Nature Observation Mini Hike | Insects, Plants and Birds 여행자 리뷰

So interesting! Phoebe and Xiangyang were both very patient, guiding us through the entire tour and answering questions patiently. The 4-year-old kid was full of energy throughout, bursting with curiosity and a desire to learn. After the activity, the kid said, 'I want to go back and draw this, to record this wonderful day.'

Phoebe and Xiangyang know all the stories along this path from the fields to the mountain forest. They know whose home is the hole in the tree trunk, whose shell is the pupa left in the grass, and when the eggs under the leaves will hatch. If possible, I hope to walk this path again next time without bringing the children, to see it again, and to hear it again.

This time, under the guidance of Teacher Phoebe and Teacher Xiangyang, the experience was top-notch! The teachers are knowledgeable about all kinds of ferns, wildflowers, fungi, birds, and small insects. Their explanations are easy to understand, and they can precisely locate hidden small animals—full marks for professionalism. No matter what questions we had, they gave accurate answers, and the children loved it. They took care of the whole group's pace throughout and patiently answered every question about plants and animals. This was the best experience of our Dali trip, truly worthwhile. I hope there will be opportunities to explore nature with them again in the future.

Teacher Phoebe is patient and professional. The children found many cute little animals and learned a lot of knowledge about plants and animals that they couldn't learn from textbooks. It was a rewarding and experiential journey.

What an interesting hike! I saw all kinds of cute little bugs from the picture books. An amazing experience (first time I learned that spiders have 8 eyes). I also got to know the very academic and fun teacher Phoebe. Indeed, everyone named Phoebe is really cool—loyal to their passion, following their heart. From her, I saw a completely different way of life.

A fantastic experience! The kids had a great time and said they want to do it again next time. Teacher Phoebe explained everything very well, and there was even a review session in the evening. 100 points~

Spent a day in the mountains with my daughter. In the morning we visited Jizhao Nunnery, and in the afternoon we joined Phoebe's nature observation hike. We learned about dozens of insects and plants, saw the real-life model of Lucas the Spider — a jumping spider, tasted nasturtium and wild berries, smelled Yunnan camphor, lemongrass, and wild prickly ash... Phoebe is like a walking encyclopedia! The hike distance was manageable for a child to complete on her own. What impressed me most was when we reached the mountainside and saw the sea of mountains and clouds, my daughter couldn't help but say, 'Nature, I want to hug you.' On the way down, she said, 'Today was a truly fulfilling day.'

Following someone who truly connects with living beings lets you feel the subtlety of nature. This time I let go of the superficial sightseeing and really treated nature as a subject. Before coming, I wasn't impressed — I usually forget what I hear on hikes. But after coming, I was blown away. Having printed pictures of plants and insects, I found myself full of exploration and questions, so we didn't finish until after 7 PM... Teacher Phoebe showed no sign of fatigue, and she kept sharing even after returning that day and the next. Kudos to her! And the snacks were almost all my favorites — which kid (not me) could escape her grasp? Giao!!

Feibi is super gentle, knows all the mountain plants and small animals well, and explains things in detail and vividly. She is extremely patient with kids! My 4-year-old son usually doesn't like to move much and has average stamina, but this time he walked the entire mountain trail on his own without asking to be carried once. At the start, the kids were given observation bottles and bug catchers, and my child was super excited the whole way! Perfect for introducing kids to nature, immersive observation of the micro-natural world. A no-brainer for parents with kids!

I joined Phoebe's nature observation activity. Walking slowly in nature, learning about the plants and animals around us—this level of exercise was perfect for me, just one month postpartum. My baby was probably the youngest participant, going up the mountain at just over a month old. It was fascinating to discover these lives I had never noticed before. Phoebe was well-prepared, with professional knowledge and various props convenient for kids. There was a surprising spring, a flat rest spot with a great view, and a rich tea break prepared. The whole journey was relaxed and comfortable. It's been a long time since I enjoyed the outdoors so easily. Very happy.

I love drinking coco's coco: Dali Solo Trip Guide About the Author Author: I love drinking coco's coco Location: Shanghai --- Dali Occupation & Self-Introduction: Owner of a Saturn-like brain circuit; Cloud-raised digital pet master; Intangible cultural heritage inheritor of ineffective makeup; Cover figure of "Contemporary Fragile Youth"; Human version of Siri (just say okay, received, rebooting) and many other precious titles... Day 08 (April 22) WOW, drawing Cangshan nature observation notes with Phoebe (better read with music playing~) Today I spent most of my time in Cangshan with Phoebe. Sister Phoebe speaks softly but firmly and with strength. In her car, I saw some branches and fruits she had picked earlier, and I exclaimed that she looked like a little elf from the mountains. I didn't know much about what nature observation entails, so before the activity started, Sister Phoebe showed me her journals, nature observation notes, and her own paintings from the past few years. In a way, we are very similar—both of us record life experiences in writing, stay curious about the world, and enjoy observing, writing, and drawing. Similar personalities naturally dissolve the distance between people and create more common topics, so this meeting didn't even require an icebreaker. After grabbing our gear, we quickly began our nature observation in Cangshan. Starting from the parking lot, Sister Phoebe led me as we walked and identified roadside plants and flowers. The first thing that caught our eye was nasturtium, with leaves resembling lotus leaves, lush and vibrant green. "These are edible and taste like wasabi," Sister Phoebe said as she picked a leaf for me to try. Indeed, the more I chewed, the more it felt like a rush to the crown of my head. Along the way, squirrels appeared and disappeared in groups, and the crisp chirping of birds was constant. As we walked, Sister Phoebe showed me two stick insects she had found in Cangshan—one green and the other more brownish—saying they could be my sketching models later. Here I learned about several survival strategies of insects: mimicry, warning coloration, and protection. Stick insects mimic branches to blend into the natural environment, better protecting themselves from predators. Ladybugs, on the other hand, use bright and colorful patterns to signal that they are poisonous or taste bad. Regarding this, a guest from Australia once explained to Sister Phoebe the difference between imitation and camouflage in the insect world: hoverflies look like bees, which is imitation, while stick insects pretending to be twigs is camouflage. Sister Phoebe then pulled out a tightly wrapped tissue from her pocket, and inside were over 50 stick insect eggs. As we walked, she scattered the eggs in the grass, saying she hoped to see them grow up healthy next time. (Fuzzy peaches on a tree in Cangshan) The weather in Dali is unpredictable, changing rapidly. It started as a scorching sunny day, but soon showed signs of rain. To protect our nature observation notes, we observed while holding umbrellas, but the dark clouds showed no mercy. The rain grew heavier, and we had to walk forward to the Mountain God Temple for shelter. The Mountain God Temple is located halfway up the mountain, a semi-open wooden structure. The temple is small, with walls covered in various Spanish and Chinese writings, and someone even copied a passage of the Heart Sutra. Sister Phoebe told me that Dali was originally discovered by hippies as a hidden gem—fun and inexpensive—so there are many foreigners. The raindrops fell from the sky, hitting the wooden eaves and then the ground. We listened to the white noise of nature, enjoying snacks while waiting for the rain to stop. (Fruits, snacks, and warm white tea brought by Sister Phoebe) Once the sky cleared, we continued up the mountain path. We encountered a five-petaled white flower, neatly arranged. Sister Phoebe said it was called "sou shu" (deutzia), where "sou" means urine and "shu" means dredging, so this flower is very diuretic. A unique name that made it memorable for me. (Deutzia, a pretty and functional little flower) Along the way, we saw clusters of wild berries called "elliptic raspberries." Orange-yellow ones were ripe. Sister Phoebe told me they were edible, and the secret to picking sweet ones was that they would fall off with a gentle touch. The berries within reach didn't look very ripe, but with the mindset of "since we're here," I tried one. Unfortunately, my face contorted after three seconds—intense sourness mixed with a lingering astringency. Sister Phoebe laughed at my expression, and we persisted until we found berries that met the sweetness standard. Dali has a certain artistry in naming. Insects with "li" (beautiful) in their names are usually pretty, like the beautiful burying beetle or the beautiful click beetle. Plants with "cai" (vegetable) in their names are generally edible; those with "shen" (ginseng) usually have medicinal roots... Some names are based on harvest time, like "planting rice raspberry," "rice-inserting raspberry," "silk-spinning flower," "broad bean," etc.—simple and down-to-earth. Further up, we reached the last rest stop, and it was almost dark. With Sister Phoebe's help, I completed my nature observation notes, and we packed up to descend. (Completed nature observation notes, recording the various plants and animals we saw today) On the way down, we talked about Dali's folk stories. Sister Phoebe said the Bai people have beliefs, and someone once released a rooster on the mountain because they believed roosters are spiritual creatures that can communicate with spirits. For a while, every time she sat on her picnic mat, the rooster would come looking for food. But eventually, the rooster fell victim to the natural food chain: it was eaten by a leopard cat, which only ate the best parts, leaving the rest to be decomposed by burying beetles. Burying beetles are known for cleaning up corpses, acting as the insect world's scavengers, and they are also helpful in crime investigations. However, burying beetles have a deep, bone-penetrating smell of decay, though Sister Phoebe had never actually smelled it. This piqued our curiosity. Near the foot of the mountain, we heard the sound of flowing spring water. Sister Phoebe told me there was a wild mountain spring. Curious, I went over to look: the spring was clear water gushing from underground, sometimes calm, sometimes bubbling vigorously with a "gurgle" sound. I named it "Gurgle Gurgle Wild Mountain Spring." The water was crystal clear, and there was a small bowl nearby, left by someone. Sister Phoebe said locals might drink from it, but for health reasons, it's better not to. We passed by the sunset, and the clouds quietly hid. Sister Phoebe gave me a handmade guide to local plants and animals, marking the end of this interesting journey. "The stream in the valley sings, winding around rocks and through flowers. It doesn't know where it's going, but it's always full of joy." (A full 4-page guide, many thanks to Sister Phoebe for designing this thoughtful observation experience)

A particularly great experience. Yesterday, I brought my newborn one-month-old little ones, Shanbao and Haibao, along with their mother, to participate in Teacher Phoebe's nature observation activity. Phoebe prepared many fun tools for everyone, carefully printed photos and names (in Chinese and English) of some insects and plants in advance, and patiently explained them to us in nature with real objects along the way. The children quickly immersed themselves in nature, playing with the little bugs. As a parent who has lived in Dali for 10 years and often does outdoor activities, I think this was a very vivid nature lesson. I learned a lot of new knowledge, such as edible wild vegetables and the characteristics of insects. The tea break in the mountains was also excellent, with exquisite preparation and beautiful presentation. We tasted A Jin's Cangshan white tea halfway up the mountain, along with some special snacks and fruits. In short, I recommend this experience to everyone.

A journey full of surprises. Feibi's love for nature also infected the children, teaching them a lot about insects and plants. As an accompanying adult, I also benefited greatly.

For friends coming to Cangshan, I highly recommend the activities led by Teacher Phoebe! Teacher Phoebe is an amazing observer and guide. Following her, you will feel broadness, sincerity, friendliness, and a great love for animals and plants, as well as rich knowledge in other areas and a high level of understanding. On a small path up Cangshan, there are so many animals, plants, and even unexpected humans with incredible stories. Nature comforts everything. Looking forward to following her again!

This trip to Dali, following Phoebe's nature observation activity, was the most unforgettable and impressive part of the entire journey. Phoebe's explanations were so vivid. Her words, 'Once you get to know something, you'll find it everywhere around you,' really struck me. The world of ordinary flowers and plants suddenly had names, stories, and unique meanings. The whole world came alive, becoming incredibly rich and vibrant. On the way there and back, we encountered light rain and were lucky enough to see a rainbow. Along the way, we got to know many flowers and plants that we often see but never knew the names of. In March and April, there weren't many insects, but the kids had a great time stopping and starting, climbing the mountain with joy. After returning, they kept thinking about finding wild pea whistles and had a blast. In the evening, Phoebe shared the photos she took that day along with related materials in the group, helping us review and deepen our memories. She also generously gave us a picture book she translated herself, which the kids absolutely loved. They take it out to read every day after coming home. Both children and adults gained so much. I sincerely thank Phoebe for such a warm and meaningful nature experience!

I joined Teacher Phoebe's nature journal activity, an insect and plant observation experience. I'm especially grateful to all the teachers for providing such a vivid and unique nature class today. It was the most impressive and fun half-day of my Yunnan trip. I learned about and got to know many treasures of Cangshan. Thank you all!

I really enjoyed her tour! She speaks really good English and Japanese. I totally recommend you. It was really fun to know about Chinese plants, specifically Yunnan or Dali original plants. And also was nice to feel Dali's farmer people life. The place she takes me was vegetable and tea fields area, it was really beautiful. Thank you so much Phoebe!

I booked Phoebe's nature plant observation tour. A young, knowledgeable female guide softly introduced the plants and animals along the way. As city-dwelling migratory birds, we learned a lot about different flora and fauna. Life can be diverse. In the special natural environment, my soul was cleansed, and both body and mind received energy from nature. It's very suitable for busy people like us living in big cities. Walking through the mountains, seeing the hills, streams, and sunshine, the energy of nature is truly wonderful.

I joined a nature observation hiking trip at the foot of Cangshan Mountain. Children seem naturally full of interest in plants, animals, and insects. They kept looking down and discovering surprises along the way. Everyone smelled flowers and tasted leaves. For the first time, we slowly walked into the mountains and carefully observed those small lives we had often overlooked: stick insects, ladybugs, grasshoppers, and many other insects whose names we didn’t know. The world suddenly became concrete and vivid. Our guide this time was Phoebe, a freelance translator of Japanese, French, and English. She has translated and published many books on nature and plants and has long moved between different cultures. Accompanying us was Teacher Xiangyang, a native of Hunan who chose to live in Dali after working in Beijing for over twenty years. He helped us rediscover those easily overlooked existences. Following them felt like opening a door to a world we had never stopped to explore. The children gently placed the small animals they caught into boxes, put the picked flowers and fruits into bags, and washed stones by an unexpected natural spring—as if collecting fragments of nature. The mountain breeze blew, and everything slowed down. Suddenly, I realized that besides constantly moving forward, we might also need the ability to pause and observe in the ordinary. We can focus on the journey while also taking time to feel the seasons and all things. Work hard, play hard. Explore the world outward, but don’t forget to give yourself a slow moment.

This is my second time joining Cangshan Hiking Home’s activity. Since I love plants and hiking and have just started learning botanical painting, observing Cangshan’s plants directly through hiking, combined with hand-drawing, deepens my impression. Phoebe is a guide who loves plants and nature. Despite her not-so-tall stature, she carries a bunch of tools, including tea and fruit. When introducing plants, she is extremely detailed, as if wanting to pour out all her knowledge. As a result, it was almost dark when we descended the mountain, and she still had to share photos with us afterward. I personally think this course offers great value for money. I will join again if I have the chance! Keep it up, Phoebe!

I joined Phoebe's nature observation tour. Phoebe is incredibly patient and knowledgeable, and she can explain things bilingually in Chinese and English—she's a true hidden gem. Her nature journal is detailed and beautiful. She's someone who loves life and has a free spirit. I hope everyone can observe the beautiful natural world of Dali with her.

Following Phoebe and Xiangyang from the foot of the mountain, I was immediately stunned by stick insects, stink bugs, and banded-legged grasshoppers. Luckily, winter isn't the peak season for insects. After that, aside from the golden orb-weaver spider and the egg case of the Chinese mantis, there were no more scary bugs along the way. Along the trail, I tasted nasturtium with a wasabi-like flavor, smelled the oil of Yunnan poplar, nibbled on an unripe buckwheat seed, clipped a piece of horsetail onto my eyebrows, saw bubbling springs, rubbed the leaves of blue gum, Sichuan pepper, mugwort, and lemongrass, carefully studied the differences between stinging nettle and ramie, and saw the invasive Crofton weed and the galls of its natural enemy, the gall fly... I took notes like crazy. But the happiest moment was meeting a quiet stick insect model that stayed still on my arm for five minutes while I slowly drew it. As someone who is extremely afraid of bugs, it's hard to imagine that I would one day genuinely find a bug cute (maybe it's a personality thing—introverts and introverted bugs have some resonance). Walking in the mountains on a sunny day, listening to Phoebe and Xiangyang patiently introduce the plants we passed, watching the elderly couple enthusiastically take photos, and picking up colored pencils to sketch what I saw—five hours passed slowly and immersively, leaving a quiet and wonderful mark on my heart. When I return to the city, I want to keep my curious eyes.

Following Phoebe up the mountain to do nature observation journaling, the kids learned a lot about plants. In winter, there are no bugs but there are birds and squirrels. Phoebe was very patient and took us to the highest point for a view. The afternoon tea at the summit was also very generous. A great experience!

Following guide Phoebe on Cangshan, I learned about many interesting plants and small insects. I was deeply impressed by the mantis egg case, the gall fly on the destructive weed, the silverback fern, and the extrafloral nectaries. Getting stung by the nettle that you can't touch but can eat was also part of the fun experience, haha. This plant really knows how to protect itself. I realized how limited our understanding of the world is. The same place becomes completely different with a different perspective. Plants and animals are truly full of wisdom. Throughout the journey, I felt Phoebe's professionalism, seriousness, and love for nature, which infected me! Opening up a new world, thank you.

My child is not yet 3 years old, so why did we still choose Phoebe's Mini Nature Observation? Perhaps because I, as a mom, love to 'play' too much—I haven't hiked for too long and miss the feeling of 'being on the road.' Luckily, we met Phoebe. She was patient, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable, clearing all possible concerns during the trip and helping our 2-year-8-month-old baby complete his first deep contact with nature. So along the way, we encountered the tranquility of 'deep forest with lush grass,' the surprise of accidentally touching a stick insect disguised as a dry branch, the healing feeling of pushing through bushes to find a clear spring following the sound of water, and the sudden openness after climbing high to see the vast sky and earth. Don't overthink it—go see, go listen, go experience it yourself. Nature never disappoints those who set out.

Today was our first time joining an activity. Our family of three signed up for Phoebe's mini nature observation, and the experience exceeded expectations! Our little one loves catching insects. Phoebe and Yoyo were meticulous and patient, not only teaching about various plants and animals but also providing great emotional support. Our child saw a stick insect for the first time and was extremely excited. The unexpected picnic session was also fantastic—kudos to the teachers for carrying so much stuff up the mountain. Throughout the process, we could feel the teachers' deep love for nature. It was wonderful, and we will definitely join more activities in the future.

Getting close to nature Feifei's first mini hike She walked for four hours in the mountain canyon, tasted grass, caught bugs, and learned about many plants. I recommend everyone to come and play with the interesting and knowledgeable Teacher Phoebe.

I don't know why, but I had imagined Phoebe to be slow, soft-spoken, and knowledgeable before I met her. Our slow-paced family happened to fit perfectly with Phoebe. That's not a big deal. I knew the guides had prepared tea for the adults, but I didn't know they also had natural, caffeine-free drinks for the kids. They provided shoe covers based on the weather and trail conditions. The shoe covers were of good quality, but mine still got water in them. Phoebe ran around to find me a new pair. My child opened a pack of cookies but couldn't finish them, and we parents didn't want them either. Phoebe took them and finished the leftover cookies. Along the way, Phoebe picked up trash on the mountain, cut away the stinging nettles, and carried the trash all the way home to dispose of it. It's these little details that filled us with gratitude.

Before going to the nature observation, I didn't expect my child to be so interested. He didn't even need time to adapt; he started asking questions from the foot of the mountain. The activity began with eating nasturtiums (amazing, I can clearly remember the name). Phoebe said the French use the leaves in salads. It really tasted like wasabi. Xia Zhi took a bite and then picked a leaf to put in a box for insects to eat. Along the way, there were three families with four adults and four kids. The three guides were very patient, carefully finding insects and plants for the kids to observe. Maybe because I felt safe, even I, who is afraid of bugs, found many insects cute. Phoebe was like an encyclopedia, gentle and patient. She even gave my child a picture book she translated. He opened it in the car and said it was great. The activity prepared several picture cards for each kid, showing insects and plants they might see. The kids were as excited as if they were looking for treasure. Although the overall intensity wasn't high, it was my child's first time walking on mountain paths and wading through puddles. His cooperation exceeded my expectations. After the activity, Phoebe even annotated the photos of insects and plants she took. It was really great!

Nature is a living textbook. The child participated in the activity alone with the teacher and other parents and friends. From full of curiosity at the beginning to persisting until the end even when encountering difficulties, it was truly rewarding and joyful. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, we couldn't join the mushroom picking activity. If there's a chance, I'd like to participate in more activities of Cangshan Hiking. Hope Cangshan Hiking gets better and better.

Teacher Phoebe's insect camp was the main event of this Dali trip, and it did not disappoint. Teacher Phoebe is very patient, explaining every insect and plant along the way in detail. Suitable for kids interested in insects and plants.

I joined Phoebe's Mini Nature Observation. Very lucky to see many plants and insects that are usually unseen, and also spotted a white-bellied tragopan, picked up four feathers. The guide carefully prepared tea and snacks, and various observation equipment. Their knowledge base is also very rich. After the trip, they sent many photos taken during the journey and answered various questions. Highly recommend everyone to get to know a different Dali through this way. An unforgettable experience! A wonderful day!

We have a five-and-a-half-year-old girl who loves insects. When we came to Dali, we experienced Teacher Phoebe's nature observation class. Although the weather was bad, it didn't affect our mood to explore the mountains at all. We observed many insects—some familiar but not well-known, some seen in picture books, some heard of but never seen, and even some we had never heard of. We explored and laughed all the way. Teacher Phoebe is gentle and meticulous, and Teacher YOYO is very lively. The kids quickly became close to the teachers. Meeting such a good teacher during mountain observation is truly a blessing.

Ha, it was my first time participating in Phoebe's activity in the rain, and also my first time having such a feeling. We took shelter from the rain in a mountain temple covered with various foreign language graffiti, spread out a picnic mat to eat, and drank hot tea. A little friend traveling with us said it felt surreal, and I deeply agreed. I felt like a swordsman from an old novel waiting for the rain to stop, not knowing when it would stop or when to re-enter the world, both melancholy and satisfied—so magical [spinning around].

Considering my child's and my own physical limitations, I chose the shortest hiking route. I even changed my original itinerary for this hike, but it was really great! The child was as outgoing as ever, made friends with Ajin, and was excitedly searching for insects the whole way, though still a bit scared. But with Teacher Phoebe, we learned that some plants shouldn't be touched, that little insects won't attack us proactively, that some plants are fragrant, and some are fun. Thank you to Phoebe and Ajin for carrying such heavy loads and taking so many beautiful photos. I'll definitely come back to see you next time!

Phoebe led a mini nature observation. The weather wasn't the best, but Phoebe came well-prepared with shoe covers and rain gear. We learned a lot along the way, and the kids overcame their fear of getting dirty and learned a great deal.

Two days ago, I joined Phoebe's mini hiking nature journal activity. Phoebe is doing the job I dream of—being a hiking guide. In 2022, I brought Shusha, who was five months old, to climb Cangshan. This is the second time I've brought her; she's three now. Phoebe prepared raincoats and insect-catching clips for us. Catching bugs was easy for us, but Phoebe dared to catch a giant stink bug with her bare hands—I truly admire that. I could feel her passion for this job. In this little world, people become soft. Go into nature—it has everything and lacks nothing.

Just finished looking at the photos! Thank you so much to the three teachers, Phoebe, Xiangyang, and Bobo! They gave both the kids and adults a very unique experience. Will join again if there's a chance.

I highly recommend the Mini Nature Observation activity. Guide Phoebe took us to find bugs, eat flowers, and smell leaves, explaining the interdependent and adversarial relationships between plants and insects in nature. The leaves of nasturtium actually taste like wasabi. There is a flower called 'touch me not.' The colors of ladybugs are warning colors. Stick insects are so gentle. It was truly eye-opening! Kids can check off the bugs and plants they find using the pictures Phoebe prepared. There is also a nature group for sharing. We even discovered a wild spring and had a picnic on the mountaintop. It was amazing!

The hiking route had stunning scenery, and the kids were super happy! We observed plants and insects along the way and listened to Teacher Phoebe's explanations. The kids marked the insects and plants they saw in their own notebooks. It fully stimulated their desire to explore, their thirst for knowledge, and their curiosity about nature. Meeting Phoebe was truly a stroke of luck~

Thank you, Phoebe, not only for generously sharing your knowledge during the activity, but also for staying up so late to debrief. It taught both adults and children professional knowledge, and more importantly, showed the kids the power of passion. Also, thank you, Youyou, for explaining things along the way, taking us to Dali University, and guiding us to the amazing barbecue we loved. Bobo was the joy of the kids throughout the journey. A perfect tour. I feel so grateful and lucky. Wishing everyone all the best.

Under Phoebe's guidance, we successfully completed the hike with a 6-year-old and a 2-year-old. Along the way, we looked for small insects, and the kids learned while having fun. At the top of the mountain, there was hot tea and snacks, a perfect mountaintop picnic with a distant view of Erhai Lake. It was a very thoughtful activity. Grateful to have met you.

My kid is obsessed with insects, so we arranged a half-day insect hunt. Under the guidance of guide Phoebe, my child explored the insect world in nature like a little observer. The guide was professional and meticulous—not only a walking encyclopedia but also a freelance translator in English, Japanese, and French. After the activity, she even gave us a book she translated. This trip was perfect and rewarding.

Thank you, Teacher Phoebe, for taking care of us yesterday. My child said you were so gentle and shared a lot of nature knowledge with me. Also, thank you for the book you gave—my kid finished it overnight before sleeping. Looking forward to meeting again next time.

Mini Nature Observation - Phoebe is such an encyclopedia.

Spent 4 hours on the mountain with Phoebe. My kid walked the whole way without any fuss, which was unexpected.

Today Phoebe took us to look for insects and explore plants. I felt that all living things are in the mountains and fields, and I’m a little less afraid of insects now. The kids were so excited to see insects, their eyes lit up. They would exclaim when encountering amazing insects and interesting plants, playing in various ways. One kid held a taro leaf and said he was Totoro waiting for the Catbus. Today, Bubu made some new friends. Everyone returned to nature to explore the unknown, exclaiming along the way, and we also enjoyed a picnic in the cool shade on the mountain. Another fulfilling and free day #LittleDiary

A wonderful journey. The kid was excited the whole time. Thank you. The kid was in great shape; maybe it won’t be long before we can upgrade to a full-day nature observation.

After coming back, I played with the treasures. You explained so well. Your passion and dedication are especially infectious. A really great experience.