About this journey
I am Wangwang, having lived in Dali for many years. Hiking in the mountains is one of my great pleasures in life. The seasonal changes of flowers, plants, and trees in the mountains make me go there often, and I always love it. I have written about my feelings regarding this job in my record, "The Happiest Job in the World."
Here are the reasons why I like this route:
The distance and intensity are just right for ordinary hiking enthusiasts. The mountain trail is about 12 km with an elevation gain of 600 meters. You can enjoy the pleasure of hiking without feeling overly exhausted.
Natural mountain paths take you up and down through forests and tea plantations. You can walk along a forgotten section of the "Jade Belt Road" and a mountain path through a magnificent canyon.
You will pass by Zhonghe Temple. If the timing is right, you can enjoy a vegetarian meal there for lunch.
This trail has almost no tourists.
This is also one of my favorite routes for leisure. Starting from Zhonghe Village and heading upward (for those with less physical strength or who only want to take the Jade Belt Road and downhill sections, you can take the traditional-style cable car from Zhonghe), passing through tea plantations, forests, and walking along mountain paths covered with pine needles until you reach Zhonghe Temple. Sunlight filters through the gaps in the pine trees, warming the path pleasantly. Large areas of ferns create a unique forest atmosphere.
When you arrive at Zhonghe Temple, if it's mealtime, you can eat vegetarian food there (20 yuan/person, pay by scanning the QR code).
If we miss the vegetarian meal, there is a small stall run by a local woman above Zhonghe Temple on the Jade Belt Road, offering fruit, fried rice, and homemade pickled pears and pickled vegetables. She once lived for over a decade in a few houses below the Jade Belt Road on this mountain, where she and her family provided food and accommodation for travelers, like a home. A few years ago, the policy changed, and the houses were demolished. Now, she sets up a stall, and her husband helps carry fresh vegetables and supplies up the mountain every morning before going back down.
After lunch, everyone sits on small stools in the open area on the Jade Belt Road, basking in the sun.
(Those who do not like downhill or have knee problems can take the Zhonghe cable car down from here.) We continue along the quieter side of the Jade Belt Road, which is primitive and natural. There are few tourists here, and the view is open. Passing through the deep and magnificent Tao River Canyon, many spots offer beautiful views of villages, Erhai Lake, and distant mountains.
After walking about three kilometers, we reach the downhill path of Taoxi. Passing through the tea plantation, we arrive at Mochui Tea Room. The sky is gradually getting dark.
Start time: 10:00 AM, Zhonghe Cable Car entrance
Distance: 10-12 km, elevation gain 600 m
Excluded additional costs: Lunch/vegetarian meal
Forest near the starting point
Pine needles covering the Jade Belt Road
Ferns in the mountain forest
Two cherry blossom trees in the tea plantation on the way down
Views of Erhai Lake and villages visible from many places
Distant mountains clearly visible
Walking through the forest
Cherry blossoms beside the mountain path
Photos and videos
