A Day in the Mountain Village of Xipo 여행자 리뷰

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The experience was really great. My daughter got to experience a different kind of farm life. The little animals were all very cute. We ate well and had fun. The mountain air was so fresh, and it felt like my whole body and mind were relaxed. Guide Hanhan was excellent and very responsible. Awesome, awesome, awesome.

Tuning into life's frequency on Cangshan Mountain. As long as we are still perceiving nature, we are infinitely close to peace and freedom. Thank you to Xiaoqi (not sure if I got the name right, anyway a long-haired handsome guy) for accompanying us. He was very patient and knew every plant on the mountain well, introducing them as if they were his own friends. He looks wild and free-spirited but is actually very attentive. He also prepared tea and delicious bayberries for us to rest on the mountain. A very comfortable day of experience.

Spent a full day somewhere in the Cangshan mountains with the funniest local guide, trying to communicate with bits of English (thank you for translating, Yu),a little Cantonese, and my very limited, barely existing, Mandarin(I really need to learn). Xiaoqi drove us deep into the hills, bringing us to a Yunnan family living in the mountains. With ingredients and produce from their land and farm,they cooked organic,homemade dishes for us:fern, broad beans, home-aged ham,different vegetables, corn from the land, and tomato eggs, all of which tasted so good and wholesome.Home-cooked meals made by grandmas are my favourite,no restaurant could beat them for me. We walked through forests,hills,and meadows,meeting a very sweet grandma who lives alone in the mountains along the way, with Xiaoqi telling us more about all the Dali flora, introducing us to the flavours of local edible plants and flowers, and taking in the changing landscapes,all accompanied by the mountain family's sweet little dog. I found a new favourite fruit named bayberries (sweet, sour, refreshing and pretty) and witnessed the sunset from within a car, while Xiaoqi drove us in his van out of the mountains, back to the city.Something about watching the sunset while driving with the windows open... WhatI found most affecting was how connected to nature Xiaoqi seemed,and even though he does this hike quite often,he still seems in awe of everything. A day without any reception,but didn't miss it once

Following the guide into the mountains, we arrived at Gualaban in Yangjiang Town. Deep inside, there was a farmhouse with a peony tree. The cows were mooing loudly from hunger. After passing the alpine meadow, we entered the forest. Avoiding the nettles, we first encountered Nepalese alder, then saw many rhododendron trees in the mountains, still in bloom, a vast expanse of blood red. (Pictures 10 and 11 are the rhododendrons) The guide made straws from the stems for us to drink the rhododendron nectar. Then there were large high-altitude banyan trees, poplars, and a swing made from kudzu roots. We took turns sitting on it. The big trees often had hollows big enough for a person to stand inside. There were also some ancient trees that had been cut down, leaving thick stumps. In the damp areas, the tree trunks were always covered with lichen and moss. There were also some blue and yellow fungi. The guide said it's the windy season now, and by summer, these colorful trunks will produce mushrooms of the same colors. The endpoint was a pasture with a long stone wall, said to have been built by an old man over a long time by himself. Later, the old man no longer lived there, and occasionally other families came to graze. So we encountered yellow cattle and black sheep. Many people had also placed beehives there, which I saw for the first time. In the city, people always feel anxious and tense. But in the mountains, with no signal, you just keep walking, and every time you gain energy from nature.

If I hadn't signed up for the OTC town project, I might never have ridden in such a cool-looking car. Our guide and driver, He Chen, was patient and knowledgeable throughout the journey, sharing a wealth of information. He also brought snacks and drinks for a mid-trip tea break. The local family's home where we had lunch was clean and tidy, and the food was delicious. The scenery along the way goes without saying. This is the beauty of following OTC's specially designed routes. In short, it was fantastic. My friend and I are already looking forward to experiencing OTC's unique offerings again.

Drove until the navigation signal disappeared, arriving at the deepest household in the mountains. From here, we started our exploration journey~ Along the way, we encountered many rare plants, picked various mushrooms of different shapes under tree shades and beside rocks. The half-man-high ferns were like an emerald ocean. The alpine meadow pasture was perfect for grazing cattle and sheep~ The guide knew a lot about local folk customs and recognized many plants. He kept explaining along the way, and I learned a lot. During a rest on the meadow, the guide brought tea, snacks, and fruits for everyone to enjoy—great service. The farmhouse meal was unexpectedly delicious. Worth the trip.

Thank you to the three guides for bringing us endless joy on this hike on the western slope of Cangshan Mountain. It was not only a physical challenge, but also a spiritual cleansing. Here, you can feel the magnificence and mystery of nature and experience the unique charm of hiking.

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!

Trustworthy Cangshan Hiking Home. The guides are especially fun, and the routes are exclusive. Worth experiencing.

The west slope of Cangshan has very few tourists, suitable for those who dislike crowds. It's about an hour and a half drive from the ancient city area to the destination, and the hike takes about 4 hours. The trail is not particularly difficult but some parts are slippery, so wear appropriate shoes. Pay attention to sun protection; it's very sunny in open areas without tree shade. The scenery is nice and natural, with little trace of human activity except for a few farmhouses. You can see livestock like cattle and sheep. Guide He is knowledgeable and agile, explaining many facts about plants and animals along the way. Sister Ayan's home serves home-style farm dishes, very homely, and there are two cute little dogs. Overall, it's a complete experience suitable for most age groups with good mobility.

This time I brought a group of 7, including elderly and children, and was very anxious before the trip. The weather was uncooperative with continuous rain, I didn't know the mountain conditions, and my 4.5-year-old child fell ill temporarily... But my first communication with He Chen dispelled all concerns. He was direct and efficient, fully considering our various needs. Although it kept raining, the final trip turned out better than expected. He Chen and Xiao Qi split into two groups, leading the adventure team and the leisure team to experience different scenery, allowing us to feel the freedom, wilderness, professionalism, and enthusiasm of the new Dali locals. We saw diverse and resilient plants in nature, experienced the joy of hiking in the rain, exercised our bodies, and nourished our souls. The stream waterfall and the sound of flowing water seemed like Cangshan welcoming us. We had two meals at Ayan's house, all with freshly picked mountain vegetables and homemade ham, which the elderly and children enjoyed. This trip is much more interesting than streets full of photo shoots and guesthouses, and better allows you to experience Dali's slow life. Of course, He Chen and Xiao Qi are the most important factors; I hope everyone has the chance to experience it.

Three consecutive days of hiking in Dali. It was great. Elephant led the kids to pick mushrooms. Aruna and Xiaoqi took us boating on the misty West Lake. Hanhan and Xiaochun accompanied us on the one-day trip to Xipo. Each guide has extensive knowledge and experience, and chatting with them during the journey was also rewarding. Special thanks to the good dogs Zamao and Dangeng for their protection. Heart.

The guides were all very professional, attentive, and also very fun. We had many children in our group, and they were well taken care of. Everyone had a great time. Tailor's national treasure watched over us like a shepherd, afraid that someone might fall behind. The lunch and dinner at Auntie's house were unexpectedly delicious. In short, it was an unforgettable and worthwhile trip.

I'm Leanne Kitchen; I live in Sydney. I'm a food and travel writer. I've been coming to China for decades and it's a place I love and feel comfortable in. I've seen many parts of it and have had incredible experiences… but the trip I went on with you recently to forage on west Cangshan Mts and dine with locals was one of the best ever. It was amazing; I loved it all. The family are lovely and extremely good cooks; the food was so delicious. Hechen is such a great guy! I just love how non-stereotypical what you guys do is. They are so knowledgeable and very into what they do. Really impressive.

Today we had a pig-killing feast in Yangbi on the back side of Cangshan and did a little hike. I didn't expect that besides the brilliant and tall camellias, the warm weather this year has also caused some ancient rhododendron trees to bloom. It's only January!

Guide @Aruna was meticulous and patient, showing us many different landscapes! The scenery was perfect. I can imagine how beautiful it would be with snow-capped mountains and rhododendrons in bloom.

To reach the west slope of Cangshan, you have to traverse very winding and narrow mountain roads. The valley scenery is completely different from the Dali side of Cangshan. It has walnut groves, small forests, streams, pastures, and most importantly, the rustic charm of mountain homes. There's too much information for my brain to handle. We ate cured meat, eggs, mushrooms, and... (forgot). What were the names of all those fungi, ferns, flowers, and trees we saw? (can't remember). What stream, what dam, what flat ground... I don't remember any of it. I really admire the guide for knowing so much and remembering it all. All I remember is that whenever we sat down, a few of us kept peeling freshly picked raw walnuts and dipping them in honey, unable to stop eating.

Thank you to He Chen, Yanyan, and A Yan's family for their hospitality. We had a wonderful day at Xipo. Right from the start, He Chen began picking various plants and explaining them one by one—from gentian to motherwort—making you feel like the whole mountain is full of treasures. There were no mushrooms this season, but under He Chen's explanation, various lichens opened the door to another microscopic world. The two guides also had youthful spirits; the three kids with us followed along, stream trekking, climbing trees, and skipping stones—having a blast. Around noon, the weather was good, so we basked in the warm winter sun and listened to the wind in the forest—it was refreshing for both body and mind. On the way down, chatting with He Chen about local customs, religion, and history, we unknowingly reached the end. At A Yan's house, she served us the best dishes from her home: crispy wild mushrooms,crystal clear homemade cured pork face stuffed mushrooms—all rare delicacies. Thank you to a group of interesting people for a special Lunar New Year's Day.

Happy! Passionate and professional plant teacher, energetic twin sisters, cute dog, delicious picnic, lonely century-old giant trees, tiny lichens that survive mass extinctions, camellias blooming alone unknown to anyone, parasitic mistletoe always finding a way to survive... a perfect day!

Without hesitation 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...

Come when you need healing! Xipo is a place where the mundane and the ethereal coexist. You can experience the simple life of mountain dwellers, and at every step, enjoy the surprises the primeval forest brings. After an hour and a half drive, we arrived at A Yan's house and saw how mountain people live around the fire pit. After lunch, A Yan's second child accompanied us up the mountain. The rain cleared as we ascended, mushrooms were everywhere, and the vegetation was dense. At the stream, we encountered heavy rain, calmly sipped coffee mixed with Dali Tuo tea under the rhododendron trees, then got bitten by a leech and stung by stinging nettles—marks of our visit. On the way down, a light drizzle fell. As we hurried, I tried to recall the plant names introduced by guide He Chen, but my mind was blank. Just as I thought I'd search them up later, we suddenly ran into a herd of cows out for a stroll. My kid said we were walking into the pasture like the cows, and He Chen remarked, 'It would be nice to be a cow or sheep here.' Really, it was wonderful! We also joined a mushroom-picking activity at the foot of Cangshan. Guide Yang found 18 types of mushrooms in half a day, picked out edible ones, and stir-fried them in a neighboring village—a great activity for kids. Cangshan Erhai Hiking Home feels like it's specially designed to sweep away the office vibe. Come when you need healing!

Great service. I was amazed when the guide brought out tea, fruit, and snacks by the stream—they must have carried them all the way! Hard work! The kids had a great experience, and I had a lot of fun too.

Highly recommend Thank you to our guide Xiao Xi for being responsible and attentive, He Chen for the professional and detailed explanations, Hong Hong for the superb photography, and the three dog guides (Dan Geng, Lucky, Oreo) for providing such high emotional value. They accompanied us through a warm and fun journey, allowing my family and me to avoid the crowds in Dali during the Spring Festival and enjoy a peaceful and fulfilling afternoon in the ghostly mountains and pastures. The mountain trails were easy to walk, the scenery was pleasant, and the food was delicious 🥰 Highly recommend~