Live Your Best Lives
With four people in one car, it's a very pleasant thing to set a travel goal, give yourself enough time, and travel slowly. The farthest place we traveled this time was Meili Snow Mountain. It took us 23 days to return to our warm home. The specific itinerary is as follows:
Yunnan: Dali, Lishui, and Xiangshan Itinerary Schedule (2023)
0208 D1 Jiangmen, Guangdong - Jiuzhou Ancient Town, Jingxi, Guangxi (804 km, 8.7 hours) Stay and play in Jiuzhou
0209 D2 Jiuzhou Ancient Town—Yuanyang Rice Terraces (560km, 7.5 hours) Accommodation: 2 nights at Yuanyang Rice Terraces
0210 D3 Accommodation and entertainment at Yuanyang Rice Terraces
0211 D4 Yuanyang Rice Terraces-Weishan Ancient City (304km, 5.7 hours) Accommodation and entertainment:
0212 D5 Weishan Ancient Town—Dali Xizhou Ancient Town (92 kilometers, 2 hours) Play: Weishan Ancient Town Accommodation: Dali Xizhou 4 nights
0213 D6 Play in Dali: Butterfly Spring, Shangguan Garden, Luoshijiang Estuary Wetland, Shuanglang Ancient Town, Nanshao Fengqing Island
0214 D7 Play in Dali: Check in at rapeseed flower fields, Cangshan Mountain, check in at S Bay
0215 D8 Play in Dali: Photograph the sunrise at Xizhou Sea Tongue Park, visit the Chongsheng Temple Three Pagodas Cultural Tourism Area, and visit the Dali Ancient Town
0216 D9 Xizhou Ancient Town - Shaxi Ancient Town (100km, 2 hours) - Lijiang Baisha Ancient Town (105km, 2 hours) Accommodation: Baisha Ancient Town
Play: Shaxi Ancient Town, Baisha Ancient Town
0217 D10 Lijiang Baisha Ancient Town—Shangri-La Feilai Temple (350km, 6 hours) Accommodation: Feilai Temple
&nb sp; Play: Jinsha River Bay, Baima Snow Mountain
0218 D11 Feilai Temple-Shangri-La (210 km, 4.5 hours) Shangri-La 2 nights
Play: Watch the sunrise over the Meili Snow Mountain at the Feilai Temple Observation Deck and the Balagezong Scenic Area.
0219 D12 Shangri-La Songzanlin Scenic Area, Pudacuo National Park, Dukezong Ancient Town
0220 D13 Shangri-La City-Baishuitai (100 kilometers, 3.3 hours) Accommodation and entertainment Baishuitai
0221 D14 Baishuitai - Tiger Leaping Gorge - Shigu Town - Lijiang City (200 km, 5 hours) Accommodation: Lijiang 3 nights
Play: Haba Snow Mountain, Tiger Leaping Gorge, the first bend of the Yangtze River
0222 D15 Play in Lijiang: Yuhu Village, Shuhe Ancient Town, Lashihai Wetland Park
0223 D16 Play in Lijiang: Yak Terrace, Blue Moon Valley, Night View of Lijiang Ancient Town
0224 D17 Lijiang Ancient Town, Mufu Mansion - Lugu Lake (190 km, 4 hours) Accommodation: Lugu Lake 2 days
0225 D18 Lugu Lake Island Tour
0226 D19 Lugu Lake - Yuanmou Wumao Earth Forest Scenic Area (374 km, 7 hours) - Yuanmou County (28 km, 45 minutes) Accommodation: Yuanmou County
&nb sp; Play: Yuanmou Wumao Earth Forest Scenic Area
0227 D20 Yuanmou County - Dongchuan Red Land (226 km, 3 hours) Accommodation: Red Land
0228 D21 Dongchuan Red Land - Luoping Rapeseed Flowers - Anlong County, Guizhou Province (420 km, 5.5 hours) Accommodation: Anlong County
0301 D22 Anlong County—Zhenfeng Shuangru Peak (64 km, 1.5 hours)—Anlong Zhaoti (64 km, 1.5 hours)—Tianyang County (303 km) &nb sp; Li, 4.5 hours) Residence: Tianyang County
0302 D23 Tianyang-Jiangmen, Guangdong ( 735km, 9 hours) Accommodation: Warm home
This travelogue mainly records our travel experiences in Dali from D4 to D9:
0211-0216 D4-D9 (Sunny 20°/13°, Sunny 21°/5°, Sunny 17°/4°, Sunny 18°/2°, Sunny 17°/6°, Sunny 22°/6°)
We left the Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces on the morning of the 11th and arrived in Weishan Ancient Town at 2:30 PM. We stayed at the Yajie Inn near Wenhua Academy. As its name suggests, the inn is elegantly decorated and very comfortable. From the afternoon of February 11th to 2:00 PM on the 12th, we spent the entire day exploring Weishan Ancient Town. At 4:30 PM on the 12th, we checked into the Fairy Sister Inn in Xizhou Ancient Town, Dali. Using the Fairy Sister Inn as our base, we explored other tourist attractions in Dali, spending four and a half days there.
Weishan Yajie Inn
Xizhou Fairy Sister Inn Weishan Ancient City is located in Weishan County in the south of Dali. It is also known as the Nanzhao Ancient City. It was the early capital of the Nanzhao Kingdom, the birthplace of the Nanshao Kingdom, and a horse caravan city on the Ancient Tea Horse Road. Weishan Ancient City's architecture is remarkably well-preserved, with the houses retaining the architectural styles and styles of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The streets, centered around the arched city tower, follow a standard grid-like structure. Home to numerous historical relics characteristic of the Southwest, it's a true museum of the ancient Nanzhao Kingdom. Strolling through the streets and alleys of Weishan Ancient City is a delightful experience. The streets are clean and uncrowded, and the entire city is shrouded in greenery, with centuries-old trees dotted throughout. The city's commercial atmosphere is relatively minimal, making it ideal for a leisurely stroll. 
Yuhuang Pavilion and Wenhua Academy are located in the northeast corner of Weishan Ancient City. Originally built in the Ming Dynasty, it was destroyed by war in 1869. Wenhua Academy was established on the site of the Jade Emperor Pavilion in 1875. The Jade Emperor Pavilion was rebuilt in 1900. The Jade Emperor Pavilion and Wenhua Academy coexist, separated by left and right sides. (ticket 20 yuan/person)
Gongchen Tower, Xing Gong Tower
Weishan Ancient City boasts a city wall with four gates, one in each direction. At its center stands the Xinggong Tower, giving the city a square shape resembling a Chinese seal. Within the city, streets are arranged in a checkerboard pattern, with 25 streets and 18 alleys crisscrossing each other. The northern tower of Weishan, known as the Gongchen Tower, was built during the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty. Atop the towering city walls stand five ancient buildings with double-eaved, hipped roofs. Imposing and majestic, the tower stands 23.5 meters tall, while the lower wall rises 8.3 meters. The tower is supported by 28 large pillars and ascends via two small gates on the east and west sides. From the rooftop, one can gaze out over the four streets, stretching out in all directions, with houses standing majestically in all directions. The entire Weishan Basin is a breathtaking sight.
Weishan Confucian Temple
Located in the southwest of the ancient city, the Confucian Temple was first built during the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty. It served as a prefectural school. After the prefecture was upgraded to a prefecture, it became known as the prefectural school, also known as the temple school or the imperial school. The temple covers over 10,000 square meters and comprises thirteen courtyards of varying sizes. (Ticket price: 5 yuan/person)
Weishan Confucian Temple
Weishan Confucian Temple Panchi
Weishan Confucian Temple
Dengjue Temple Located in the northeast corner of Weishan Ancient City, Dengjue Temple, also known as Baoguo Temple, was originally built during the Nanzhao (Tang) period. In the 16th year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1418), it was rebuilt by Zuo, the prefect of Menghuatu, and the monk Wuyong. It underwent numerous repairs during the Ming and Qing dynasties, but was largely destroyed by war during the Xianfeng reign. Only the Sun Palace and the Twin Pagodas remain. During the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty, the Lin Gong Ancestral Hall and the Zhaozhong Ancestral Hall were rebuilt to the east and west of the Sun Palace. The twin pagodas of Dengjue Temple were built in 1465, the first year of the Chenghua reign of the Ming Dynasty. They are nine-story square, dense-eaves solid brick pagodas, funded by Zuo Lin, the prefect of Menghua. On the south side of the west pagoda, there is an inscription titled "Record of the Newly Built Twin Pagodas of Dengjue Temple" from the first year of the Chenghua reign of the Ming Dynasty. The Sun Palace at Dengjue Temple was built in 1418, the 16th year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty. It is a five-bay, single-eaved, hip-and-gabled building. Five-stepped brackets are featured on the front and under the eaves on both sides, while the rear eaves are decorated with vertical columns and flower panels. The entire structure is simple and majestic.
Nanzhao Museum
The Nanzhao Museum is located on Baoguo Street in Weishan Ancient City, Dali Prefecture. It was fully completed on October 1, 2015.
"Guluofeng Out on Tour" 
Weishan Folk Museum - Miss Liang's Residence Weishan Cuisine
A delicious and filling bowl of Nanshao Zhuji noodles (20 yuan/bowl) 
Enjoy Nanshao Zhuji noodles for breakfast 
Dali Ancient City's West Gate, "Cangshan Tower" 
Dali Ancient City's North Gate: Anyuan GateThe North City Tower, also known as "Anyuan Tower" or "Three Pagodas Gate," was built in 1382 and is one of the four gates of the ancient city. The roof of the tower adopts the double-eaved hip roof style, a higher grade in Chinese palace architecture, preserving the architectural style of the Ming Dynasty. The South Gate Tower of Dali Ancient City: Shuanghe Tower, also known as Cheng'en Tower. The South Gate is the first of the four gates of the ancient city. Built in 1382 (the 15th year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty), it is the oldest and most imposing structure in the city and a symbol of Dali. The city walls are approximately 1,500 meters long, 6 meters high, and 12 meters thick on each side. The inscription "Dali" on the gate was penned by Guo Moruo during his visit to Dali in 1961. "Dali" was the name of the country, meaning "to govern Dali, to enrich the country and prosper the nation." Wuhua Tower
Originally, Wuhua Tower served as the state guesthouse of the Nanzhao King. When Kublai Khan conquered Dali, he stationed troops there. In the early Ming Dynasty, Wuhua Tower burned down during war. During the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, when the ancient city of Dali was rebuilt, a bell and drum tower was constructed on the site of Wuhua Tower. Its scale and layout were far inferior to those of the Nanzhao Wuhua Tower.
East Gate of Dali Ancient Town: Erhai Gate
Yu'er Garden in Dali Ancient TownYu'er Garden is located on the north side of the middle section of Yu'er Road in Dali Ancient Town, covering an area of 28 acres. The original site was the Dali Agricultural and Forestry Experimental Field in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China. It was designated "Zhidan Park" during the Anti-Japanese War and, after liberation, became a fruit tree nursery for the forestry department. Yu'er Garden embodies the essence of Bai ethnic architecture, featuring a gatehouse with raised eaves and corners, an elegant and delicate three-sided screen wall, and a wall with painted skirts. The garden is dominated by Bai ethnic flower beds inlaid with stones in various shapes, planted with Dali's famous flowers and plants. Interspersed with areas for the elderly, teahouses, pavilions, stone archways, and ponds, it creates a rich and interesting atmosphere reminiscent of the traditional gardens of Dali's ancient city. 
Jiang Gong Temple
Jiang Gong Temple is dedicated to the Qing Dynasty general Jiang Zonghan. To commend Jiang Zonghan for suppressing the Du Wenxiu uprising, the Qing Dynasty built a temple in 1905 beneath the Four Archways in Dali's ancient city, known as the Jiang Gong Temple. Dali's Confucian Temple dates back to the early Ming Dynasty, originally located east of the main gate of Dali No. 1 Middle School. The temple's architecture has undergone several changes and demolitions. On December 11, 2014, the restoration and reconstruction of the temple officially began. After over a year of intensive construction, the temple has its present appearance. All Confucian temples across China are dedicated to Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher and educator. 
China Dali Rural Film History Museum
China Dali Rural Film History Museum was renovated in April 2011 on the site of the former Dali Cinema. The museum takes rural films as its main theme, and is divided into 10 exhibition areas, including the prologue hall, large-scale film projection equipment display area, rural film projection scene restoration area, boutique film and costume props exhibition area, and old film experience area, through old pictures, old movie stills, posters, film projection facilities and equipment, film copies, and film promotional materials. It focuses on displaying the classics of Dali film projection since the 1950s and 1960s, witnessing the century-old history of film projection, and systematically showing the public the development process of Dali's rural film industry over the past 60 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China.
Foreigner StreetForeigner Street, formerly known as "Huguo Road", was named to commemorate the Yunnan people's opposition to Yuan Shikai's declaration of emperorship and their uprising to protect the country in the early Republic of China. Huguo Road runs east/west, is 1,200 meters long, 7 meters wide, and paved with bluestone slabs. The busiest section is the middle section, 185.6 meters long and one of China's earliest and most famous foreigner streets. 
Dali Ancient Town has many bars, and it only becomes lively at night. 
Dali Ancient Town is a great place for shopping, dining, and relaxing.
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The "Timingfang" (Timingfang) was built after several Jinshi scholars emerged from the town during the Ming Dynasty. At that time, any villager who achieved success in the imperial examinations could have their names inscribed. Xizhou is the seat of the town government, and historically boasted the scale of a city. Sifang Street, the center of Xizhou Town, is a small square surrounded by shops. This internet-famous shop boasts a long queue for "Xizhou Baba" (Chinese Baba). Most of the tourists I saw in Xizhou Ancient Town were young people, and hanging out with them made me feel younger myself. 
In Dali, you can see young people with colorful braids everywhere. It's so great to be young, I really envy them! 
Xizhou Ancient Residences 
Feng Shui Trees: 500 Years Old At the entrance of Xizhou Village stand two lush, leafy daqingshu (alpine banyan) trees. The Bai people believe daqingshus symbolize the prosperity of a village, hence their nicknames "feng shui trees." These trees, along with a stage, often serve as a center for village gatherings. These two ancient trees at the entrance of Xizhou Village are said to represent a yin and yang: one sprouts while the other sheds leaves, a cycle of alternating prosperity. One bears fruit while the other never bears. Villagers often rest beneath these trees during breaks from work.
Xizhou Bai ethnic minority houses
It is the rapeseed flower blooming season. 
Xizhou beautiful sunrise
Don't miss the Xizhou Baba when you visit! They can be sweet or savory (8-10 yuan each). 
Butterfly Spring, located at the foot of Cangshan Mountain, became famous thanks to the film "Five Golden Flowers." 
The water of Butterfly Spring is crystal clear. 
Luoshijiang Estuary Wetland Luoshijiang Estuary Wetland is located at the mouth of the Luoshijiang River at Erhai Lake, in the Erhai Lake water level drawdown zone north of the Dali Highway in Shangguan Town, Dali City. This wetland, through a near-natural ecological composite wetland model, reduces nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in the Luoshijiang River runoff, thereby reducing the inflow load into Erhai Lake, improving its water quality, enhancing its ecosystem, and enhancing the regional ecological landscape.
Luoshijiang Estuary Wetland Shaxi Ancient Town in Jianchuan lies between the Dali Scenic Area and Lijiang Old Town. It's a true ancient town, brimming with ancient charm and still retaining its most ancient architectural features. It boasts ancient temples, stage sets, shops, horse inns, red sandstone streets, century-old trees, alleyways, and village gates. Shaxi Ancient Town, the only surviving ancient market on the Tea Horse Road, is a small valley surrounded by verdant mountains, boasting an excellent feng shui location. It boasts picturesque scenery, a pleasant climate, and abundant natural resources. The people here are hardworking and down-to-earth, adept at singing and dancing, and lead a happy and harmonious life. Thousands of years ago, the ancient Tea Horse Road market was bustling with activity, bustling with activity. Merchants and tourists hawked their wares, while farmers and their mules and horses crisscrossed the streets. While we can't return to the past, the past is not lost, and it's precisely this history that brings modern people the joy they seek. Shaxi Ancient Town became a popular online attraction as the filming location for the 2022 TV series "Where the Wind Goes." The ancient town has always been there, but now with more tourists seeking its history, there's been some commercial activity. Fortunately, it's not a serious problem. 
A stream runs through the street. src="https://nephele.ctrip.com/target/1mf6712000ar9p3vx1BE7_R_800_10000_Q90.jpg?proc=autoorient" /> Ouyang Courtyard - A Five-Star Horse Inn on the Ancient Tea-Horse Road
Ouyang Courtyard is a well-known wealthy family in the ancient town. It is located on the northwest side of Sifang Street in Sideng and is the westernmost of the "Three Family Lanes". It was built by the Ouyang family's ancestor, Ouyang Jing, whose courtesy name was Jianguang, in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, about 100 years ago. The Ouyang family's house embodies the typical Bai architectural style of "three courtyards, one screen wall, four side halls, and five courtyards". It also has a public store (i.e., a horse inn) and two gardens, covering an area of approximately 1,300 square meters. The current Ouyang family's gate is made of stone with a round arch. It is decorated with lion reliefs. On the top of the gate, there are carvings of flowers and birds on both sides and various paintings and calligraphy. Each painting and calligraphy is different, and its artistic conception is also different, and there are no two of them are the same. The entire gate gives people a sense of grandeur, extraordinaryness, and luxurious construction.
The Windy Restaurant from the TV series "Where the Wind Goes" 
The courtyard of the Windy Restaurant, where you can enjoy coffee. 
Shaxi Ancient TheaterShaxi Theater is the most distinctive building on Sifang Street in Sideng. It is located in the center of the building complex on the east side of Sifang Street, facing the street. It forms a central axis with the Xingjiao Temple palace and temple gate buildings on the west, dividing the ancient Sifang Street into two halves, north and south. The area around the theater is the center of Shaxi. The main building structure of the ancient theater is Kuixing Pavilion, and the theater is just its auxiliary function. It is the place where the local Bai people worship Kuixing. The building is three stories high, with the theater in front and the high pavilion in the back. The building structure is exquisite, with twelve corners, like wings flying. After renovation, the original architectural style has been basically maintained. The ancient theater and Xingjiao Temple echo each other in the distance. During every national festival, the Bai people of the town, dressed in festive costumes, play dragon-headed sanxian, gather in Sifang Street, and sing and dance on the stage.
Old shops around the ancient stage
Old shops around the ancient stage
Ancient temple, opposite the ancient stage. Grandma A Rui, who became an internet celebrity after starring in the TV series "Where the Wind Goes," is located next to the ancient opera stage. Ancient houses in Shaxi Ancient Town. Thousands of years ago, the bustling Tea Horse Road market was bustling with activity. 
Ancient trees in Shaxi Ancient Town 
Ancient bridge in Shaxi Ancient Town 
Walking the Ancient Tea-Horse Road 
Erhai Lake is home to the "Erhai Moon," one of Dali's four scenic spots known as "Wind, Flowers, Snow, and Moon." It's said to have been named "Erhai" because of its ear-like shape. Erhai boasts excellent water quality and abundant aquatic resources, making it a scenic spot boasting stunning scenery. While Erhai is called a "sea," it's actually a lake. It's said that because Yunnan, a landlocked Bai ethnic group, yearned for the sea, they named it Erhai. Erhai is the second largest freshwater lake in Yunnan Province. Starting from Eryuan in the north, it stretches approximately 42.58 kilometers and is 9.0 kilometers wide at its widest point from east to west. It covers an area of 256.5 square kilometers, with an average depth of 10 meters and a maximum depth of 20 meters. The circumference of Erhai Lake is 136 kilometers.
Many young people rent these small cars with canopies to tour Erhai Lake. It's so cool! It's said to be 240 yuan per day. 
Check in at Erhai Lake Panxi S Bay
Check in at Erhai Lake Panxi S Bay
Check in at Erhai Lake Panxi S Bay
Check in at Erhai Lake Panxi S Bay
The Water Pavilion is a newly renovated wooden pavilion facing Erhai Lake. According to an inscription behind the pavilion, it has a history of over 110 years. Also known as the "Mother and Child Pavilion," from a distance, it truly resembles the architectural style of a mother and child embracing one another. On the left and right beams of the Water Pavilion, couplets read: "Equally divided, like a poem and a painting, the myriad of scenes are delightful." With Erhai Lake in front, the pavilion offers a wide view and is a great place to enjoy its beauty. 
When traveling around the Erhai Lake, you must visit Shuanglang Ancient Town, which is the most scenic town in Cang'er. Shuanglang Town is adjacent to Jizu Mountain in the east, Caise Town in the south, Erhai Lake in the west, and Shangguan Town in the north. Shuanglang Town has Luoshiqu in the north, Lianhuaqu in the south, and Jinling and Yuji Islands in front of it, surrounded by the double curves, hence the name - Shuanglang. Standing on the high hills to the east of Shuanglang Ancient Town, overlooking the blue Erhai Lake and Shuanglang Town, you can have a panoramic view of Nanzhao style. Cangshan Mountain in the distance stands out against the blue sky and white clouds. It must be extremely beautiful. The scenery here is picturesque and beautiful, and it is known as "the scenery of Dali is in Cang'er, and the scenery of Cang'er is in Shuanglang". Yang Liping Art Space is here, and Yang Liping’s Sun Palace is here. To visit, you need to make a reservation a few days in advance! At the pier of Shuanglang Ancient Town, you can take a boat to Nanshao Customs Garden (boat ticket is 50 yuan/person). Shuanglang Ancient Town is relatively large. If you are tired, you can take a sightseeing bus (10 yuan/way) 
Shuanglang Ancient Town: Located on the northeast coast of Erhai Lake, northeast of Dali City, close to the rippling blue Erhai Lake, and far away from the Nineteen Peaks of Tiao Cang Mountain, it gathers the essence of Cang'er scenery in one place. 
Old people relaxing in Shuanglang Ancient Town
There are many seaside B&Bs in Shuanglang Ancient Town
Yubo Pavilion: It was built in the late Ming Dynasty and has been renovated many times. The existing building was built in 2007. It was used as a military location in ancient times. 
Kuixing Pavilion in Shuanglang Ancient Town
Nanshao Style Garden's main culture and art square
The Benzhu Culture and Art Square of Nanshao Fengqing Garden
"The Benzhu" is the patron saint of the Bai village, meaning "our master". The Benzhu Culture and Art Square is a concentrated display of the cultural phenomenon of the Bai people.
Nanshao Style Garden: The Daughter of Erhai Lake (Sculpture) 
Sun Palace: The Sun Palace facing Yang Liping in Nanshao Fengqing Garden. 
Erhai Lake is the location of "Erhai Moon", one of the four scenic spots in Dali, "Erhai Moon" Cangshan Mountain is the main peak at the southern end of Yunling Mountains. It consists of 19 peaks from north to south, starting from Dengchuan of Eryuan in the north and ending at Xiaguan Tianshengqiao in the south. The altitude of these peaks is generally above 3,500 meters. There are seven peaks with an altitude above 4,000 meters. The highest one, Malong Peak, is 4,122 meters above sea level. There are nineteen peaks in Cangshan Mountain, and between each two peaks, there is a stream rushing down and flowing into the Erhai Lake. This is the famous Eighteen Streams. The majestic Cangshan Mountain stretches across the territory of Dali. The top of the mountain is covered with white snow and is covered with silver makeup. It is known as "Cangshan Snow" and is one of the four scenic spots in Dali "Wind, Flowers, Snow and Moon". The snow on Malong Peak, the highest peak, never melts all year round. In midsummer, the mountainside is verdant, while the peaks are still filled with snow. There are two ways to reach Shangcang Mountain: taking a cableway and walking hiking trails, which can reach Qingbi Creek, Zhonghe Temple and Ximatan on Yudai Road on the mountainside respectively. We chose to take a two-way cableway round trip, including: entrance fee 35 yuan/person, Cangshan Gantong Cableway (halfway up the mountain): 115 yuan/person, Ximatan Cableway full round trip (175 yuan/person), sightseeing car 10 yuan/person. In other words, the cost of the last trip to Cangshan Mountain was quite a lot, 335 yuan/person.
Take the ropeway up Cangshan Mountain, 
Ximatan Cableway Exit
The snow on Cangshan Mountain has not melted yet. 
There is a step down the steps from the Ximatan Cableway, which is relatively easy. 
The pines on Cangshan Mountain have experienced countless wind and snow baptisms, but they are still strong and straight, giving people strength. 
After walking down the stairs, it is quite difficult to climb up the stairs. Many tourists need to take oxygen. 
Ximatan Observation Deck is very close at hand, but climbing up each step is quite strenuous. Many tourists need to inhale oxygen. Fortunately, we walked slowly and insisted on reaching the end without inhaling oxygen. 
Encourage each other, take a break, and keep climbing up the stairs
The closer you get to the top of the mountain, the thicker the snow on the ground becomes. 
Rest stops are provided along the roadside to check in and cheer up tourists! 
Finally arrived at Ximatan. Because the snow on the mountains has not yet melted and is dry. Ximatan: Located at the southern end of the Himalayan Mountains of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau - below the Yuju Peak and Longquan Peak of Diancang Mountain, it is the highest and largest existing cirque lake on the "eaves of Cangshan Mountain", with an altitude of 3920 meters and an area of 4500 square meters. It is as clear as a mirror and looks like the Milky Way. This magical landscape was formed in the late Dali Ice Age more than 10,000 years ago. It is the most beautiful ancient glacier with the lowest glacial erosion and the closest relationship with humans. Its glacial activity continued until the Tang Dynasty before disappearing.
Xima Lake in the dry season, with Erhai Lake in the distance. 
We arrived at the Cangshan Ximatan Observation Deck. We were so excited! 
Ximatan Observation Deck
Standing on the Ximatan Observation Deck, you can have a panoramic view of Dali and Erhai Lake. 
Taking the cable car down the mountain, Dali's large land and villages, and the blue Erhai Lake come into view. 
When we were going down the Changsentong Ropeway, we stepped out of the platform and checked in. The altitude here is 2,900 meters. 
Standing on the observation deck at 2900 meters, we can see Dali and Erhai Lake getting closer and closer to us. The Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple are located in Yinglefengxia, Cangshan Mountain, 2 kilometers northwest of the ancient city of Dali (Zhonghe Town). The original Chongsheng Temple (i.e. the "Tianlong Temple" mentioned in Jin Yong's martial arts novel "The Eight Parts of the Dragon") has been destroyed, leaving only three pagodas. It is surrounded by mountains and rivers, with verdant peaks and secluded environment. It is truly worthy of being called the "Vulture Resort". Since we have little understanding of religion, we only checked in at the entrance square.
Dali Three Pagoda Garden Hotel has a good view of the Three Pagodas
Dali Three Towers Garden Hotel
Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple
Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple
Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple
Chongsheng Temple Three Pagodas
包浆豆腐
The scientific name of water-based poplar is actually "sea cauliflower". It grows in 4 meters of deep water and should grow in clean and warm lakes, ponds, and ditches with water bodies below 2,700 meters above sea level. From May to October every year, Lugu Lake is rich in "water-based poplar flowers". What we eat now is stored. 
You can still eat a lot of light delicacies suitable for Cantonese people in Dali. 
Eat light Cantonese food in Dali. Next article "Self-driving, from Guangdong to Yunnan to explore ancient times, chase the wind, walk in the snow, and enjoy flowers in Shangri-La"
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