À propos de ce voyage
This hike to Luoshi Temple takes a less-traveled forest path through quiet woods and tea gardens, reaching an ancient mountain temple for a simple vegetarian meal, then descending into the valley to explore Mocan Stream and its waterfalls.
It's a unique Cangshan experience. **Logistics:** Duration 9:00-16:00 (adjusts with season; confirm at booking).
Distance 13km, elevation gain 700m.
Basic hiking experience required.
Children must be at least 6 years old. **Included:** Guide fee, forest tea break with fruits, tea, snacks, insurance.
Not included: vegetarian meal at Luoshi Temple (¥20). **Experience highlights:** Hillside tea gardens and courtyards, panoramic views of Dali Basin, mountain trail hiking, forest tea break, canyon scenery, remote mountain temple, simple and delicious vegetarian food, clear springs and natural streams of Mocan Stream. **About the guide:** I'm Wangwang, a long-time Dali resident who finds joy in mountain hiking.
Our guide team includes friends who love hiking: a tailor with a Border Collie, DD (extreme sports and crystal digging with his dog Yuanbao), Wang Yue (history and culture), Huanhuan (owner of 'Huanque' restaurant), and Yang Min (wild mushroom picking, leads her favorite 'fern forest' route).
Other professionals may assist. **Why this route?** If you want more forest trails, a deeper experience of Cangshan's primitive forest, visit a quiet temple in the high canyon for tea and a vegetarian meal, and explore a stream valley, choose this hike.
Unlike the tourist route, we start from Qingbi Stream, passing streams, raspberries, wild hemp, tea gardens, and forest to reach Luoshi Temple, then descend to Mocan Stream.
Same destination, completely different experience. **What to expect:** We start at Qingbi Stream, passing meadows, raspberries, a dam, and wild hemp.
We reach a hillside tea garden with a courtyard offering expansive views of Erhai Lake.
Continuing up, we enter a quiet forest path with wildflowers, azaleas, and ferns.
Midway, we have a forest tea break with fruits and hot tea (provided by guide).
After about 2 hours, we reach the main road near the temple, often covered with pine needles.
We arrive at the temple (elevation 2800m) with distant views of peaks and Mocan Stream.
We enjoy tea and a vegetarian meal in the peaceful courtyard.
The temple sits on the edge of Mocan Stream Canyon, facing the mountains.
Most visitors are locals, hikers, or lay Buddhists.
They help themselves to tea, no pressure for donations.
The resident monk often shares snacks brought by devotees.
The temple has a fat yellow cat, a meditation cave where founder Master Polo attained enlightenment, and a Polo Spring.
A stone tablet tells the story of a layman who drank spring water on his way to the temple.
After tea and meal, if energy permits, we hike to Mocan Stream, passing the founder's stupa with a reconstruction inscription.
The upper stream has clear water, lush moss, and flowing streams.
We return via another path through the forest, arriving at the foot around 4:30 PM. **Approximate itinerary:** 9:30 depart, 10:15 reach tea garden, 12:00 arrive at Luoshi Temple for tea and vegetarian meal, 12:30 head to Mocan Stream valley, 16:00 return to Gantong Temple and disband. *Itinerary is estimated and may vary due to individual fitness and weather.*
