Kuosongping Light Hike | Fields, Streams, Forests

Today's special warm and natural Kuosongping hiking record 2025.05.Jan

On a clear winter morning we walked along the ridge of the village, crossing the white rocky beaches of the stream and gradually rising to the edge of the forest.

And our friends: the dogs "Lucky" and "Custard"

The forest edge refers to the transition area of ​​the forest ecosystem, also known as the "forest edge space".

This area, especially where the forest meets the valley, has a richer diversity of lovely plants that thrive in the sun and water. Here we encountered plants we had never seen or noticed before.

In autumn and winter, Cangshan Mountain is covered with thick pine needles. We walked into Kuosongping on this layer of pine needles. In spring, this place becomes a sea of ​​rhododendrons. When we came here, several small rhododendrons could not wait to bloom in advance.

In summer, this fern world is definitely even more bizarre and spectacular.

The early morning sun was very gentle, shining softly on our faces through the gaps between the pine trees and white ferns. We prepared hot tea, fruits and cakes, and sat casually in the open space in the broad pine flats, chatting and relaxing. This was the happiest moment of our mountaineering trip.

We heard chirping sounds in the rhododendron bushes that had just sprouted new buds. Little Lucky walked over and found them in the bushes. The brother and sister had very different personalities. The bold sister wagged her tail at us, while the timid brother curled up in our arms. We took them down the mountain and named them: Adu and Ajuan. They will continue to grow, and maybe you will meet them too. (Now, Yang Mi renamed one of them "Xiaoxi").

Xiaoxi Today (2024.12.21)

On the way down the mountain, we passed by Cuihua Pavilion and the remains of the residence. It is said that this was where the Yuan Dynasty Emperor Kublai Khan stayed when he conquered Dali in the south. According to the "Qing Yitong Zhi·Dali Prefecture·Historical Relics Records": The remains of the residence, located in Longyuan Temple, Lanfeng, Taihe County, was the residence of the Yuan Dynasty Emperor Kublai Khan, also known as Cuihua Hall. The charming light and shadow here are the reason why I decided to come here in the first place.

journey:

The total distance is 5.5 km and takes 3 hours, which is within the reach of most people.

(Recommended for children 4 years and older; if your child is younger, please let us know and we will adjust the route accordingly.)

Time: 10:00 am and 14:00 pm, depending on the season and booking time.

Meeting point: 5 km north of the ancient city (details will be provided after booking).

Essential items for hiking: 1 small bottle of water, ordinary sports shoes or hiking shoes.