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Dali Experience Community

Minibus trip | Walk in the ancient forest by the Mi Ju River for dyeing and printing, and pick wild vegetables by the field to make tempura

Minibus trip | Walk in the ancient forest by the Mi Ju River for dyeing and printing, and pick wild vegetables by the field to make tempura

Experience in trip content: Plant picking, Tea break picnic, and Broaden horizons

Duration and time of day: 1 day

Age suggestion: Age 4+

Destination distance to Dali: 50km

Meeting point:

Guide with dog: Yes, it is possible

You need to bring: A bottle of Water, Suncream, Hat

Fee includes : Transportation, fruit, tea (guests generally have no other expenses)

Not included:

Guide's English proficiency:Speak a little English

Guide's WeChat:dalimogujingling

¥438.00
¥438.00
Sale Not in Season

Domestic travelers, please book via WeChat Mini Program: 面包车乡村旅行

Foreign travelers, please "Book Your Time" first and pay 2 days before the event: ⬇️

Pick-up assistance

For customers with language barriers, we are happy to arrange a taxi to pick you up from your hotel to the meeting point. You pay the actual fee.

One person makes a trip

For most experiences, once booked and confirmed, the trip will go ahead even if there is only one guest, except for some experiences (such as long-haul tours) where a minimum number of guests is specified.

Refund Policy

Before the experience starts:

  • Within 12 hours: 30% refund
  • 12 to 24 hours: 50% refund
  • 24 to 48 hours: 70% refund
  • More than 48 hours: 100% refund
  • After the event starts: No refunds
  • If cancelled due to weather conditions: Full refund

customer service

Guide WeChat: dalimogujingling, other general inquiries: WeChat/WhatsApp: 13636360694

If you have any questions, please add me on WeChat: dalimogujingling , Recent activity records (to learn about the latest scenery of this season): Cangshan Hiking Home Xiaohongshu

Activity time: 13:00-18:00
Meeting point: Sule Restaurant near the ancient city.
Travel time: About 1 hour.
Cost includes: Round-trip transportation, plant dyeing, afternoon tea.
Suitable for: People who love nature, quietness, and the countryside; any age group. Just a flat walking path with no physical requirements. For inquiries, WeChat: dalimogujingling
About the route:
After an hour's drive from the meeting point, arrive at the edge of a field shaded by yellow cedar trees.
Take a walk, gather plants, and do dyeing.
Have afternoon tea (we will prepare fruits, pastries, and brew milk tea together).
Many years ago in autumn, I rode my nearly broken-down motorcycle, carrying a friend, and pedaled hard to Erhai. It was just before the rice harvest, and our motorcycle weaved through vast fields of golden rice paddies. I thought: The rice fields here are much, much more beautiful than Xizhou. There was no intentional scenery setup—rice was planted for harvest. After the rice is harvested, they might plant broad beans. No matter what is planted, it’s all beautiful.While resting by the stream, I asked my friend, 'Shall we come here to camp next time?' Five years have passed in the blink of an eye, but coming here still feels beautiful.

In the spring of 2025, I drove Xiaoqi’s modified van-camper to this place for camping and cooking, spending two days. During those two days, I only slept, cooked, and took walks. My heart felt full and content. The walking trail had fields on one side and a stream on the other, rich with diverse vegetation, novel and different from Cang Mountain. Plants nibbled by small insects were perfect for dyeing.Yesterday, when we confirmed the route, we found several types of mushrooms, including beautiful earthstars and parasols. However, after October, there won’t be any mushrooms left.

So, why travel in a van?
The van is our second home—it’s simple and free. Starting this activity is more like inviting everyone to briefly step into our lives.

Below is a record written in the spring:

The van was surrounded by tall trees on all sides, with fields on the left and a stream on the right. Occasionally, villagers working in the fields would pass by, but most were shy and didn’t initiate conversations with me. Once in a while, two older men passed by and were curious about my stove, asking if the flame was strong enough and whether it was expensive. I also installed magnetic curtains on the left window so that when I didn’t want to be disturbed, I could close them completely. On the right side, the windows were fully open because the tree leaves provided enough security, and occasionally, the scent of flowers drifted in.

Yesterday, I spent almost the entire day inside the van. Apart from taking a short walk along the boardwalk in the afternoon and washing dishes at the irrigation ditch by the field after every meal, I stayed inside. The water in the ditch was clean, and aside from drinking water, all other water needs could be met here. Occasionally, a few egrets would feed in the fields, flying away as soon as they noticed me far away. During my walk, I saw dozens of squirrels, braver than the egrets. They jumped onto the road one by one—not looking for food but seemingly teasing me.

When you're in a small space all day, it feels like every minute is an intense experience. Except for taking a nap at noon because I was too sleepy, I was very focused the rest of the time. While I was sleeping, it started raining outside, and at that moment, I thought: this rain must be especially for me.

Xiao Qi made a large folding table to make it convenient for me to draw, but I've never used it until now. I decided to give it a try and drew a big tree in spring with a child. The big tree and the child were surrounded by an entire green world, just like how I feel right now. Later, I wanted to add something more to the table, so a butterfly appeared on it. Just like that, time quickly reached evening. The stream shimmered with silver light.

I took a walk, and there were many ancient Picrasma trees along the road, with narrow leaves. If you crush and smell them, they have a unique fragrance. Many years ago, a monk from the Boruo Temple picked some for us to take home and brew as tea. Now, I'm thinking of picking some to try.

After the walk, it was time to prepare dinner. I had noodles around 2 p.m., and for dinner, I wanted something simple. I sliced the milk cake and a tomato. I fried the milk cake slices and placed a slice of tomato between two slices of milk cake, eating it like that. The milk cake didn't have much flavor, so I sprinkled some salt on it.

After finishing 'dinner,' it was almost dark. Through the window on the right, I could see the gray-blue mountain peaks behind the stream. I lit a cigarette and lay down. The open car door brought me closer to the outside air. This temperature fits perfectly with the gray-blue mountain peaks.

Q: What will you see on the minivan trip?

A: The rural scenery of Eryuan, watching the making of rushan (a type of Yunnan cheese), tasting local ice cream and fresh milk. Depending on the season, the plants along the banks of the Mi River may vary slightly. Participating from January to March, walking along the riverbank, you will feel the desolation of ancient trees after their leaves have fallen. However, the fields below the riverbank remain vibrant, often with villagers working in the fields, planting gongcai (a type of vegetable), broad beans, etc., presenting lush greenery contrasting sharply with the dry branches. Participating from late March to June, everything comes back to life; the plants along the riverbank grow out, and many plants unseen on Cang Mountain appear. Among the ancient tree clusters, the hundred-year-old Acacia trees native to Yunnan will successively bloom small white flowers. From October to December, during the harvest season, the scenery is very beautiful, with golden rice fields, and egrets living in groups among the ancient trees occasionally flying out of the groves.

 

Q: What will you do on the minivan trip?

A: Walk along the ancient tree-lined river embankment, collect plants, learn about plants, make plant-dyed handicrafts, gather wild vegetables in the fields, make tempura with wild vegetables, and enjoy afternoon tea.

 

Q: What age group is suitable for participating in this activity?

A: Adults and children who love nature, enjoy crafts, want a relaxed and leisurely experience, and don't want to be too tired can all participate.

 

Q: What are the characteristics of this activity?

A: It's relaxing, doesn't require physical exertion, allows you to feel nature, delve into the countryside, has a limited number of participants, and is absolutely niche.

 

Q: Can I drive myself?

A: Because parking is not convenient at the meeting place, self-driving is not recommended. Moreover, riding in a minivan that you rarely get to experience in the city while traveling through the countryside is part of the experience, haha.

 

Q: If there are 5 or 4 of us, can we participate? A: Yes, but this question requires adding the team leader's WeChat: dalimogujingling for consultation.


Photo taken on 2025.9.1, each season will be different.

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