Wild Forest Trail for Mushroom Picking and Pinecone Collecting | Vegetarian Meal at Jizhao Nunnery after Hiking — avis de voyageurs

Together with Zhenhao and Zhamao, we wandered through the varied vegetation of Cangshan. Mushrooms were hidden all along the forest paths—in every color and under every kind of cap—and Zhenhao taught us many of their scientific names. Moss clung to old trees, ferns curled around tender shoots, and where my fingertips brushed past, the pulse of Cangshan seemed to lie right in my palm. By the time we reached Jizhao Nunnery, the sun was just slanting across the upturned eaves. On the wooden table sat a bowl of vegetarian fare—tofu simmered until soft, pumpkin steamed until sweet as honey. In the time it took to eat that simple meal, we gathered all the green of the mountain into our stomachs. As we descended, the wind swept past our ears, and Zhamao ran happily at our feet. Some encounters need no names, and some flavors need no words. Cangshan has long since written its answers on every leaf.

Teacher Wanwan is very professional, with eyes that can spot all kinds of hidden mushrooms. She also took us to experience silver fern, which was really fun! Those of us who are older only took the small loop, while the kids took the big loop. Sure enough, the big loop yielded more!

My first experience with Cangshan Hiking Home was picking pinecones on Cangshan with Yanzi and having a vegetarian meal at Shuzhao Nunnery. Along the way, it was clear that Yanzi truly loves nature and hiking. Coming from the city, we kept exclaiming in surprise on the mountain. Yanzi was very patient and gentle, explaining the plants we saw, helping us pick pinecones and select pine nuts, and we also had a delicious afternoon tea. I kept thinking, what a heavenly life this is! We ended the day with two big bags of pinecones! This time, I experienced a day at Xipo Renjia. I'm grateful to meet guides Xiaochun and Caifeng. I have to praise that all the guides at Cangshan Hiking Home are all-rounders—from the moment we met until the end, they were full of positive energy and provided great emotional value! The food at the mountain home was also delicious and comforting! Looking forward to coming back to Dali after the peak season to travel with the guides again!

I've participated in two activities so far, and I'm extremely satisfied with both! Originally, I signed up for an independent summer camp for my child, but since Dali has such beautiful weather, I wanted to be in nature too, so I chose to join my child. That was a very wise decision!! We went mushroom picking on the mountain with Zhenhao and Wanwan. Along the way, they explained a lot, including small plants, moss, and lichens. A few hours passed, and I felt time flew by too fast—I didn't want it to end, and I didn't feel tired at all. Captain Cihang speaks softly but you can feel his strength. He guides with great patience, is very calm, and naturally says encouraging words and little truths. The kids loved it and were very happy. I didn't want to try it, but Captain Cihang and my daughter both encouraged me to give it a go. And hey, even though I only got to be a little captain for a short while, it made me feel one with nature, to feel the wind, and learn how to balance with it. I think sailing and I will definitely have a next chapter...

Cangshan Mushroom Chronicle Today, I joined Cangshan Hiking Home for a mountain date with mushrooms. Our guides were two girls, Zhenhao and Wanwan. They led us up a wild trail to pick pinecones and identify plants. A little dog named Zhamao wagged its tail and accompanied us, adding furry joy to the rustling footsteps. Halfway up, we took a break. The mountain breeze brought the aroma of tea and fruit. The guides spread out a picnic cloth, and we sat around, watching sunlight filter through the leaves, casting dappled shadows. Listening to the blend of insect chirps and laughter, I suddenly understood the true meaning of 'stealing a moment of leisure from a busy life.' The most touching part of this journey was encountering various mushrooms. They hid under dead leaves and in rock crevices—some with starry, brilliant colors, some oozing milky sap when cut, some with hidden toxins, guarding the secrets of survival in the dark. I used to think that only a full basket was worthwhile, but after listening to the guides, I felt reluctant to pick too many. I realized that the moment a mushroom cap opens is both the start of spores traveling on the wind and the beginning of a countdown to the end of life. Suddenly, I understood that these silent fungi are no different from us—they strive to complete the cycle of life in limited time: plants spread their leaves, animals scurry for food, humans chase meaning, and mushrooms nourish the forest in their own way, decomposing decay and maintaining balance. On the mountain path, we also came across a few local graves. The guide said that people here don't visit graves with sorrow; instead, they bring wine, food, and cards, sitting around and chatting and laughing at the resting place of their loved ones, like a gathering that transcends life and death. That ease with death made the mountain breeze feel gentle. When we descended, our basket held a few carefully selected mushrooms, but I felt more fulfilled than if it had been full. The best encounter is never greedy possession, but prudent choice—knowing which should stay in the mountains to continue life, which can be taken home to share, and understanding the perseverance of each mushroom and the dignity of every life. With this reverence and harmony with nature, I bid a gentle farewell, looking forward to the next reunion in the mountain breeze.

It's summer vacation and I came to Dali again. This time I joined two activities. Both were excellent and the experiences were quite complete. The first was a hike led by Zhenhao, with two little dogs, Zamao and Dangeng, as assistant guides. The whole route was less than five kilometers with an elevation gain of about three hundred meters. At the end we had a vegetarian meal at Jizhao Nunnery, which the kids really liked. The second was paddleboarding led by Bali, who drove his tank to the campsite in about three-quarters of an hour. We paddled for about two and a half hours and were very happy when we fell into the water. All three of us progressed from paddling sitting down to paddling standing up. On the way back we ate at a delicious Hui restaurant. We'll definitely come again next time. Oh, by the way, it was recommended by a friend. They don't have a physical store. We actually wanted to visit their shop, but when we went to the address, we found there was no physical store. Haha! Thumbs-up from the heart. We'll come again next time.

A gift from Cangshan. The guide led us on a 4-hour, 5-kilometer wild trail hike, and we harvested a basketful of mushrooms: aromatic white pearl, perennial pore fungus, early-flowering ivory ginger, tiger-skin boletus, checkered amanita, unidentified mushroom species, forked fern, small leopard-spotted amanita, pine forest milky bolete, yellow juice milk cap, konjac, ferns. We also picked white-bellied pheasant feathers and porcupine quills, saw raccoons and squirrels, and ended the meaningful day with a vegetarian meal. Leaving behind boring textbooks, entering nature, and experiencing it.

We signed up for four activities with Cangshan Hiking Home. First, we spent two days doing crafts at the Coffee Nature Handcraft Studio at the foot of the mountain, making a mushroom lamp and a fruit butterfly. The kids absolutely loved it. Teacher Li Zhenhao and Teacher Agua were both wonderful, patiently teaching the children. They also made friends with other kids doing crafts and agreed to go hiking together next time! The coffee and drinks at Teacher Li Zhenhao's shop were delicious, especially the plum drink—I loved it! On the third day, we signed up to pick pinecones on Cangshan and have a vegetarian meal at Jizhao Nunnery. Along the way, we collected lots of pinecones and fern leaves with other friends. Li Zhenhao kept introducing us to various plants—he was really professional! We even saw a squirrel on the way. The guide brought plenty of fruit, snacks, pastries, and even hot tea! We sat on the ground, ate snacks, drank tea, and chatted. Even though we had just met, everyone was so happy! The kids loved it. At 5 p.m., we had the vegetarian meal at Jizhao Nunnery, which was really tasty—my kid ate a whole big bowl! On the fourth day, we went to Shaxi. Guide He Chen took us to Shaxi Ancient Town to enjoy delicious local specialties. In the afternoon, we climbed Shizhong Mountain to see the Tang Dynasty grottoes. The itinerary was well arranged, with few people along the way and beautiful scenery. The kids really enjoyed the guide's explanations of the grotto history. At night, we stayed at a mountain guesthouse with a great environment and comfortable rooms. Sitting by the campfire, chatting and warming ourselves, was truly joyful. In summary, all the guides over these days were very professional and super nice! After returning, my kid said they want to go again during summer vacation. We plan to try other activities then! Highly recommend guides Li Zhenhao and He Chen! We hope they lead our trips again next time!~

In Dali, climbing Cangshan is the serious business. Followed the guide on a short hike to pick pinecones, touching and picking along the way, happy like a little animal (inexperienced version). Yanzi kept telling me the names and stories of various plants, medicinal, edible, edible but will send you to the ICU... Here, wind, sun, and rain treat people and things equally, getting wet and being irrigated are the same thing, being wrinkled and being smoothed are also the same thing, wind and sun, fluttering, free and easy. While climbing the mountain, I truly felt that restoring the sense of touch is the first step to restoring life. Next, keep playing.

An amazing hike! We picked many pine nuts on Cangshan Mountain and had a picnic in a sun-drenched forest.

A great afternoon hike with a great guide, Xiao Jing. She seems to know a lot about nature. During the break, she prepared fruit and yogurt bowls. In the evening, the balcony at the vegetarian meal place felt like being in Europe?

Carrying a bamboo basket into the mountains! Full marks for the experience. There were also surprise treats like fruit and hot tea along the way. Great service, recommended.

My 10-year-old chose the pinecone collecting trip. What a wonderful journey! Guide Xiao Jing has excellent navigation skills, carrying a bamboo basket with everyone's afternoon tea and bringing along an adorable dog. We'll definitely come hiking again.

This was my first time traveling alone with my kid to Dali, and I had two obsessions: hiking Cangshan and eating vegetarian meals at Jizhao Nunnery. While researching on Xiaohongshu, I was deeply attracted by the story-like descriptions of each route by Cangshan Hiking Home. I was afraid of changes in plans and didn't dare to book in advance, but as soon as the plane landed, before even getting off, I urgently booked the 'Pick Pinecones and Eat Vegetarian Meal' itinerary. Unexpectedly, only my son and I signed up for this trip that day. I heard that even if there's only one person, the trip still goes ahead, so we set off as a private group. Guide Yanzi was very warm, with a healing smile. Along the way, she introduced us to plants, helped us pick pinecones, and crack pine nuts. Although I, as an older person, was exhausted with a racing heart and panting, I couldn't help but find it so interesting, romantic, and poetic. On the exclusive hiking trail, there were no crowds of tourists, only the sound of pine waves, sunlight filtering through the pines—all gifts of nature! When there was no sun, it was cold, but Yanzi had thoughtfully prepared hot milk tea for an afternoon tea in the forest and a big blue shawl. I'm so grateful! After finishing the 8-kilometer hike, we were just hungry. Although Jizhao Nunnery was crowded, the vegetarian meal was indeed delicious. The little guy even licked his bowl clean. Yanzi also prepared fragrant Shuixian tea, and eating simple yet amazing food among the ancient pine forest brought an overwhelming sense of happiness! This was only the first day of my Dali trip, and I'm already looking forward to the next experience—whether it's mushroom picking or paddleboarding. Someone who doesn't usually love sports, I've even started to fall in love with hiking.

The female guide was really great. Came to Dali for a very special itinerary. The guide was attentive throughout, very professional, knew all kinds of mountain flowers and plants, and took us to pick many pinecones and hazelnuts. She also prepared tea, snacks, and fruit. There was also a very delicious vegetarian meal. Overall, it was an amazing Cangshan hiking trip.

Very beautiful Really great

After the holiday, Dali became much quieter. Wandering on uninhabited mountain trails, picking spring flowers, digging beautiful moss, collecting plump pinecones.

Cangshan forest hiking is so wonderful We walked in the forest of Cangshan, picked many pinecones and pine nuts, like busy little squirrels. Sunlight shone through the trees, we had a picnic under the trees, it was like a dream scene.

Picking pinecones is also a lot of fun, especially for city dwellers. It was great. I wanted to hike Cangshan when I came to Dali, and I stumbled upon this company by chance, so I signed up immediately. It's winter now, so we could only pick pinecones. If you come during the rainy season, you can pick mushrooms! Picking pinecones is also a lot of fun, especially for city dwellers. The guide, Xiao Jing, brought her cute little dog and led us up the mountain along the paths used by local villagers. Along the way, she explained various plants, pinecones, flowers, leaves, and ferns. We even saw raccoon droppings and spotted pheasants flying around. Xiao Jing also carried a full basket of food and drinks, and we had a picnic. On the way down, we passed through the beautiful Jizhao Nunnery and could have a vegetarian meal there.

I loved it so much During the May Day holiday, I came to Dali and stumbled upon Cangshan Family's activities. After joining the pinecone picking activity, I loved it so much. The route was very peaceful, and the guide's knowledge of plants was truly deep. You could tell it came from genuine passion. When encountering beautiful or unique plants, they would carefully stop to record and explain—an unexpected delight of the trip. Since I had my child with me, I signed up for the bagel-making activity the next day. Aruna was incredibly patient, teaching the child step by step how to make bagels. And we could take all the bagels home! They were so delicious. Without hesitation, I chose Dali again for summer vacation. This time, I followed a recommendation and chose the West Slope Mountain Day. The weather was overcast but no rain, very comfortable. The pasture was vast, with cows and sheep strolling around. I felt completely relaxed. Coincidentally, Aruna and Xiao Xi led the group again, along with a little dog. Along the way, we encountered many mushrooms and learned about various types. We also had a delicious farm meal; there was a melon seedling dish (not sure if that's the name) that was incredibly tasty! My child loved the little dog named Egg Custard, so we booked the Meixi Canyon hike. But it rained heavily in the morning, so Xiao Xi helped us switch to the Kuosongping hike, still accompanied by the dog. The most surprising part was stream trekking—it was so beautiful, with the babbling water. Stepping through the cool water made me forget all about summer. I wanted to sit by the stream and never leave, haha. I really loved it and want to join all the different routes. There's always next time. See you again...

I'll come back next mushroom season. So happy! I came to Dali alone and wanted to experience something different. Although it's winter and there are no mushrooms to pick, following Teacher Yanzi up the mountain to collect pine nuts was super fun! I must come back during mushroom season~

A road without tourists. During Spring Festival, Dali was crowded everywhere. My friend and I spontaneously booked a Cangshan hike to avoid the crowds. The two guides, Xiaomi and Xiaojing, were super nice. They kept introducing various plants along the way, and I learned a lot. The afternoon tea they specially carried was very fresh, and the pine nuts we picked were delicious. The guide dog Xiaoxi was also adorable. Winter on Cangshan is quiet and serene, perfect for a peaceful walk. I loved it. The vegetarian meal at Jizhao Nunnery was tasty.