I wanted to find some niche activities in Dali, so I joined the Huoshan light hiking mini-group this time. The leader, Aruna, was so thoughtful, quietly recording moments and editing exclusive videos.
I also have to recommend that long-haired "Beatle" guy, Xiao Qi, who hiked into the mountains in meter-wide bell-bottoms and leather shoes. His profile is as handsome as Ding Zhen's, and he's full of uninhibited laughter and a love for freedom. He really nails the punk rock vibe—looking like someone who has plenty of money, is great at making it, but doesn't care about it. He doesn't mind being scolded, but as soon as you praise him, he starts feeling all awkward. Though he's "seriously ill" (eccentric), he's already given up on treatment.
If you are looking for something different, just come.
If you don't want to squeeze through the crowds to watch the beautiful sunset, then
come here!
Today I experienced a van trip with Xiao Jing, which was the happiest and most meaningful part of my entire journey. Walking on the small winter paths, I could hear the rustling sound of stepping on leaves; in the evening, I could see the sunset glow spilling onto the flowing stream, and looking up, I could see the lines carved by time on the tree trunks. Spending time with Xiao Jing was very relaxed and pleasant, and Xiao Jing was very thoughtful with the preparations. Looking forward to our next meeting.
A perfect, cozy day to clear my mind:
From a noisy place to the mountains of nature.
At noon, she took me to the village to eat freshly made Rushan and drink milk, then we went to a very local market in the village, tasted very sweet milk strawberries, and bought my favorite blueberries... a new experience...
In the afternoon, we walked in the fields, picked plants, took photos, then had afternoon tea and even made a botanical print bag. There was almost no one in the fields, and the super warm sun shone all afternoon. The experience was top-notch.
Thanks to the leader Yanzi, who was our driver, guide, and narrator. She knows all kinds of plants and told many stories about the people of Dali. The journey was not boring at all. A very leisurely and wonderful itinerary.
I chose Phoebe's Cangshan Mini Nature Observation activity this time, and it was totally worth it!
At first, Phoebe took out several jars of small insects for me to identify and explained them to me. Since winter has arrived, insects are not as common as in summer.
But fortunately, sharp-eyed Phoebe found two stick insects hidden in the bushes. It was truly amazing; they really looked just like tree branches, making it hard to tell them apart.
We identified plants along the path all the way up. Phoebe could tell me the name, story, and even medicinal use of any plant I pointed to. Phoebe is not only knowledgeable about plants but also has quite a bit of research on birds and squirrels. Since it was just the two of us and we were quiet, the birds and squirrels were undisturbed and very active. We spent a long time observing forest birds and got to know many new species! We were even lucky enough to encounter the mating chase of Perny's long-nosed squirrels, which is supposed to happen in spring. It seems spring might arrive sooner than we expected.
Besides that, Phoebe also took me to an excellent spot for a picnic and shared a very special Fengyu mooncake with me—it was delicious! We watched the sunset over Cangshan, the moonrise over Erhai, and the Belt of Venus (Earth's shadow) together. Nature itself is indeed the definition of romance.
It was a very interesting experience. Under Phoebe's guidance and leadership, I opened up a new perspective on the microscopic world. It turns out every plant and tree is so detailed and interesting. The breadth of my life has expanded again~
“26.1.5 Phoebe's Nature Notes
Thanks to Phoebe, an experience that made me fall in love with Dali, Cang Mountain, and nature.
Teacher Phoebe is incredibly knowledgeable, gentle, meticulous, and patient. She knows every plant and tree like the back of her hand, and the journey was full of surprises and joy! Phoebe’s preparation was thorough and serious. Since there weren’t many insects in the grass during winter, she even brought some of the insects she raised to show and explain to me. For the first time in my life, I overcame my fear of insects and had a close interaction with a stick insect — it was such a magical and heartwarming experience! Phoebe also showed me many of her nature notes, along with ideas about note-taking, diary writing, practicing writing, and drawing. It was a very pleasant exchange~
The itinerary was also very well planned. Although the route was easy, it was rich in content! Not only were there explanations about nature along the way, but at higher altitudes, there were tea snacks and an excellent viewing area. On the way down the mountain, we passed by a mountain shrine and saw artistic graffiti on the walls, which was also a fascinating sight.
It’s a pity that I have to leave Dali so early this time, but I will definitely come back to join other activities next time. Looking forward to it!
The activities at Cang Mountain Hiking Home are so diverse. After much deliberation, I finally chose Phoebe's Nature Notes. I originally thought there wouldn't be much to gain from a winter hike, but I was overwhelmed with the amount of information.
Phoebe’s explanations were very vivid, covering plant species from overseas to domestic ones, along with additional insights into local culture. The bilingual (Chinese-English) presentation was fascinating. As long as you’re interested in a topic, she will patiently explain it to you. It felt like flipping through a thick encyclopedia of natural science. Along the way, we collected many specimens. Xiangyang was also amazing, finding insects for us throughout the journey — we even spotted a tiny stick insect! We'll definitely come back to play again in the summer and bring our friends along.
Getting to know Phoebe and Xiangyang is the right way to experience Dali. By the way, there's also the camping afternoon tea they brought up the mountain, featuring local specialty snacks, showing such thoughtful and considerate hospitality.
Followed Phoebe, the team leader, to recognize many interesting plants and small insects in the Cang Mountain. I was deeply impressed by the mantis ootheca, the Eupatorium beetle on the ragwort, the Pteridium aquilinum, and the extrafloral nectary. Being stung by the edible but untouchable nettle also constituted an interesting part of the experience, haha, this plant really knows how to protect itself.
Realized that our understanding of the world is really limited. The same place can look completely different from a new perspective; flora and fauna are truly full of wisdom. Throughout the journey, I felt Phoebe's professionalism, seriousness, and love for nature, which was infectious! A whole new world has opened up for me, thank you!
Our child is not yet 3 years old, so why did we still choose Phoebe's "mini nature observation"? Perhaps it's because I, as a mother, really love to "play" - it's been too long since I went hiking, and I miss that feeling of "being on the road." Fortunately, we met Phoebe.
She is patient, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable. She eliminated all our concerns about the trip and helped our 2-year-and-8-month-old baby complete his first deep contact with nature.
Along the way, we encountered the tranquility of lush forests, the surprise of finding a stick insect camouflaged as a dead branch, the healing of discovering a clear spring by following the sound of water and pushing through the bushes, and the exhilaration of seeing the vast horizon after climbing high.
Stop thinking, go see, go listen, and experience it yourself - nature never disappoints those who set out.
