A very enjoyable tea-picking experience, the best closing activity in Dali. We also saw wild mushrooms on the mountain, and the guide was very attentive, introducing us to the plants along the way—an immersive mountain-climbing experience. Awesome!
The Cangshan hiking trip that will stay forever in my memory—so so so fun!!!!!!!!!
Caught dozens of insects, met adorable classmates observing nature, saw a woodpecker fly out of a tree cavity, and visited the home of the world's smallest dormouse. The rare bamboo stick insect was definitely a favorite for both kids and adults.
"Plant LEGO"—what a treasure! You can even use it on your eyebrows.
Knowledgeable about plants and animals, gentle and lovely guides, and the daily activities that make your head turn every time—so much beyond expectations. I didn't even notice the other shortcomings. Truly surprising.
This afternoon's van trip to Er Yuan was so healing! Traveling through mountains, fields, and countryside all the way, and on the way back, we saw a beautiful sunset shining on the mountain slopes—such a great atmosphere! In the afternoon, we immersed ourselves in outdoor picking of fresh leaves among ancient trees, experienced plant dyeing by hand, and made plant specimens—relaxing and fun! Sister Xiaomi patiently helped with the kids, so moms can relax now.
This trip brought us closer to nature and allowed us to personally capture the greenery of Er Yuan. The slow-paced, healing journey is highly recommended—absolutely fantastic! My little one still misses Sister Xiaomi and the dog Xiaoxi.
Also, the northwest noodle shop recommended by Xiaomi was perfect—offering hot porridge for the kids to drink, and I could also enjoy a bowl of oil-splash noodles to soothe my Northern stomach, haha.
More of an educational forest experience than forest bathing; they learn about the local flora and fauna there, especially mushrooms, which the region is famous for. 🍄
She also organizes trips to small Muslim-Chinese villages around Dali, where a very interesting minority lives — the Hui people who worship Allah. ☪️
She arrived to pick us up in her jeep at the place we requested. During the trip, she gave her all, showing us hard-to-reach areas. ⛰️
In the previous photos, there was a view from her house, and now other lovely people we met who gave their whole hearts. ❤️
The girl we traveled to Tibet with — Aruna. She is from Inner Mongolia, lives and works in Dali (one of the most beautiful cities in Yunnan), organizing forest trips for tourists from other regions of China, mostly families with children. The photo shows her with her partner.
And I have never encountered something like this on such a scale anywhere else in the world. My companion has a similar experience, from...
Spent a full day somewhere in the Cangshan mountains with the funniest local guide, trying to communicate with bits of English (thank you for translating, Yu), a little Cantonese, and my very limited, barely existing Mandarin (I really need to learn).
Xiaoqi drove us deep into the hills, bringing us to a Yunnan family living in the mountains. Using ingredients and produce from their land and farm, they cooked organic, homemade dishes for us: fern, broad beans, home-aged ham, various vegetables, corn from their land, and tomato eggs, all tasting so good and wholesome. Home-cooked meals made by grandmothers are my favorite; no restaurant could beat them for me.
We walked through forests, hills, and meadows, meeting a very sweet grandma living alone in the mountains along the way, with Xiaoqi telling us more about all the flora of Dali, introducing us to the flavors of local edible plants and flowers, and taking in the changing landscapes, all accompanied by the mountain family's adorable little dog.
I discovered a new favorite fruit called bayberries (sweet, sour, refreshing, and pretty) and watched the sunset from inside a car, while Xiaoqi drove us out of the mountains in his van back to the city. There’s something special about watching the sunset while driving with the windows down...
What I found most affecting was how connected to nature Xiaoqi seemed, and even though he does this hike quite often, he still seems in awe of everything.
A day without any reception, but didn't miss it once
Taking advantage of the holiday, I signed up for a two-day Shangri-La牧区 hiking tour at OTC Town @Dali Cangshan Hiking House. It was my first time seeing snow-capped mountains and牧场up close, and I still find it hard to forget the sense of freedom and sacredness that filled the atmosphere.
Perhaps humans are always excited by unpredictable extreme weather! Waking up in a牧民's house to see continuous rain outside, I was inexplicably worried about the experience, but when the car reached the foot of Tongbao Snow Mountain and I saw snowflakes gently falling, I suddenly realized that this might be more worth experiencing than a clear sunny day at the snow mountain.
Behind the snow curtain, the mysterious雪山 appears faintly; herds of耗牛 wandering through the jungle;紫杜鹃 shining in the snowfield—all calling deep inside for a longing for freedom, finally returning to the child of nature!
We continued hiking until we reached a small wooden cabin in the snow. Everyone gathered around the stove, and no one could understand how powerful the stew of耗牛肉 and大量方便面 was at that moment. We, from different places and countries, shared common topics, watching the gradually easing snow outside the window, and thus preserved a precious moment of life in Shangri-La.
Highly recommend this activity again. Guides Aruna and Xiao Qi are reliable and humorous. Staying at Summer牧场, enjoying Tibetan cuisine and barley wine, becoming wild plant hunters, with a hiking route free of crowds—two days of experience surpass the entire holiday.
One day, we will meet again, Shangri-La.
Phoebe is super gentle, and the flowers, grasses, and small animals in the mountains are all very familiar. Her explanations are detailed and lively. Very patient with children!
My 4-year-old boy usually doesn't like to move and has average stamina. This time, he completed the entire mountain trail on his own without crying for a carry. At the start, I gave him an observation bottle and a bug catcher, and he was so excited all the way!
Especially suitable for children's自然启蒙, immersive observation of微观大自然, parent-child closing eyes experience!
Following Zhenhao and Zha Mao to go hiking!!! Extremely satisfied, I give 10,000/100 points.
The fern forest is really super cool, with a completely primitive forest vibe. Zha Mao is the most well-behaved puppy in the world! Super responsible and adorable! It’s great to meet so many ferns and fungi. They introduced us very carefully and responsibly, and shared many fun and interesting stories!
