"For this hike to Polo Temple, we chose a rarely traveled forest path, passing through quiet forests and tea plantations, reaching the ancient temple in the mountains, enjoying vegetarian food, and then going to the valley to see streams and waterfalls. This was a very different experience in Cangshan."
Hiking time: 9:00-16:00 (will be adjusted according to the season, please refer to the booking time)
Distance: 13 km, 700 m elevation gain. Basic hiking experience is required. Children should be at least 6 years old to participate in this hike.
The fee includes: guide fee, forest tea break fruit, tea, snacks, insurance. Not included: Vegetarian meal at Polo Temple ¥20
You will experience:
▪️Tea gardens and yards on the hillside▪️Overlooking the vast view of Dali Basin▪️Mountain hiking▪️Tea break in the forest▪️Canyon view▪️Temple in the deep mountains▪️Simple and delicious vegetarian food▪️Clear spring water and natural stream of Mocan Creek
My name is Wangwang. I have lived in Dali for many years. Hiking in the mountains is one of my most important pleasures in life. The growth and changes of flowers, plants and trees in the mountains throughout the seasons make me go there often and I always enjoy it. I have written down my feelings about this job in my records. The Happiest Job in the World
Our hiking guide team is composed of several friends who love hiking. In addition to me, there is a tailor with a border collie, DD with his dog Yuanbao who loves extreme sports and digging crystals, Wang Yue who likes history and culture, Huanhuan who runs the "Huanque" restaurant, etc. Yang Min from the wild mushroom picking team will also lead the team, taking her favorite "fern forest" route, and sometimes other professional team members will come to assist.
Why choose the Polo Temple hiking route?
If you want to walk more mountain trails in the forest, experience the Cangshan primeval forest more deeply than a relaxing hike, go to a quiet temple high in the Cangshan Grand Canyon to drink a cup of tea, eat a vegetarian meal, and go down the valley to stroll along the stream, then choose this hiking route.
If you are wondering, Polo Temple seems to be accessible by taking the regular tourist route, so what is the difference with your route? We chose this route. Polo Temple is just a rest stop. We did not start from the scenic area, but went up the mountain from Qingbi Creek, passed the stream, saw raspberries, wild hemp, tea gardens, and forests on the mountainside, arrived at Polo Temple, and then went down the canyon to visit the stream waterfall of Mocan Creek. The same destination can have a completely different experience.
This is not something that everyone can do. You need to have a certain level of physical strength (but you don't need to be an expert at sports)
In the morning we passed by Qingbi Creek, past the meadows, raspberries, past the dam, and saw wild marijuana.
We arrived at the tea garden on the hillside. There is a yard on the hillside. Beyond the tea bushes, the view is wide and you can see a large area of Erhai Lake.
Continuing up the mountain road, you will see a large, quiet, deserted forest trail, with various wild flowers, rhododendrons, ferns growing along the way, and the air is fresh and pleasant.
Wild tea tree
We will take a tea break in the forest and have some fruit and hot tea (the guide will bring them)
Two hours later, we reached the main road near the temple, which was covered with pine needles most of the year.
We continued walking for a while and arrived at the temple. At an altitude of 2800 meters, we could see the nearby peaks and the water of Mocan River from afar. We drank tea and ate vegetarian food in the temple. The courtyard was very quiet and we could see the valley from afar.
Sitting on the backyard deck, eating vegetarian food, facing the green mountains of the canyon
Or sit in the temple for a while and feel the tranquility here
The temple is located on the cliff of Moganxi Grand Canyon. It is an ancient temple facing the mountains. Most of the people who come here are locals, including tourists who come for hiking and pious lay Buddhists. When they come, they will find a table, pour tea, sit for a while and leave. The temple prepares tea for guests, and you can take it yourself, without any intention of asking for incense. You can feel that the people here are very comfortable. They may not be good men and women, but they are very close to this temple, just like their own place. Everyone is a lively ordinary person. There is only one master here, who often takes out cakes and fruits for people to eat. They are all brought by believers. He takes them out for you to eat, and he seems very happy.
There is a fat yellow cat in the temple, which looks very much like its owner. It doesn't mind being petted, and looks calm and composed. You can see the meditation cave in the temple, where the founder of the temple, Master Polo, meditated and realized the truth, and there is also a Polo Spring. There is a stone tablet in the corner of the corridor, which records the story of a layman who drank mountain spring water and came to the temple. The text is detailed, sincere and simple, just like this temple.
After drinking tea and eating vegetarian food, if you still have enough energy, you can walk along the mountain road towards Mocan Creek. You will pass by the tomb tower of the founder of the temple. There is also an inscription here, which talks about the reconstruction and shows sincerity.
The water in the upper reaches of Mocan Creek is clear, the moss is lush, and the water flows gently.
After playing enough, we returned to the mountain from another path, passed through the forest, and arrived at the foot of the mountain around 4:30 pm
Approximate itinerary:
Depart at 9:30
10:15 Arrive at the tea plantation on the hillside
12:00 Arrive at Polo Temple, drink tea and eat vegetarian food
12:30 Depart for Mocan Valley
16:00 Return to Gantong Temple at the foot of the mountain and disperse
*The itinerary is an estimate and may vary due to personal physical strength and climate.
Tip: If you have other good travel experience with other agencies, please recommend it to us and we will share it with travelers. WeChat: lingjiec, Email: lingjiec@yahoo.com (Many of our recommendations, including cancellations, come from travelers’ feedback)
