3 Days of Dali - Mt. Cangshan - Dali Old Town - Weishan County - Weibaoshan Mountain - Dali

Dali Old Town

On your first day, start your adventure in Mt. Cangshan. The best time to travel in Cangshan Mountain is from March to May, when climate is moderate and flowers are in full bloom. Take the autobus No.4 and you need to walk for a while upon arrival to reach the entrance. The admission fee of Mt. Cangshan is CNY30. There is cable car available here to Gantong Temple and it charges you CNY40-50 one way. Surely you can choose to climb. When you reach Gantong Temple, walk along the Yudai Road with a total length of 10.5 kilometers (6.5 miles). While climbing, you can get a view of the whole Dali Town and Erhai Lake. Looking up, you will see the snow that does not melt completely on top of Cangshan Mountain. The warm sunlight shines down upon you and the fresh breeze blows. All of these are refreshing. You will pass by Clear and Green Stream, Seven Dragon Ladies Pond, Hole of Phoenix eye and Zhonghe Temple. After about 5 hours' hiking, the road leads you to descend the mountain. There is also a cable car near Zhonghe Temple. The path downhill is near the ropeway, so it is not easy to get lost. Go through the March Street and you will reach Dali Old Town finally. It is advisable to stay overnight here. The Dali International Youth Hostel (Address: No.181 Boai Road, Dali) might be a nice choice. When night falls, you are supposed to wander about on the Westerners Street. Move forward along the main street against the south gate and you will find an alleyway perpendicular to it about 150 meters away, which is the well-known Westerners Street.

If you are interested in Dali's history, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture Museum is recommended. Take the bus No.4 or No. 8 to Xiaguan and walk there. Take a minibus at the bus station in Xiaguan to Weishan County and it costs you CNY11. Located 60 kilometers (37.3 miles) south of Dali, Weishan County used to be the birthplace of Nanzhao Country. Since the road to Weishan is rather bumpy, maybe you have to be on the car for nearly 2 hours. Upon arrival, you might walk to the Nanzhao Town, where the Weishan center seats. The whole old town preserves well the checkerboard construction pattern of Ming and Qing Dynasty. It is worth to visit here. Stay overnight in this ancient county.

Bai Autonomous Prefecture Museum, Dali

On the third day, take a motor tricycle to Weibaoshan Mountain, which stands about 10 kilometers southeast of Weishan County. It takes you about 1 hour on the way and you need to spend CNY20-30. The admission fee of Weibaoshan Mountain is CNY50. Start your hiking in Weibaoshan Mountain. As Weibaoshan is a famous Taoist mountain, you will have chance to see several Taoist temples with Bai construction style. Murals of Yi people singing and dancing in Wenchang Palace and the painted sculptures in Taoist Jade Emperor Temple are seldom seen. In the afternoon, transfer yourself back to Dali.