Paddle across Jinsha River to the orange orchard to pick oranges. During the crossing, jump into the blue Jinsha River for a swim. In the orchard on the other side, you can enjoy free oranges and also taste the delicious Hunan-style stir-fry and fresh-made ghee tea prepared by the handsome guide, Chen Bali. The kids ate two bowls of rice until full, then took a nap in the hammock among the oranges—simply delightful... Highly recommend Chen Bali’s Jinsha River trip!
The mist clears to reveal the silhouette of Cangshan Mountain, the damp wind awakens the hillside, and the fern leaves curl with tender green hues, like the pulse of the earth just waking up.
Xiaomi accompanied by her small dog, journeying along Cangshan. Many interesting plants were explained by Xiaomi along the way.
At the creek at the foot of Cangshan, choosing flat stones to start dyeing—using natural colors to dye cotton fabric—is very fun. The kids were especially happy.
People who rarely exercise normally found it challenging to start the journey at Dali and hike the Yunzhishan ridge the next day. It takes some effort, but after about half an hour to reach the top, the rest of the trek becomes easier. Each segment offers different scenic views—beautiful and worth the effort.
Joining the Er Yuan countryside trip was completely unexpected, chosen by chance due to timing from among many activities at Cangshan Hikers’ House. It turned out to be surprisingly rich and fun.
If there were an ideal order of experience for activities at Cangshan Hikers’ House, I would choose Aruna on the first day. She is truly calm and gentle, naturally creating a comfortable and friendly atmosphere—like meeting an old friend after many years.
Spring day mountain ascent, take it slow.
Guided by Xiaomi, our team carefully explained and helped us rediscover the plants in our daily life. From collecting, pressing, to bringing a splash of spring vibe~
Step by step, walk closer to nature with your feet, accompanied by a cute dog, Xiaoxi. Every step offers a new perspective to understand this place again.
During our Dali trip, joining Fibi’s nature observation activities was the most unforgettable and impressive part of the journey.
Fibi's explanations were very vivid. Her phrase "Once you get to know some things, you'll find that they are everywhere around you" deeply resonated with me. What was once seen as ordinary plants and flowers suddenly gained names, stories, and unique meanings. The entire world seemed to come alive, becoming more vibrant and dynamic.
On the way there and back, we encountered light rain and fortunately saw a rainbow. We learned about many common yet unnamed flowers and plants. In March and April, there were not many small insects, but the children happily walked and stopped frequently, climbing mountains joyfully all the way. After returning, they kept thinking about finding wild pea whistles and had a blast playing.
In the evening, Fibi shared the photos taken that day along with related materials in the group chat, helping us revisit and reinforce our memories. She also kindly gifted us a picture book she translated, which the kids loved so much they wanted to look at it every day after returning home.
Whether for children or adults, everyone gains so much. Heartfelt thanks to Phoebe for bringing such a warm and meaningful nature experience!
This was a very comfortable trip—no noisy sounds, no rushing or feeling of urgency. We leisurely passed through Eryuan, ate some popsicles, then went into the woods to do plant printing and enjoyed mushroom tempura (the mushroom tempura was delicious!).
Basking in the sun with the dog rolling nearby—this kind of time is truly wonderful. It opened up a new world for my future travels, and life might be just like this—calming the mind.
I really enjoyed going out with Swallow. The first time I joined a group tour, we went mushroom hunting together. Since then, I couldn't stop thinking about it. This time, after leaving Dali, I believe I will always remember this trip, and I look forward to returning to Dali next time.
The dog is also incredibly adorable! I love it so much!
(Highly recommend joining their group, I've played with them three times and had no bad experiences. The sisters are very thoughtful and you can learn a lot about plants!)
Participated in Teacher Phoebe's Nature Notes. Insect and plant observation experience. Special thanks to all the teachers for today's lively and unique outdoor classroom. It was the most impressive and interesting half day of our Yunnan trip. We learned so much about the treasures of Cangshan. Thank you all!