Community Guide | Where do we come from
I started my "Hiking Experience" on airbnb in 2019, people who traveled to Dali enjoyed it and recommended to their friends. Later some of my friends in the community joined my team with different local experiences to serve booming needs for in-depth trip. After Airbnb stop business in China, we create our own Chinese wechat-mini-app. Now we create this multi-language website, hope we can help more travelers can make a meaningful trip around Dali.
Our guide team members, are all from Dali community, although each busy with their own pursuits—such as Honghong preparing cold dishes, Xiaojing being a photographer, Aruna doing baking, Wanwan being a makeup artist, Xiaochun running a whiskey bar, Yanzi selling books and fabric at “March Street”, Guo Ying doing pottery, Xiao Li being a surf coach and chef, and Huanhuan running the restaurant “Huanque”—all share a love for nature and travel, and are down-to-earth, willing to share their experiences.
Our team members are not professional tour guides before, but this is part of their charm. They each have distinct personal qualities and unique life paths. Our activities are not focused on intense outdoor adventures, as our purpose comes from sharing the local culture and nature we love. We hope that by joining our trips, you can experience the personal traits and lifestyles of our colorful team members. They are very different from each other, yet share common traits: simplicity, friendliness, and sincerity.
Jason , Funder of “Dali Experience Community”, originally from Shanghai, has lived in Dali for twelve years. When he first arrived in Dali, he ran a “midnight diner” for many years. With over 20 years of outdoor hiking, camping, and travel experience, he has cycled the Sichuan-Tibet line and swum across Erhai Lake. He became familiar with the hiking routes of Cangshan and the surrounding natural landscapes due to his love for the mountains and rivers. After recovering from an injury, he has mainly focused on public platform development but still occasionally leads groups. He can communicate in English.
Liangzi | Jason's 10 years in Dali
Jason | ““Zayaa Cafe” and “Mountain Nature Studio”
Honghong , a Shanghai native who moved to Dali ten years ago, is warm and sincere, loves learning, and is independent-minded. She is energetic, has wide-ranging interests, and is a crossfit enthusiast. She has taught many people how to swim and ran the "Fish & Chips" restaurant in Dali for years, in addition to organizing cold dish events. She mainly leads light hiking and in-depth travel activities. She can lead groups in English. In the past year, she frequently traveled to lead summer camps across the country, focusing on logistics. This has been both a learning experience and a personal challenge for her.
Jason | "an unusal cold buffet"
Honghong | “3 restaurants i have opened”
Cai Feng(Tailor) , originally from Fujian, has lived in Dali for ten years. He has a gentle personality and was once the second manager of our midnight diner, known for his garlic fried chicken. He previously ran a ramen restaurant called " Cai Feng's Ramen" and is an IT enthusiast, providing technical support for our circle. He mainly leads light hikes, long-distance treks, and in-depth travel.
Caifeng | "Old Songs, Time and Love"
Xiaochun | “Caifeng and Xiaoshuang”
Mike , from Qingyuan, Guangdong, is the owner of "Hangu Inn" and has lived in Dali for more than ten years. He has a warm and friendly nature, always sincere towards others. He primarily leads paddleboarding and camping activities. Due to running his inn, he is often busy, especially during the summer when he steps in to help during peak times.
Xiao Jingjing , from Hunan, moved to Dali five years ago. A photographer with a unique aesthetic, he runs his own personal photography business. He is also passionate about forest picking, especially harvesting wild berries, wild vegetables, and mushrooms in Cangshan during different seasons. He enjoys painting and creating pottery, and he also does tattoos for friends. He leads photography, mushroom picking, pine nut gathering, wild vegetable harvesting, and indigo dyeing activities. He has formed a mushroom-picking group and frequently exchanges knowledge with mushroom enthusiasts from across the country.
Jing | Deep Mountain Mushroom Picking
Xiao Li (Little Li) , from Eryuan, Dali, is the youngest member of our group, born in the 2000s. He was once a chef at several well-known Western restaurants in the area (such as "Moon" and " Pushi"). He loves outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and paddleboarding, and is energetic and youthful. He mainly leads forest hiking, camping, and paddleboarding activities. After returning from Hainan where he worked as a surf instructor, he now oversees the paddleboarding group, known for his lively, yet approachable, steady, and meticulous nature—traits uncommon for someone his age. He also leads summer activities such as plum-picking and plum wine-making.
XiaoLi | “Fengyu Countryside Market”
Chen bali (Paris Chen), from Yueyang, Hunan, is a good friend of Lao Li. Initially, Lao Li called him for help when he couldn't manage everything, and later, even when things weren't so busy, he enjoyed joining in. Every summer, after performing a backflip dive, Lao Li would call him "Showy Bag." When Lao Li was just starting out, selling on the streets of Dali Ancient City in his teens, Chen Paris was the street boss who looked out for him for many years, and they later became good friends. He is the most "street-smart" leader among us, but in fact, he can also settle down and focus. He loves learning, works tirelessly, has strong execution skills, and most of the aerial shots we fancy come from his hands. After MRS saw the sample clips, they also asked him to film a challenging rafting activity, and he meticulously did it. His sample clips link is at the bottom of the WeChat Mini Program homepage, and you are welcome to contact him for event recording shoots.
Xiaochun Xiaochun, from Xingtai, Hebei. He is the owner of Chunlu Tavern. A founding partner of the Midnight Canteen, he is witty and sincere. He mainly leads activities like creek hiking, mountain sunsets, and camping. Artistic and humorous, he wrote a folk song in his youth that many guests have heard.
Xiaochun & Jason | “Old times · Raining Season in Dali”
Yan Zi, from Fujian. Elegant and handsome. Has a strong interest in plants, history, and culture, and is warm and sincere with others. She often sets up a stall at various markets selling handmade crafts. You can find her at the March Street Market. She mainly leads activities such as mushroom foraging, pinecone collecting, and creek dyeing. She is already an experienced mushroom forager, and many guests love her deeply. This year, she has been driving her van around.
Yanzi | “Beautiful creatures”
Wang Yue , from Xi'an, Shaanxi. Rich in cultural and historical readings. Ten years ago, he lived in a youth hostel utopia with Xiaochun and other young people. Later, he ventured into business, opening several indigo-dyeing stores . Now, he has settled down with a family. He still maintains his emotional side and is willing to share and communicate. Main activities: Mountain sunsets, mid-distance hikes. He continues to delve deeply into historical readings and strives to balance outdoor activities, reading, and family life. Recently, he has developed a strong interest in Persian culture. Inspired by Dr. Zhang Zhan, he began learning Persian, reading Persian history and culture, and plans to open a travel line to Iran once he gains deeper knowledge.
He Chen, from Xi'an, Shaanxi. He was once not good at socializing but is now eloquent and sincere. When he was younger, he traveled long distances by bicycle in China and abroad in a frugal way. He managed the Midnight Canteen for many years. He loves strange music, and his unique style in shooting and editing activity videos stands out. Main activities: Responsible for camping and creek hiking groups. According to guests, he can discuss a wide range of cultures and ethnic histories during and trips takes meticulous care of others.
Hechen writes some poems and strange stories:
Hechen (He Chen) | A Home That Never Was
Hechen | When time is no longer sticky
Jingshan Jingshan, from Beijing. We all came to Dali in 2012. She and Cheng Chang opened a café, and I worked at the Midnight Canteen in the evenings. Later, they opened the Xunguang Farm. Now, she is dedicated to pottery making and founded Jingshan Pottery Studio. Guo Ying studied arts fine and applies it to pottery painting. Main activities: Jingshan pottery, stone painting by streams, light hiking, and dyeing. During the off-season, she continues to deepen her pottery studies and is now able to use more and more forms of pottery. Foreign languages: English.
Jing Shan | A Connection to Clay and Memories
王王Wang Wang, from Zhejiang. Gentle, introverted, and simple in personality, with a reading habit, he enjoys long-distance hiking. So he mainly leads medium and long-distance hikes, fern forests, and the pilgrimage route to Jizushan. He enjoys taking fewer guests and has recently developed a keen interest in Cangshan plants. He is currently the lead guide for the hiking group. Over time, he has opened more and more diverse hiking routes, the latest being a trek in Meixi Gorge. Foreign languages: Korean, English.
Wangwang | the happiest job in the world 
Aruna, from Horqin Right Wing Middle Banner, Inner Mongolia. She rides motorcycles, runs a road coffee stand, and bakes in her restaurant. She is a free-spirited, kind, enthusiastic, innocent, and independent girl. When you see her working , she is full of energy and focus, with a strong influence on others. Guests call her "Aruna, the one who can do everything." She drives a white camper van. Main activities: Bagel making and baking, camping, creek hiking, light hiking in Cangshan, Eryuan countryside, and Huoshan. She speaks Mongolian and English.
Aruna | Nomadic migration
Ah Tu, from Inner Mongolia. A star-gazing engineer. Professional, straightforward, and energetic. She has an extraordinary passion for the stars and is skilled at it. Main activity: Stargazing. She is the first guide we met through friends recommendation and has gained mutual recognition over time. In her early years, she studied finance in college, unsuccessfully raised pigs, and ran a restaurant. Now, she has found his true love in stargazing and made it the core of his life. She founded his own stargazing organization: S&E Seven Stars Stargazing.
Dà Yáng Yáng | Stargazing in Dali, Filmed a Documentary
A documentary about 「A Tu」
Xiaoxi, from Wuwei, Gansu. A long-time companion when He Chen ran the Midnight Canteen. She is innocent and meticulous, which makes her enjoy playing with children. Now, she mainly leads creek hiking and medium-to-long- distance hiking.
Yang Min Yang Min ,from Zhumadian, Henan. After meeting Yang Mi, Xiaojing felt that her simplicity and innocence could deeply move people and make them reflect on themselves. She is gentle but has clear opinions. She also makes pottery as a hobby, just in the corner of her rented room, with her teacher being a master from Jingtian Village. Guests say that when she explains plants, "she holds them gently, like treasures." Main activities: Mushroom foraging, dyeing, fern forests.
Wan Wan, from Weishan Weishan, Dali. A photographer and makeup artist, Wan Wan collaborates with Xiaojing. She often helps with many extra tasks and is willing to consider others. So when the mushroom foraging group needed extra hands, Xiaojing invited her to join. Wan Wan is kind, meticulous, and simple, and guest Xiaolin commented, "Wan Wan gives 360-degree safety." Main activities: Mushroom foraging, dyeing.
Li Zhenhao (Sai), from Enshi, Hubei. She used to work in children's education and manage her own summer camp, "Sai's Traveling Activity Group." She is passionate, capable, and sincere. A member of the foraging group. She drives her green van "Asai" with elegance. Main activities: Mushroom foraging, dyeing, Eryuan, Huoshan, and light hiking. During the rainy season, she foraged many mushrooms, and in autumn and winter, due to her interest, she made many plant specimens, which turned out to be very popular, especially the mushroom lamps she made. Recently, she established her own "Shanxia Nature Studio" in Xiacun, Wuwei Temple, with plants and fruits collected from various parts of Yunnan.
Li Zhenhao | Where "Shanxia Studio" Began: A Chronicle of Village Life 
Daxiang(Elephant), from Enshi, Hubei. A long-time old friend of Xiaojing, who took care of her when she was younger. Passionate and bright, with style. A member of the foraging group. She runs her own tea business and has deeply studied tea and tea culture. Main activities: Mushroom foraging, dyeing.
Chunyu Chunyu, from Northeast China. He has been keeping bees for 20 years as his livelihood. Guests trust him because he is simple and honest. Xiaochun met him a few years ago at the March Street market, where he was selling honey, leaving a deep impression. This year, we started bee-keeping experiences with him, and unexpectedly, he is also a great teacher. His lessons are heartfelt and well-spoken, and the course is highly popular. Perhaps besides continuing beekeeping, explaining the world of bees is a perfect fit for him. He continues to record his "Beekeeping Diary" with simple, detailed language. Main activity: Beekeeping experience. Because of his personality, Chunyu doesn't advertise his activities; they are recommended by guests who have greatly benefited from his knowledge and find him to be a good person. Recently, when I met Xiaojun from Muye Campground, I mentioned Chunyu, and he said, "The long-haired Chunyu," guessing that most guests wouldn't connect the current Chunyu with the one they saw before. His latest plan is to explore honey cultivation around China with his truck.
Huanhuan, a native of Wenzhou, Zhejiang, has been running "Flying to the Moon" for many years. She then founded and operated "Huanque Bistro," a beloved local eatery in Dali serving top-notch brunch and simple Western cuisine. When not at the restaurant, she leads outdoor activities as a way to balance her life. As she says, "When I'm in nature with travelers, I'm not just working; I'm myself." She enjoys this relaxed state and loves leading groups. Her specialty: gentle hikes in Cangshan, canyoning, and English communication.
Huanhuan | Becoming an Outdoor Guide
Huazi Huazi, a leather craftsman and Xiao Li's friend, would help out at the paddleboarding business when he was free and eventually joined our group. Huazi has been a leather craftsman for many years and has always found it both work and pleasure. He is gentle and introverted, traits common to those who are dedicated to their craft. His girlfriend, Damao, runs a community cafe called "Dietary Moderation" on Yincan Road, a well-regarded spot among friends.
Zhaoxi Zhaoxi, from Zhengzhou, Henan, has been my longtime ball-playing buddy in Dali. He has a cheerful and optimistic personality and an agility and quick wit that belies his age on the field. He has always worked in the field of nature observation , but I didn't know much about that part of his life. In Dali, people play ball, but they don't usually talk about work or where they come from. Unexpectedly, I discovered that he is one of Dali's top nature observation teachers, especially in botany. So one day, we (along with Wang Bin) sat down in the Zayaa kitchen and chatted for half an hour. Finding that we shared similar ideas, we decided on the spot to create our natural history group with him and Wang Bin. Not only would we start our own nature activities, but we could also lead other young guides, learning about plants, birds, and animals together to enrich everyone's knowledge of nature. Languages: English
Wang Bin Wang Bin, from Tianjin, is focused and dedicated to the academic study and exploration of birds and animals. At the same time, he believes that leading nature observation activities can naturally inspire participants to develop a desire to protect nature. This practice has also helped him transition from a personal hobby to participating in NGO public activities, improving his communication skills, and eventually becoming a freelance job. Ultimately, he has more time to participate in the compilation of tools and books (currently writing: Chinese version of the World List of Animals). Leads: Birdwatching, nocturnal insect observation. Languages: English
Phoebe, from Jinhua, Zhejiang, is a freelance translator of Japanese, French, and English. In the past, she focused on patent translation, but later chose to only translate topics she was passionate about, leading a simple but rich life. She enjoys drawing handbooks, learning about nature, and writing. So although she doesn't have a formal background in painting or botany, I think she would be the best leader for "nature observation and note-taking." She currently leads: nature journaling, mini nature observation.
Xiaoqi Xiaoqi, from Zhangjiakou, Hebei, used to work at a late-night diner. After leaving, he went to a big city to do game modeling. Although a few years have passed, he has always maintained a connection with Hechen and the others. Now he's back and started leading groups. With long hair, a cheerful personality, and a strong ability to do things with his hands, he has a great interest in plants and animals and has a good foundation, so he picked up the skills very quickly. He leads canyoning, camping, and trips to Xipo, Eryuan, and Huoshan.
Captain Tie, Captain Tie studied and worked in the UK in his early years, and after graduating, he traveled the world to gain experience. Later, he became interested in sailing and engaged in ocean voyages, accumulating a wealth of experience. He has been living in Dali for over a decade, married with children. Perhaps due to his affinity for Buddhism and his broad knowledge, he has a very tolerant personality. He is mainly responsible for sailing experiences. Languages: English
Xiaolu Xiaolu, Xiaolu is Captain Tie's wife and an experienced traveler and photographer. She provides photography services for sailing activities and nature photography.
Lini, from Huaihua, Hunan, is Captain Tie's assistant and helps lead sailing activities. She has a naive personality, is kind and trusting, and loves to interact with people. She has recently been doing live streams of various village markets. She has a naive personality, is kind and trusting, and loves to interact with people. She has recently been doing live streams of various village markets. plans to lead market tours in the surrounding areas of Dali.
XiaobinXiaobin, from Suzhou, Jiangsu, is Huanhuan's long-time work partner and a capable assistant at "Huanque Bistro." He was also a barista at "Dawandao." With his own sense of fashion, he has learned rope arts and started "Wild Fun Rope Arts" experience activities.
Brother Ding, from Shangguan, Dali, is 68 years old. He loves mountains and nature and is very agile in the mountains. He worked for a nature conservation NGO for many years. He currently leads hikes in Longshouguan near his hometown of Shangguan Town and rural cycling.