Cangshan Mountain Ropeway in Dali
One of the must-visit attractions in Dali is the Cangshan Mountain Ropeway, which is west of the central Dali city in Yunnan, China. The beauty of this massive mountain range is that you can explore it and have amazing views of Old Dali town from above.
I’ll be very honest: This place is highly recommended for those who love nature and the outdoors. There is a lot of trekking, walking and nature sightseeing to do here and that’s all there is so if you are purely into this kind of activity, this would be perfect for you.
Cangshan Mountain Ropeway in Dali
For families and those with kids, don’t worry, as the facilities here all cater to children. But again, take note that this is a walking experience with nature. The Cangshan Mountains consist of 19 peaks and are the highest peaks of the entire Yunling Mountain Range.
The range is 3,500 meters (11,483 feet) above sea level, and Malong Peak is the highest point at 4,122 meters (13,524 feet). There are also 18 streams, where you can see beautiful waterfalls, amazing cliffs, and, of course, flora and fauna.
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| Cangshan Mountain Cableway Entrance. |
For those coming here, please note that there are three cable car stations to choose from, and for my trip, I decided on the main one, the Cangshan Mountain Cableway, or Xi-Ma-Tan, the largest one with full facilities.
This is the North Entrance of the national park, located at the Zhong He Tourist Information Centre and nearer to the Three Pagodas. The other cable car station is at the south entrance to the national park, called Gantong Cableway.
When you enter the main building, the tickets are the first thing you buy. Please use the bathrooms there as it is a long journey. After the tickets and bathroom, you will pass the jacket room, where they will issue windbreakers during the cooler months.
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| The modern cable car system is being used here at the main station. |
Next is the cable car station, where you alight the modern cable car units. This system is similar to many other cable cars around the world: It slows down at the boarding area, and you simply get on board.
The entire cable car journey takes about 30 to 40 minutes. You pass through mountain forests and ride alongside cliffs. The journey reaches a peak before coming down to the central station, which is the mid-station where you alight and continue your explorations.
For the extreme hikers or trekkers, you can walk up to the Zhong He Temple from the bottom of the north entrance. It will take about two hours one way.
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| Amazing views of the Cangshan Mountains from Zhong He Temple |
From here, you can catch another cable car to the mountain’s peak, which is highly dependable on the weather. If it is too windy, the cable car ride up is closed, as it can be dangerous. From the Zhong He Temple, you can enjoy the beautiful mountain views surrounding this place.
There is a Chinese cafe, souvenir shops, and a snack shop, so if you need anything, you best buy it from here, as there are no more shops after you continue from here.
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| Cangshan Cableway Tram. |
To get to the Jade Belt Road, you can take the Cableway, a mini hill tram or funicular railway service that takes passengers up and down, or you can walk down and later take the Cableway up again. It is also called “Xi-Ma-Tan Cable”.
But I would seriously recommend taking the Cableway for 30 Yuan one way, especially if you have walking issues. The Jade Belt Road also translates as Cloudy Tourist Road, as you will see road markers with this name along your walk. I never asked why it was called that.
After I reached the end of the Cableway, my group started to trek along the Jade Belt Road. This cliff-side road made from hand-hewn stones stretches for about 12 kilometres, snaking its way around the side of the mountains. The views here are breathtaking, and I can only imagine them during the Summer. I visited here in Spring, and it was really cool.
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| Workers upgrading the main Jade Belt Road. |
The mountain walkway is also an easy trial where, along the way, it has informative signs on the geology, flora, and fauna, and most of them are in English, too.
As we started our walk, we noticed horses and donkeys along the way, which are the main transport for ferrying goods and working materials. After about an hour of trekking, our group decided to head back the way we came as we were tight on time.
I have to say the walk here was pretty amazing. There was stunning scenery and birds chirping along the way. Some of the mountain flowers caught my eye, standing out among the green and brown colors.
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| Jade Belt Road that snakes around the mountains. |
According to the information provided, in the summertime, chances are you can spot more birds and even the unique Chinese Red Panda among the many mountain wildlife.
This is provided you do the full trekking all the way, which can take 6-12 hours, depending on where you want to explore. It is also recommended that you do this with a local Dali tour guide.
Among the attractions at the Cangshan Mountains, the highlight would be the 7 Dragon Maiden Pools, but unfortunately, it was under construction when we were here. It has been going on for a long time, and there is no information on when it will be open to the public.
There are, however, many other interesting places around here which are;
• Phoenix Eye Cave
• Dragon Eye Cave
• Tao Stream
• Baili Roam Lane
• Qingbi Stream
• Gantong Temple
The upper part of the mountains offers these tourist spots;
• Malong Peak
• Yuju Peak
• Longquan Peak
• Zhonghe Peak
• Stone Gate
• Horse Bathing Pond
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| Another description of the Cangshan Mountain Range. |
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| A map in English showing the tourist spots here. |
Important Notes About The Cangshan Cable Car
- You should know that the timing here may not be accurate as there have been cases where they closed the cableway at about 4.00 pm.
- So it is best to double check with the ticket counter before going up, or you may have to walk your way down. Again, it is recommended that you go with a local tour guide so that he or she can explain everything in detail to you.
- Food is also straightforward here, and if you have any special dietary requirements, please bring your food. The cafe offers essential snacks and drinks, and it is highly recommended that you get at least 2 bottles of water for your walk.
- It can get cold here, so bring a windbreaker or sweater if required.
- English is rarely spoken here, so be prepared and wear comfortable walking shoes when coming here. No sandals, slippers, wedges or high heels.
- Prepare to spend about 500 Yuan per person on cable cars and other transportation. This includes the park entrance fees, multiple cable car ticket prices, and food and drinks. Overall, you can save some money by hiking some of the routes.
Cable Car Operating Times at Cangshan Mountain
- Cangshan Mountain Cableway Operation Time – 8.00 am to 6.40 pm
(This is the North entrance to the National Park) - Gantong Cableway Operation Time – 8.30 am to 6.00 pm
(This is the South entrance to the National Park)
How to go to Cangshan Mountain Ropeway?
I flew AirAsia to Kunming to get here and took an overland drive to Dali. This is one of the unique places in China that is not overpopulated with tourists, as it is still beautiful and underdeveloped.
From Dali, it also depends on where you stay, in new Dali or old Dali, and the latter is closer to the Cangshan Mountain Ropeway. You still need to hire a tour guide or take a taxi here.
Conclusion
The ancient town of Dali still maintains the traditional lifestyle of the Bai people, and the culture and heritage here remain strong among the people. There are quite a number of things to do in Dali, including visiting the massive Erhai Lake, Suang Lang fishing Village, three Pagodas, and the majestic Cangshan Mountain Ropeway.
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