A day at a "relative"'s home in the deep mountains of Xipo | The other side of Cangshan Mountain

“Xipo, go live in a quiet mountain village for a day.

Experience the life of the mountain villagers and the original mountain farm dishes. The village is high in the canyon, and you can hike to the nearby meadows, primeval forests and pastures, which are more traditional and natural. The hiking part can be long or short, you can walk in the mountain village or hike deep into the forest. So it is suitable for people of all ages and physical strength, don't worry. "

A few written records about some guests and tour guides on the West Slope: Cangxi Slope

24.06.02 Hiking record of Xipo Valley on rainy day

"We set out for the west slope that day, and it just happened to rain. "It's always more comfortable to walk in the woods on a rainy day than on a sunny day," said Xiaochun. We looked for wild vegetables and mushrooms everywhere. From time to time, we could hear the sound of bells and the cries of lambs on the mountain. When the rain stopped, we went to the pasture for tea break and spread out food and drinks. The Lotus Peak in the distance was covered with thick clouds. A local sister brought a mule up the mountain to pick green thorn fruit. A sack of blue fruit. Several sisters were talking and laughing. For them, this mountain is their life all year round. In winter, they raise honey from azalea flowers, and in summer, they eat green thorn fruit residue oil. The ferns all over the mountain are their simplest food. Little Ruirui came home from town on weekends and played his balance board in the huge yard. This time, there were two more puppies, one named Qian Duoduo, who kept running behind Ruirui."

It rained when we first entered the mountain, and the valley was filled with wet fog.

It started raining as soon as we entered the mountain, and the valley was filled with fog.

Green ferns cover the flat meadow at the end of the valley.

Some mushrooms grow on dead trees.

On the way

The forest in June was lush and green. Although there were no rhododendrons, mushrooms slowly grew in the humid environment. Ferns covered the hillsides. I picked some young shoots and brought them back to stir-fry bacon.

An article written by a traveler who has been there

Margot: The fascinating "other side" of the West Slope

For the hiking part, the altitude rises by 200 meters, the hiking distance is 4km round trip, and it can be completed in 3 hours, so it is relatively easy.

This is a family in the deep valley of Xipo, on the back of the ancient city of Cangshan Mountain, 80 kilometers away from Dali. Our one-day trip was to visit her family in the mountains, eat two delicious and simple mountain meals, and walk in the primitive forest and pasture behind the house.

 

The road up the mountain: changes along the way from the fields to the mountains

The Dali side of Cangshan Mountain is steep and unsuitable for living. There are no villages or houses above the slope.

Along the winding mountain road, passing the village, passing the tobacco fields and walnut forests in summer, all the way deep into the mountain for more than ten kilometers, there are streams, fields, and neat village houses. The first time I went there, I felt like I had accidentally entered a paradise.

Farmhouse and mountain food

Farmers don’t just cook for us, they also share the life of a mountain family, conversations, interactions, and understanding with family members that accumulate over time.

Xiao Ayan's home is at the end of the valley road, a traditional Bai courtyard with only one family. The courtyard faces the valley and is backed by Cangshan Mountain. Below the courtyard are sheds for cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens. In addition to the natural ingredients, the food Xiao Ayan cooks tastes great. There are pickled sauerkraut collected from the mountains, as well as pork prepared for the New Year. The fragrance of the vegetables and the softness of the bacon are so delicious that they can't be bought with money. Her husband Haoran is also enthusiastic and simple, and he took our hiking group to explore nearby roads. Her parents are thoughtful and quiet, and always check if we need anything to add during meals.

When we ate at their house, we felt safe and comfortable. Sometimes we would go to the front and back of the house to look at the chickens, ducks, cows and sheep, and look out at the valley in the distance. There would be a moment when we felt content and forget ourselves.

Hiking: Walking into the primeval forest

Hiking: Into the primeval forest

After lunch at Xiao Ayan's house, we walked through her wheat fields and vegetable fields and entered the hillside and forest, passing one or two families along the way. There were also wild walnut trees and green plum trees on the road, where you can pick some walnuts and green plums in different seasons. In daily hiking, we are often used to the secondary forest, and suddenly seeing the giant tree moss in the primeval forest is like entering another mysterious world. The ancient camellia tree blooms from winter to early March.

We will continue to reach a high mountain pasture, where the village below the mountain grazes cattle and sheep. There is a large grassland, and herds of cattle and sheep are walking on the hillside. There is a cowshed, and a small stream is led from the valley. We will rest here and have afternoon tea on the pasture meadow.

We lay on the grass in the pasture for a while and stared at the sky.

Picnic afternoon tea on the pasture.

Homemade beehives by local residents.

The ranch was the end of our hike, and we returned to the farm from here. When we were almost there, Xiao Ayan had already prepared dinner.

After dinner, as the sun set, we started to descend the mountain.

Rough itinerary:

10:00 Depart from Pu Shi Bakery in Dali Ancient Town

11:00 Start climbing up the mountain and entering the valley

12:00 Farmer's lunch

14:00 Set out for hiking (moist forests, green pastures)

17:30 Return to the farm

18:30 Return

20:00 Arrive at the ancient city