know about Cangshan in Dali, Yunnan, China, because they grow many beautiful Cangshan azaleas.”

The rocks of Cangshan are renowned both in China and abroad. Guo Moruo once wrote a poem titled “Ode to Marble”: “Three pagodas proud and ancient, recalling the Zhenguan years. Cangshan resonates with wind and moon, its wondrous stones exhale mist and cloud. Their forms lie beyond the heart and chest, their coolness felt beneath the armpit. Divine craftsmanship and human skill alternate, treasures of this stone renowned overseas.” Cangshan gave birth to marble, and marble is the soul of Cangshan. This magnificent stone can be found in many places around the world, but none match the beauty and uniqueness of Dali’s, which has been quarried here since early times. Therefore, this special stone is known worldwide as “Dali Marble.” “Dali” itself has gained global fame because of its marble.

Cangshan now features a hiking trail along its midsection. Outside the north gate of Dali Ancient Town, there is also a cableway stretching over 7,000 meters that leads directly to Zhonghe Temple. Visitors can take the cable car up and down.

Cangshan Xima Pool

Xima Pool, anciently known as Biulong Pool, is located on a platform atop Yuju Peak, the second-highest peak of Cangshan. At an elevation of 4,097 meters and about fifty steps from the summit, the pool spans over a hundred meters in diameter, with a depth of roughly 1.67 meters. It has an oval, pot-bottom shape and is naturally paved with thin bluish slabs at the bottom and surrounding edges. The pool water is crystal-clear and remains unfrozen year-round, making it a stunning alpine lake atop Cangshan.

The area around the pool is covered with rhododendron shrubs resembling coiling dragons. Not far below are dense primeval forests of Cangshan fir and bamboo groves.

In spring and summer, when rhododendrons bloom, the lakeside becomes a vibrant tapestry of colors, as splendid as rosy clouds. One side is framed by fresh green bamboo and dark blue firs, while the other reflects the mottled gray-yellow rocky cliffs. Visitors who lie on a rock by the lake, letting clusters of purplish-red Bauhinia, pale yellow wild lilies, and bright red dragon claw flowers brush against their cheeks, will find fatigue melting away and spirits lifted. Adding to the experience is the honey fragrance of mountain rhododendrons carried by the breeze, making it hard to leave.

Fengyan Cave

From Dali Ancient Town, head southwest to the foot of Longquan Peak in Cangshan, then climb another seven or eight li (approximately 3–4 km), and you’ll reach Fengyan Cave.

Fengyan Cave is embedded in the PuTuo Cliff, halfway up the southern side of Longquan Peak. Here, cliffs tower thousands of feet, suspended in midair, creating a serene and steep landscape. A narrow crevice in the rock forms the cave entrance, which resembles the eye of a phoenix. The back of the cave faces the side of Longquan Peak, while the front is a huge overhanging rock. Leaning over the edge and looking down, you’ll see the emerald waters of Green Jade Stream cascading down like a white silk ribbon, with misty clouds and a seemingly bottomless abyss—it’s dizzying. This spot is known as the “Self-Sacrifice Cliff.” To the south of the cliff is a smooth, shiny stone bed facing east and west, known as the “Immortal’s Bed.” This is the most thrilling part of Fengyan Cave. Carvings on the nearby stone wall read: “This place is not of the mortal realm” and “You should know there are other worlds.” There is also a spot called the “Western Buddha Pavilion,” where each pavilion houses a carved stone Buddha. To see the full figure of the Buddha, one must sit on the Immortal’s Bed and look upward—a practice commonly referred to as “Looking Back at the Eight Immortals.” Fengyan Cave has been known since ancient times for its precipitousness and is considered one of the premier scenic spots of Cangshan.

Cangshan Park

Located at the foot of Xieyang Peak in the northwest suburbs of Xiaguan, near the General’s Cave Scenic Area.

At the foot of Xieyang Peak in the northwest suburbs of Xiaguan lies the General's Cave Scenic Area.

In 1982, the Xiaguan Municipal People's Government developed it into Cangshan Park, creating two major scenic areas within General’s Cave—Pine and Cypress Garden and Qingquan Waterfall. The Pine and Cypress Garden features a stone memorial archway at the mountain gate, inscribed with a marble plaque reading “Spectacular Sunset Paradise,” along with corridors and pavilions for visitors to rest. The waterfall cascades down from steep cliffs and flows year-round. The garden, waterfall, and ancient architectural complex of General’s Cave blend seamlessly, covering hundreds of acres with beautiful scenery. Dense forests, flowing waters, the blue waves of Erhai Lake to the east, the sound of the Xier River to the south, and the backdrop of the main peak of Sunset Mountain create a picturesque setting.

General’s Cave was first built in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Its main structures include a gate tower, stage, main hall, God of Wealth Hall, Goddess Hall, and side rooms, all exuding a strong Bai ethnic architectural style. The main hall is a single-eave hip-and-gable roof structure, elaborately carved and painted, making it grand and magnificent. During the Tianbao era of the Tang Dynasty, General Li Mi led troops to attack Nanzhao, advancing to the Xier River where they were defeated by the Nanzhao king, resulting in the annihilation of the entire army. A mass grave for ten thousand soldiers was built on the south bank of the river’s lower reaches. To commemorate General Li Mi, locals built a shrine, commonly known as General’s Cave. In front of the temple stands a centuries-old large blue tree. Legend has it that after Li Mi’s defeat, he fled to Sunset Peak and thrust his weapon into the ground, which later grew into this tree. The existence of General’s Cave reflects the borderland peoples’ desire for peace, opposition to war, and broad-minded inclusiveness.

Zhoucheng

Located at the foot of Canglang Peak of Cangshan Mountain, it is Dali’s largest Bai ethnic settlement—the town of Xizhou, with a population of 8,350. Most houses in the village are traditional Bai-style residences with three sides and a screen wall, featuring white walls, black tiles, and quiet alleyways.

In the southern and northern squares, there are two tall banyan trees (commonly called large blue trees) each. In front of the southern square stands a huge screen wall inscribed with the four characters “Cang’e Yi Xiu” (Beauty of Cangshan and Erhai). The northern square has an ancient brick-and-timber theater stage facing east and west, standing two meters high with a hip-and-gable roof. It stands opposite the two large blue trees and serves as the site of daily afternoon markets. During the Torch Festival, a giant torch is erected here, turning it into a venue for celebration and performances.

Additionally, the village has ancient buildings such as the Village God Temple and Wenchang Palace, giving it an old-world charm. With the development of commune and brigade enterprises, the local commercial economy is very active, encompassing traditional industries like tie-dyeing, winemaking, food processing, and construction. The village also hosts cultural centers, cinemas, schools, and hospitals, all rich in ethnic flavor. Due to its proximity to Butterfly Spring Park, tourist numbers have been steadily increasing. The village offers convenient accommodation and dining, especially its signature dish of tofu stewed with fish, which is delicious and uniquely flavorful, making it an important folk tourism village in Dali.

Huadianba

Huadianba is a beautiful and fertile basin atop Cangshan Mountain, situated at the summits of Yunlong Peak and Canglang Peak. At an elevation of 2,900 meters, it stretches over 20 kilometers from north to south and about 3 kilometers from east to west. The western part of the basin features 19 peaks similar to Cangshan, known as Little Cangshan, covered with dense forests. The mountains are home to over 40 streams of various sizes, which converge to form the Wanhua Stream of Cangshan.

Hiking up the Wanhua Stream opposite Xizhou Town for just over two hours brings you to Huadian Pass. Upon entering the pass, a vast expanse of green and rosy-hued flatland suddenly unfolds before your eyes, instantly lifting your spirits and refreshing your mind. Surrounded by rolling peaks, bamboo-covered mountains, babbling streams, and birdsong, Huadianba is serene and picturesque. The basin is ablaze with vibrant flowers in spring and summer, with rhododendrons stretching across more than 20 square kilometers, forming an ocean of blossoms. Interspersed among them are herbaceous flowers like white bean flowers and peonies, creating a dazzling and enchanting display. Camellias, azaleas, Indian azaleas, wild chrysanthemums, leopard flowers, and dragon-claw flowers further embellish the basin in a riot of colors. Huadianba is truly a kingdom of plants and a sea of flowers.

Ancient Buddha Cave

The Ancient Buddha Cave is located on Yunlong Peak of Cangshan Mountain in Dali. It is a natural karst cave, named for the Buddha statues enshrined inside. The renowned late-Ming geographer Xu Xiake once explored the area and documented in his *Travel Diaries of Yunnan*: “There is a peculiar Ancient Buddha Cave in the southern mountain gorge, but it is situated on sheer cliffs and precipices, making access perilous. Without a guide, one cannot find it.” Guided by a local, Xu Xiake braved the dangers, climbing down along branches to reach the cave entrance, but ultimately “found the descent too steep and had to turn back.” Readers today can’t help but lament that Xu Xiake was unable to explore the cave further, adding an air of mystery to the Ancient Buddha Cave.

The cave is winding and deep, filled with bizarre rock formations, creating a magical world. These formations result from the continuous infiltration of groundwater, where calcium carbonate in the water gradually deposits to form stalactites and stalagmites over time. Monks later discovered this wondrous sight and carved Buddha and Bodhisattva statues on the stalactites and stalagmites to attract worshippers and solicit donations for “merit,” as noted in *The Travel Diaries of Xu Xiake*: “Several years ago, a monk lived here and placed many Buddha statues, hence the name.” Naturally, the monks never imagined their carvings would leave behind such precious cultural and artistic heritage for future generations.

Address: Xiyinxian Road, Dali Ancient City, Dali City, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province

Type: Mountain

Recommended Visiting Time: 4–8 hours

Phone: 0872-2670349

Opening Hours:

Peak Season (April 1–October 31): 8:30–16:10; Off-Season (November 1–March 31): 8:30–15:40. Gantong Cable Car: 8:30–17:00; Cangshan Grand Cable Car: 8:30–17:00.

Transportation

1. Many taxis are available in the ancient city to take you to the foot of Cangshan Mountain, where you can then take a cable car up the mountain.

2. Exit through the Cangshan Gate of Dali Ancient City, walk along National Highway 214 to Yixian Road, turn west, and continue for about 1 kilometer to reach the Cangshan Grand Cable Car.

3. Take Bus 4 from the ancient city to the Gantong Temple stop, then walk southwest along the mountain path near the school for about 2 kilometers to reach the Gantong Cable Car station.

4. Exit through the South Gate of the ancient city, walk west along Yita Road for about 1.9 kilometers to reach the Cangshan scenic area hiking trail.

5. If visitors prefer not to take a cable car, they can rent a horse in the ancient town to ride up the mountain for approximately 100 yuan.

Admission

40 yuan (mountain entry fee); Gantong Cable Car: 80 yuan (round trip).

Cangshan Grand Cable Car: 182 yuan (one way, includes Cangshan Mountain entry), 282 yuan (round trip, includes Cangshan Mountain entry, *Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils* film studio entry, and studio shuttle bus fee).

Location

Xiyinxian Road, Dali Ancient City, Dali City, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province

Chongsheng Temple Three Pagodas

Wuwei Temple

Qingbi Stream

Dali Baolin Temple

Zhonghe Temple

Nanzhao Dehua Stele

aaa

Fengyan Cave

aaa

Huadian Dam