여행 이야기
산, 마을, 계절, 함께 걷는 사람들에 관한 기록입니다.
Two months ago in Chiang Mai, I stumbled upon the chance to start learning how to build mini programs. My AI programming mentor, Wangshen, told me, 'Once you finish your mini program, write a summary report.' Now I've completed the new mini program for Cangshan Hiking Home, and it's already being tested. It not only solves problems I've wanted to address for a while, like adding age tags to filter activities and providing an English version, but it has also introduced new features, such as browsing restaurants, guesthouses, and meeting points on a map for a more intuitive experience, and using AI to provide quite intelligent responses.
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Learn AI Programming Together
Some information about AI programming
계속 읽기Celebrate the Torch Festival in a Nanzhao Royal Clan Village
Over the past two years, we have taken guests to celebrate the Torch Festival in Songhe Village, Eryuan. Together we slaughtered a sheep, and with the whole village, erected a huge torch in the center of the village square. Everyone made their own torches from hemp stalks, and together with the older and younger villagers, we rushed to grab the blessing baba (cakes) from the big torch, passing blessings to each other with fire. Even for me, a native Bai person, these are rare and precious traditional festival experiences. Dali has endless festivals, and I want to experience them more before they fade away. I remember the Torch Festival of my childhood: torches were no longer enough for me. Before the festival, I would tell my dad to prepare a bucket of waste engine oil and diesel, mix them together, and then I would tightly bind cotton and old cloth with rope into a ball (some kids would secretly take cotton from their quilts at home to make it). Finally, I would make an iron wire ball, soak it in the bucket of oil, and secretly take it out every day to look at it, looking forward to having a great time on the day of the Torch Festival. We would compete in the village and by the rice fields to see whose fireball or torch was more impressive. When the torches and fireballs were almost burned out, we would rush home, walk around the potted fruit trees in circles, and say blessing words, hoping they would grow even better in the coming year.
계속 읽기Qi Lin | April · Mangkuan
Foreword: Two years later, I invited a favorite guest to write again. The text Qi Lin sent back brought the wind of the Nu River, along with our longing for Huang Ping. Over a month ago, the evening breeze of the Nu River blew. At that time, little Huang Ping was too small, looking up at me, unable to climb onto the rock where I sat. Wangwang, April 2026
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Huanxi Coffee's Sister Eleven | Green Plum & Honey
On the 7th day in the village, the sky was brilliantly clear. I saw that this year's green plum season was coming to an end, so let's go check out the place where green plums are produced—Songhe Village in Eryuan. Fresh honey, freshly picked green plums, homemade green plum wine, and the farm uncle's cured meat claypot rice—spending a simple and peaceful day surrounded by mountains.
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Ajin | Stories Within Stories
Last year at Wayuan I didn't yet have the awareness to write stories; I only occasionally recorded some bizarre dreams. One morning when I woke up, I shared with Yuanjun a story I had written on a whim: The Art of Wave Riding, a story about a young man who controls the waves, based on our mutual friend Xiaohei. Xiaohei poops in the water, farts in the water, does everything in the water—that's his life. Yuanjun was very excited as he described his feelings after hearing the story, and encouraged me to keep writing. Later, I began to consciously choose to listen to the stories of friends around me, using their real experiences as a foundation to start writing. Originally my goal was thirty stories, but Banxie said that was too few; eighty would be enough for publication. So far I have written: Golden Dream, Urgent as Fire, Cloud Infant, Mountain-Summoning Talisman, Mountain Ghost Money, Beauty Festival, Popcorn Pill, The Art of Wave Riding, Eternal Wonder Qing, Porcelain Fragment Person, Red Bird, and so on—about fifteen stories in total. That day Lina and Ranjie came, and their encouragement made me realize I could connect these stories with my actual life. So I launched an activity: 'Writing Poems and Telling Stories in the Forest.' This plan also received Jason's instant like, instant reply, and instant support.
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Where We Come From | Cangshan Hiking Family
Our beginnings, the process of formation, and some of the future
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Summer Notes - Reflections on the Role of 'Captain'
Recent events and people have prompted me to reflect on the role I play as 'Captain': In early June, I initiated another sailing expedition, using AI Deepseek to compile my resume and experience. As a recruitment post for the activity, I naturally packaged and published my bright and shiny side. However, through communication with those interested and some people I recently met, I discovered some other perspectives...
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DD | Back in Dali for Five Days
Back in Dali for five days, returning to the fields, daily routines, and physical practice, life is becoming more hopeful step by step.
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Tuohulasu Grassland
Tuohulasu Grassland, the nearest grassland to Yining. Among paid grasslands, its scenery is not inferior to those famous grasslands where you pay 150 to 200 per person for self-driving. Since very few people go to Tuohulasu Grassland, the experience is very good. On the one-day self-driving trip to Tuohulasu, you will have hotpot at noon. Having hotpot on the grassland surrounded by green is a wonderful thing in life. Tuohulasu is also a pasture for the Kazakh people. During the self-driving, you will encounter herders driving
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Cattle, Horse, and Sheep Grand Bazaar
Xinjiang's absolute must-see is the local bazaar (market). Speaking of bazaars, the most distinctive in Xinjiang is the cattle, horse, and sheep bazaar. The largest one in northern Xinjiang is in Ili. The grand bazaar is not held every day but at specific times—three times a week. I was fortunate to take part in a Xinjiang cattle, horse, and sheep bazaar up close. We set off at 10 a.m. and arrived at the bazaar just after 11. By then, trucks carrying cattle and sheep had already formed long queues.
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Yizhao Highway
The Yizhao Highway is known as 'Little Duku' (open for only about 3 months each year). This Tianshan scenic road connects Yining to Zhaosu, stretching over 130 kilometers and crossing the Wusun Mountains at an altitude of over 3,100 meters. Along the way, it links snow-capped mountains, grasslands, canyons, forests, flower seas, and pastures together. In just over 130 kilometers, it traverses the Tianshan range, encapsulating the natural beauty of Ili. In my mind, it is one of Xinjiang's most beautiful highways. In the morning, departing from Yining.
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Bee Experience
In nature, there is a group of insects known for their diligence – bees. They evolved from the era of dinosaurs and have survived to this day. They not only provide honey for humans but also complete pollination while obtaining food from flowers. Pollination is the most important part of plant reproduction, and plants and bees carry out the cycle of life in a mutually beneficial way. The first bee experience in Xinjiang began with an encounter that spanned thousands of miles. In April 2025, I received an inquiry about a bee experience. There were two children, aged 3 and 5, and the parent asked if the 3-year-old was too young. My reply was that it might be a bit too small; observing bees would be fine, but they wouldn't fully understand the bee knowledge part. The parent asked for the location and said they would arrange a time. A year later, on May 28, I received a message again. This time it was very direct – they saw I was in Yining and asked when they could schedule a bee experience. The sudden bee experience thus began.
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FAQ Common Questions and Answers
FAQ some common questions
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Consultation Methods
1. For specific activity inquiries: the team leader's WeChat is in the activity introduction. 2. General questions: you can add WeChat: lingjiec Jason if you haven't decided which one to join and need advice. 3. Consultation WeChat group: all team leaders are in this group; you can ask any questions. Daily activity photos are also shared there so you can see what things are really like.
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Jason | "Time Never Returns"
"Just finished reading the article, you were really beautiful back then. Every time I read Jason's writing, there's a touch of melancholy. Maybe he is recording; each piece I read gives me the feeling that time never returns, sadness." Yes, time never returns, whether it's joy or sorrow. More
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Zacaijing | handpoke
When Zhiyin left, she said: "You can tattoo yourself, and maybe you'll learn a new skill." And then, I really did tattoo myself. More
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Wangwang | End of Summer Song
After dinner, we talked about when we first accepted this job. Neither Yang Mi nor I felt happy—only a bit of fluster. How interesting. Later, we discovered how great this job is and why it's great takes a long time to explain. The initial fluster has become very precious. More
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Chen Bali | Notes on Renovating the Courtyard
May 13, 2026. It's 3:30 in the middle of the night. I'm squatting on the toilet without actually using it, just sitting there, scrolling through Jason's article on Moments about his trip to Chiang Mai with Xiao Jing and Xiao Li. I read it with great interest, put out my cigarette, and thought, I want to write something too. Recently, I rented a two-bedroom courtyard in the woods below the Three Pagodas. I'm so excited that I stay up very late every night, my mind full of renovation plans. Living in a standalone courtyard has always been my dream, but with limited funds, I have to do everything myself. A couple of days ago, I laid the wooden flooring, and these past two days I've been leveling the ground, weeding, and clearing new land in the yard. Without experience, I swing a hammer here and use a hoe there, so it's not efficient, but there's some progress each day. Before finishing work, I always sit on the stone slab in the yard, zoning out and admiring my achievements.
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One Point | Five Activities and Six Guides
The five-day trip with Cangshan Hiking Family allowed him to meet six different kinds of people in a very short time (we read the guide biographies carefully). Such wonderful and distinct lives opened a window to the world for him. These experiences will take root in his heart and grow with him. Years later, he could be He Chen, Xiao Li, the tailor, Wang Wang, or any kind of himself he wants to become. More
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Tang Tang | What You Casually Write Down Will Meet the Right Person in Time
Dali took me in for the fourth time, and each time it returned me as a different version of myself. In January 2023, I came for the first time and joined the Huoshan hike organized by Cangshan Hiking Home. The guide back then was He Chen, who had just arrived not long before. He was a quiet, handsome guy with few words. More
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Our Guides & Two Things We Do
Our guides have diverse backgrounds—catering, photography, baking, makeup, whiskey bar, late-night eatery, bookselling, pottery, surfing, cooking—but share a love for nature and travel, and are genuine and willing to share.
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Summer Huang | A Paradise on Earth: Dali
The magic of Cangshan Hiking Home comes from its diverse guides and perceptive guests. This account shares experiences of moss collecting, birdwatching, and the surreal beauty of Eryuan West Lake.
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An Old Memory
Ten years ago, around 2014, I was sitting at the cashier of Dolphin Ade Bookstore. A few minutes earlier, as I was walking down Renmin Road, Ade called me over and asked me to watch the store for a bit while he ran an errand. More
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AB Butterfly | Encountering a Folded World
This is a review I stumbled upon on Dianping, hidden in a place called "Folded Reviews." When I opened it, there were many magical words inside. This is one of them. More
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Qiqi | Dali Bai Torch Festival
The Torch Festival is one of the most important traditional festivals of the Bai ethnic group, held annually on the 25th day of the sixth lunar month. Originating from fire worship, it was also called the "New Fire Festival" in ancient times. Read more.
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Zaza | Post-Resignation Gap [Part 3] Experiencing Dali through Hiking, Stargazing, and Mushroom Picking
Dali has gathered a group of unique people, and the community culture is richer. So this time I also signed up for several activities from Cangshan Hiking Home, hoping to deeply experience Dali like I did in Jiangxi. In fact, these activities were also very memorable. More
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Jason | The Last Week in Kyoto
Today, I am leaving this "three-month dream": living a real life in a completely unfamiliar place—going to school, shopping at the supermarket, cooking, living, cycling into the mountains, and visiting coffee shops. More
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Give Rise to the Mind Without Dwelling Anywhere
In 2012 and 2014, I attempted to survive in Yunnan but failed both times, leaving eventually because of financial constraints. This year is different—when Phoebe officially invited me to be her assistant for her nature journal hiking trips, I was truly happy. I was no longer just a traveler passing through Dali, because I finally had a connection here at the level of making a living. When I arrived at Xishu Bookstore and saw someone had written “Give rise to the mind without dwelling anywhere,” I decided to use that as the title. Phoebe’s mini nature journal hiking activity involves taking children to catch insects in the mountains. Phoebe is also a translator of English and Japanese books; she gave us her translation of Midnight Diner and gave Shusha a Japanese picture book she had translated.
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Jason | Kameda Shogen
Although we didn't get to meet Shogen this time, it seems I've already met him. In fact, I've learned a lot more about him from over a decade ago. Past experiences, present life, and future possibilities all seem to intertwine. Time is quite magical. More
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Phoebe | Shining Days · Just Like a Kid
The highest compliment for you is: acting like a kid. Just like a kid. More
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Going into the Forest to Seek Wild Mushrooms: Which One Suits You?
Even if you don't join a dedicated mushroom-picking activity, there are other ways to discover mushrooms in the forest. Maybe you'll prefer them more.
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Wang Yue | When Parents Are Sick
Written during the darkest moment of an only child - when parents fall ill. More
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Jason | 04.30 Uji
During Japan's Golden Week, school is closed for ten days. The day before the holiday, my homeroom teacher, Mr. Kuroda, told me: 'Chen-san, your last day of school has been changed from June 8th to June 20th.' So I decided to go for a bike ride, planning to make a loop, and if time allowed, ride 250 kilometers to Roku's new home. More
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Jason | Three Weeks in Kyoto: Some Progress and Joy
Happy today: Deposited rent into the housing management company's account at an ATM. Such a small thing made me very happy. More
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Deng Hu Zang | Live in Dali, Die in Dali
Writing this text, exactly on the high-speed train from Kunming back to Dali. I haven't written such a long piece in a long time. Thirteen years of life in Dali keep emerging like the scenery outside the window, and keep disappearing. More
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Zacaojing | Play Diary
Yang Mi eats light food. Old Li disapproves of her cooking and says, 'When we worked together, she made dishes; even if she called me to eat, I wouldn't.' 'Xiao Jing, make two dishes, and there must be meat,' he ordered. He thinks highly of me. 'I won't cook; I'll buy roast duck,' he added. More
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Huanhuan | Sting
Sting bought bread several times, always transferring 200 yuan and letting me deduct the cost. His feedback on the texture reassured me that he truly liked the bread. The one-year bread studio brought kindness from strangers, and Sting remains a warm memory.
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Liangzi | Farewell, Wuliang Mountain, Farewell, Mexican Girl
Life is like a train; friends who ride with you get off first, and one wave goodbye may be forever. More
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First Time Cooking on April 13
Amonad said she would go to Kyoto on Sunday for errands and asked if we could meet. I suggested having a meal together, initially thinking of eating out. At noon, I told her: I'll buy groceries and cook at my dorm. More
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Jason | April 11, My Classmates
Most people come alone, without friends or classmates here, so they quickly get to know each other and discuss basics of adapting to life: renting, buying SIM cards, getting a driver's license, buying daily necessities. After class, if we chat at the smoking area, we often sit a bit longer. More
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Weeds Scenery | April in Dali - Diary
Writing here, I think it was probably this disco ball that gave me some opportunities to understand people. If that day I hadn't taken out the disco ball, everything would have been different. More
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Jason | April 9th, Moved into the Apartment
Today I finally moved into a single room in a rented apartment, so I no longer have to carry my luggage to class. More
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Weeds View | Dali Diary
Different shops, like people, have their own character. Sticking to what makes you unique is what matters most.
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Kyoto: Overnight Internet Cafes and Coffee Shops
Found a good overnight internet cafe and a cozy coffee shop. Starting to feel a little rooted in Kyoto. Just wanted to stay somewhere completely unfamiliar for a while.
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Yanzi | Our Nature Trip
Xiaojing said this season is also nice. When there are mushrooms, our eyes are focused on the mushrooms, so we don't see other things. The treasures we picked up are even more.
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San Nei Croissant
Many people think San Nei is one of those internet-famous shops boosted by Xiaohongshu bloggers. In fact, this shop opened during the pandemic at the end of 2021, and by mid-2022, relying solely on local customers, it had already become a very popular croissant shop and café. More
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Wangwang | Bed Sheets, Quilts, and Books
He Chen and Li Zhenhao, next to the Nature Studio at the foot of the mountain, opened a new space selling bed sheets, quilts, and books. When I first heard this idea, I was taken aback. Bed sheets, quilts, books—seemingly unrelated things, but on reflection, they are connected. More
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Phoebe | Spring Foraging (Part 1)
Xiao Jing said that the foraging team is going to have a wild edible plants party. I heard that everyone will bring various wild greens, and Zhen Hao will bring the nettle I've always wanted to try, so I got excited and applied to join. (Note: Wild greens marked with English in parentheses are also medicinal and edible ingredients in the West)
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Foraging Wild Vegetables, Making Tempura
In the years I have lived in Dali, 'foraging wild vegetables' has become a kind of ritual to welcome spring. If you also enjoy foraging wild vegetables, you are welcome to join us up the mountain.
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Sting and His Wuliang Mountain Coffee Beans
Sting is a special presence in Dali. Although the friends around him are all kinds of extraordinary people, they all respect him. He is a free and self-directed person. My association with him was limited to more than ten years ago, when I met him a few times because I played football with friends from the Bird Bar. Later, I saw him many more times when I went to eat at his salmon restaurant in Sanwenbi. I watched him work, smoke, and observed his furnishings, tableware, and ashtrays. Then in the article below, seeing his coffee utensils, I was quite moved. A person's understanding of things is hidden in these simple details, striking a chord. Because my understanding of him is limited, I found these excellent pieces of writing to present Sting and his coffee. His coffee beans are very simple, three categories, 250g packaging at 55 yuan: 10 (light roast, fruity) 20 (medium roast, aromatic) 30 (deep roast, extra strong) If you want to try the coffee understood by a person who started growing and roasting his own beans before coffee became fashionable, please order a pack. To purchase, add his WeChat: Sting-1122 His Japanese salmon restaurant with friends will also reopen soon at a new location under Wushi Temple. Reposted from WeChat official account: Luye Travel. Author: Qiyue Shang. Date: February 3, 2018. In an old courtyard in Dali, have a cup of brown sugar and ginger coffee. If coffee beans had a choice, They would surely wish to become the beans on Sting's plate, Grown with care, roasted patiently, and brewed freely. 01 On the third day in Dali, the old driver said he would take us to a place where coffee beans are roasted. He said Sting had been a chef in Japan for 20 years, and after returning, he grew coffee beans and roasted them—an interesting man. So we wound through alleys and arrived at an old courtyard that I would never find again even on a second visit. When we caught Sting, he was still basking in the sun in the small garden behind the house, and asked if we wanted coffee. Of course, we had come to leech coffee. Sting showed us his beans. Beside them lay a map with a circle around a place called Wuliang Mountain. He said these beans were grown on Wuliang Mountain. As if learning a person's hometown, the beans suddenly became very familiar and friendly. 02 Sting brewed coffee for us and said apologetically, "I hope you're not put off by such ordinary utensils." How rustic these coffee tools were! Having lived in the city for a long time, we were used to many beautiful utensils. Coffee served in beautiful vessels often seems to taste better. But in this courtyard with vegetables growing, clothes drying, and people repairing shoes and kicking shuttlecocks, none of that seemed to matter. We chatted idly. Sting said the first cup was stronger and could be drunk with some brown sugar and milk, while later cups were not as strong and might need nothing. Then he added, "You can also put brown sugar and ginger, then pour coffee in. The ginger should be peeled. Drinking this in winter is very good." He also suggested pairing coffee with very thinly sliced lemon to taste the contrast between lemon's sourness and coffee's bitterness. Oh, so coffee could be drunk this way! We chatted leisurely and drank the freshly ground small-bean coffee, which suited Yunnan's beautiful weather perfectly. Indeed, we had drunk a lot of cappuccino and latte. But this was the first time, in a simple courtyard, with such rustic utensils, listening to a craftsman who had cooked for 20 years and then grown coffee beans for 7 years talk about the collision of different ingredients. The coffee beans seemed to dance, gaining more flexibility and possibility. 03 Ah, right, I brought back the techniques Sting taught me. From now on, the Luye Cultural and Creative Space also has Wuliang Mountain coffee, lemon coffee, and brown sugar and ginger coffee. There are more possibilities, and I will continue to catch Sting and keep curiously experimenting. A Spoonful of Light | Vol. 02 Wuliang Mountain Coffee (Yunnan small-bean coffee) Address: Dali, Yunnan... in a glowing house. People | Hippie Chef, Coffee Farmer Reposted from WeChat official account: illusion. Date: August 15, 2015. When I first met Sting, I felt he was too cool. First, I was enveloped by his warm hippie-big-shot aura, then conquered by the various delicious dishes he cooked himself. From a master chef to a coffee farmer, Sting has made his home in Dali for four years. Starting with a love for drinking coffee, he later personally drove south with friends like Jia Ju to search for the purest-tasting coffee beans. Through continuous visits and tastings, they finally found the most satisfying flavor in a village north of Wuliang Mountain. Wuliang Mountain is located in the transitional zone between the mid-subtropical and south-subtropical zones in the west of Jingdong County, Pu'er City. With an altitude of 3,306 meters, small annual temperature differences, abundant rainfall, and complex and diverse natural environmental conditions, its unique vertical climate is very suitable for growing Arabica coffee beans. We cooperated with several local farmers who grow at high altitudes and produce high-quality beans. We use no chemical fertilizers or pesticides, only farmyard manure, allowing the coffee trees to grow healthily in their most natural state. The first batch of coffee cherries begins to form in October each year, and the last batch ripens by March the following year. To ensure stable quality and taste, from the moment the cherries are picked, everyone personally handles every step, unlike other coffee brands that directly purchase finished beans processed by the farmers themselves. Fresh coffee cherries are picked and must be sun-dried for at least 40 days, dried day after day by the warmth of the sun and wind, before the husks can be removed to obtain the green coffee beans. The beans are then hand-sorted, graded, and roasted through several steps before reaching our mouths. Many hands make light work. Sting, Jia Ju, and friends created their own brand of Yunnan's native coffee beans. They divided the beans into three roast levels—10, 20, and 30—and also created a custom blend. The packaging comes in two sizes, suitable for both shops and homes. The LOGO and seal design were carved by Xiaomi (Baldhead), and everyone hand-packed the beans. Everything is natural, rustic, and very psychedelic. Now, Wuliang Mountain coffee beans supply several shops in Dali Ancient Town and across Erhai Lake, and have entered some cafés in other cities, beloved by many coffee enthusiasts. The whole process contains not only the gifts of nature—sunshine, rain and dew, wind and thunder—but also the hard work of farmers and the collective support of friends. It is certainly the sweetest bitterness in the world. In the past two years, Sting gets up every morning, first waters the vegetable garden, tends the crops, then roasts coffee beans, screens them, packs them, and then rides his motorcycle around, delivering coffee beans to friends. He said that compared to cooking, he increasingly loves the life of a farmer, because farming is too much fun. The garden grows various organic vegetables for salads, small tomatoes, fennel, sour papaya, pomegranates, etc., and has already begun to supply a few shops in the ancient town for vegetable salads. Whenever friends visit, Sting and Jia Ju first invite them to wander in the garden, share freshly picked fruits, look at the thriving crops, and talk about nature—farming, livelihood, clothing, food. Hardworking people who rely on the heavens for food will always be favored by nature. Thank the "hermits." Photos: Si Si Text: Meng Qi Driver: Su Yang Excerpted from WeChat official account: We Are Happy on the Road. Author: Lai Min. Date: February 13, 2021. Happiness on the Road 12 "Later, she (Wang Dan) took me around Dali Ancient Town, eating all the snacks in the old town, seeing the unique screen walls and courtyards in the villages, and braiding my hair into special Dali-style little braids. She also introduced me to another former city dweller who now lives in seclusion in Dali—Sting, a Hong Kong coffee master who was once a Japanese cuisine chef for more than ten years. The cool Uncle Sting, with long hair and black-framed glasses, showed me for the first time coffee beans still in their parchment—grown by them on Wuliang Mountain. Sting is an especially suave man. What makes people most envious is his unconstrained nature. He does whatever he wants. He likes this life, so he lives it. This is a kind of freedom, and it is this freedom that gives him his naturally chic temperament. I asked him, 'Can you teach me to make coffee?' He immediately said, 'Sure, I'll teach you to make a particularly tasty coffee.' He taught me hand by hand how to grind the beans into powder, how to boil water, and how to brew. He said simply hand-poured coffee is very good, but technique is important. I also helped him bag the coffee beans. While bagging, I couldn't resist sneaking a bean into my mouth. Sting was surprised and asked, 'Don't you find it bitter?' I said, 'It's okay, I can taste the aroma.' Hearing this, he generously gave me a big bag of coffee beans. I was overjoyed and kept thanking him. When I left, Uncle Sting said to me, 'The world is so big, you should go see it. Don't care what others say.' I nodded. Those words truly spoke to my heart. Lao Ding and I were exactly going to see how big the world is."
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Little Sheep | Snowy Travel Memories in Shangri-La
A few days ago, I heard it snowed in Shangri-La. Aruna took the eight of us to Xiaozhongdian to see the snow. After buying ingredients at the Shangri-La farmer's market, we returned to a herdsman's home in Xiaozhongdian. By the time we got inside, it was already afternoon, and snow pellets started falling outside, one by one, tiny and small. I, Yanzi, Wangwang, and Xiaomin went out to gather firewood. When we came back, we added the firewood to the stove. Aruna and He Chen were busy in the kitchen. We got the fire roaring, and the chill in the room quickly dissipated. Everyone gathered around the stove, chatting, eating, and drinking. I was sitting closest to the fire, and I felt my face was as red as a monkey's butt.
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Weed Scene | Travel with You Qinlan - Chiang Mai Diary
You and I have a lot of tacit understanding. The most important thing is that we respect each other and stay true to ourselves.
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Weeds Scene | Wild Vegetable Gathering
In the afternoon, when Sister Feibi arrived, I was drawing a poster for the wild vegetable party. I drew myself lying on the ground. I drew a 'Spring,' a monster with long ears, wildflowers in its belly, and wild vegetables in its hands. Then I handed the pen to Sister Feibi, and she drew shepherd's purse and dandelion beside it.
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Weedscape | The Free Path
I used to think I was already free enough because I was sharp enough. I thought sharpness was part of freedom. But now I realize that being able to sheathe one's sharpness is the path to even greater freedom. If I have more desire for life experiences, sheathing my sharpness is something I need to learn.
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Xiaoyang | Leaving
The pandemic work pressure made me lose passion. I couldn't look people in the eye anymore, so I quit and started wandering.
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Weeds Scene | Diary of Being with You in Chiang Dao
Looking closely, you don't actually need to express yourself; people can still live ordinary, matter-of-fact lives. Yet, despite this, you still hope to express something. In this 'nevertheless' natural context, we might unexpectedly see our true selves.
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Shan Landi | This Is the World I See
December 25, 2024, taken in Xizhou Ancient Town, Dali. That's all for now. This is the world I see—pretty cute.
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Xiaoyang | Solo Camping "Adventure"
Looking at the beautiful scenery before me, I couldn't help but laugh out loud. Taking deep breaths of the fresh air, it was simply wonderful! I felt like the happiest person in the world at that moment. Emotion and excitement filled my heart, and everything I saw was met with curiosity and anticipation. The babbling brook, the goats scattered like little stars across the grassland, the rustling of cicadas and birdsong—all of it suddenly became incredibly vivid. At that moment, the setting sun cast its glow over the meadow and onto me, warm and cozy.
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Little Sheep | "Fools"
In Dali, the author meets genuine, simple people who live like children, finding joy in small things like pinecones and moons.
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Yanzi | Building a Wilderness Shelter
You can go to the riverbank, find a large stone as the main frame, and there are plenty of stones around for walls. Find some dead wood, and a saw is enough. Stack and pile them up, cover the top with moss, and also fill the gaps inside with moss. Just enough to lie down flat. Then go gather some pine needles to lay down. The more I think about it, the more feasible it seems. I can't wait for daylight! Even rain doesn't matter.
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Feibi | Moonlit Night
We talk a lot about love—others', our own, past, recent, and future. If love must include passion, then it is destined to be short-lived. In a relationship that spans years and ends satisfactorily, you come to know each other's romantic history and moments of infatuation—fleeting as flowers falling on southern mountains, blooming as fervently as spring ephemeral plants. You share each other's secrets, and through time and shared experiences, you build deep trust and friendship.
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Jason | Building a Multilingual Independent Website with Shopify
Recently I've been working on an independent website, very dedicated and enjoying it, treating it as a daily pleasure.
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Weed Scene | Together We Arrive in Dali
When we reached the G56 expressway and the navigation showed that Dali was straight ahead, it started to snow, and a sense of unreality washed over us. It felt as if after midnight, the van was no longer a van, and we were no longer human. We were glad to arrive in Dali at 3 a.m. as non-humans, rather than at 3 p.m. as humans. Without human identities, Mom and Dad no longer needed to cook the New Year's Eve dinner, be a good son, or be a good daughter-in-law. In previous years, I always fled alone. This year, we were willfully escaping together.
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Weed View | Xipo in Spring
Yanzi and I rode in Yang Mi's car because Yang Mi wanted to practice on the winding and steep roads of Xipo. I sat in the passenger seat, and along the way we got on the expressway. It was Yang Mi's first time driving on the expressway in her life. Yanzi, sitting in the back, said to me, 'The first time I drove on the expressway, I think you were sitting next to me too.' Yes, two years ago I drove a van carrying Yanzi and Yang Mi. Now both Yanzi and Yang Mi have their own vans.
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Dali Travel Guide (Updated Jan 23, 2026)
A local's guide to Dali covering weather, transport, accommodation, food, and cafes at reasonable prices.
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October 5, 2024
Got up at 10:30, had a cup of coffee, and thought about what to do today. It seems like there's nothing on the agenda. Let's just head out first and see.
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A Listener's Letter About Jazz Performances at ChinChin Bistro
Today I received a short essay from a listener a few days ago, and I'm so moved. Recently I've met many young jazz lovers, some of whom are college students. It's unexpected that so many people, especially young people, still love jazz. Jazz is not dead. When we first decided to host jazz performances, we were mentally prepared for having fewer audience members than musicians, but now we are encountering more and more listeners and players. Musicians are seriously playing music, and listeners are seriously appreciating it. They positively influence each other.
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Practical Guide for Foreign Travelers in China
China is fully prepared to expand high-standard opening up, offering a series of considerate policies to continuously improve the convenience for foreign nationals to come to and stay in China. Feel free to share this life guide with foreign friends around you or online to help them live more conveniently in China. Welcome to China!
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Chen Xiaoyu | Little Brother's Two Worlds
As the sky grew darker, we left the village and returned to our own lives, shuttling between two, or even countless worlds. The world inside the screen, the world in the mountains, the world of stacking stones, the world of total loyalty, the world of drifting apart in the rivers and lakes. A world worth looking forward to tomorrow.
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Weed Scene | Deep Mountain Mushroom Picking 2024
I think I achieved my goal: I stole a relaxed and happy time during the summer peak season that should have been anxious. Thanks! See you next year.
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Jason | Several Iranians I Met on the Journey
Traveling in Iran, like in most parts of the world, places popular with tourists sometimes charge extra fees, and occasionally you might encounter unpleasant situations, though very rarely. But because I met people like Reza and Abbas, even if such things happen, they completely offset any other bad experiences.
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A Day with Xiaoyang | Lunch, Baseball, and Her Bar
If you are willing to try playing baseball and experience being a bartender making a drink, why not join me. Come to my home as a guest, taste my home-cooked dishes, go with me to the fields of Dali in the afternoon to swing the bat in an exciting game of "wild baseball," and in the evening come with me to my little bar to experience the fun of being a bartender.
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Jason | F
While waiting for cremation at the funeral home, I suddenly thought that F is the first generation who could choose where to live and where to die. In the past, dying away from home was often not by one's own choice, and it was often for official or business reasons. It wasn't because of work assignments either.
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Jason | Hanhan
On the morning of Chinese New Year's Day this year, Hanhan transferred 10,000 yuan to me with a message: 'For Huahua.'
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Jason | Rucheng
Except for his monk's robes, he looked no different from many years ago—still thin and dark, with sharp facial features, gentle and smiling, and clear eyes.
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Weeds Scenery Diary | Fujisato Town, Akita
On my 8th day in Japan, I booked an Airbnb titled 'Room with a goat at the foot of Mount Shirahama' in Fujisato Town, Akita Prefecture. I was drawn by the goat in the title and a photo in the description: four young people lying on a narrow bridge, watching the river below, with layers of green rice paddies behind them.
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Jason | Mehdi of Isfahan
Arrived in Isfahan last night. After checking into the youth hostel, the others went out to eat while I took a taxi to Azin's house. It wasn't far, about 15 minutes by taxi. We had arranged it on the way from Kashan to Isfahan, and she said her father would be home later.
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Jason | Wang Yang
I came back just to see Wang Yang. He had only two days before leaving Shanghai and returning to the US. Despite the hassle, I still wanted to meet him. It had been nine years since he left Dali.
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Jason | Da Hai
Twenty years ago, Da Hai was a junior colleague. Over time, we became friends. He's always been a capable and genuine person, still like a young man at heart.
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Jason | 2024.10.05
A day in Dali: collecting water, visiting friends, and reflecting on a minimalist life.
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Jason | A Letter from 30 Years Ago
Rediscovering a letter from a former intern that shaped my thinking about life and work.
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Zheng Yan | Arriving by Boat
Without death there is no life. It's time to take a lesson in death education, to learn that the world contains other powerful others, and to understand that whether temples, tombs, gardens, or grottoes, all are ideal worlds in some sense. And the kind of life you want to lead is the strongest motivation for creating an ideal world. In Dali, there is a group of people who seem a little mystical, living in their own free-spirited way.
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Yang Mo | Living in Dali
I once did a podcast with a friend where we talked about why I chose to live in Dali. At that time, I gave the following reasons:
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Weed Scene | Diary · Departure
At 3 p.m., I finally set off. 1,400 kilometers, this is the first time I have to drive such a long distance, so that's probably why I wanted to procrastinate.
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Weed Scene | Smoking
A daughter asks her father for a cigarette, challenging gender norms and recalling a traumatic childhood memory.
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Tangtang | Dali Winter Cherry Blossom Trip
The sunlight was wonderful, very warm, no clouds, cherry blossom petals fell at our feet. On the way back, Tangtang said the year had some ups and downs, hoping that day was a beautiful ending, and a new year was about to begin.
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Lao Shuai | Blooming Flowers, Waiting for a Breeze - About Blossom Bikes
In 2013, after finishing my teaching volunteer work, I set off alone from Lincang, Yunnan, heading into Tibet via the Bing Cha Cha route, then taking the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway to Xinjiang, followed by the Hotan-Alar Highway across the Taklamakan Desert, and then the Duku Highway over the Tianshan Mountains, riding all the way back to my home in Shihezi, Xinjiang. That was the longest cycling trip of my life so far; the cyclometer recorded a total distance of 6,732 kilometers over 90 days.
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Zacaojing | Yanzi
I first met Yanzi at her stall on Foreigner Street. She sets up her second-hand book stall there every evening, and also has a regular stall at Sanyue Street every week. I thought that old books priced at five or ten yuan probably don't make much money, but she, who calls herself the "Dali Roll King", shows up on time every night.
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Landy | Blooming Cycling Diary
Pretty strong, huh? Today I led a parent-child group, with more than twenty bikes of all sizes. While loading the bikes, I was carrying them up and down with the driver. He looked at me, smiled, and said, "You're quite strong for a woman!" After hearing that, I worked even harder, thinking to myself that indeed I am pretty strong.
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Chunyu's 'Caravan Plan' | Taking Bees to Travel, Finding Places Where Flowers Bloom
In the middle of the night, Chunyu sent me this idea, probably excited, asking me 'What do you think?', and I said 'That's great, I'm a little excited.'
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Spring Rain | These Years
Today I tried hard to think about what happened this year that I could remember in an instant. It seems there was nothing, and yet there was so much.
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Xiaojing | Conversations in the Car
I, Yanzi, and Yang Mi sat in the same car. I was the driver. To prevent me from dozing off, the three of us talked a lot. However, most of the time it was me and Yanzi talking, while Yang Mi listened. Sometimes Yang Mi would try to find a topic, and as she thought, she would start to fall asleep, until my yawn startled her awake.
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Li Zhenhao | Going to Popona's Zhiben Mountain
Popona joined a trip activity in Nujiang early this year. She herself is a staff member of a forest farm, taking care of plants in a whole mountain forest. Later, she came to the shop to see some of my specimens. The next day, we met again to see more specimens at the Life Science Museum of Dali University. Her own WeChat public account has very serious records about plants.
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Weed View | Application for Kyoto Stay
A reflective summary triggered by applying for a short stay at a temple in Kyoto.
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One Flower, One World | Aruna and Her Baking
The first time I met Aruna, she was working at Pirate Wine Bar, and at that time our two shops shared a storefront on Yeyu Road. She seemed bright, gentle, and always smiling, getting along well with everyone. Later, she went to work in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
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Lumos | The Afterglow of Xipo Camping
The afterglow of Xipo camping is too strong! I found everything boring after returning, so I could only keep signing up for Cangshan Hiking Club's activities. Dali is still the most fun outdoors!
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Spending a Day at the Home of 'Relatives' in the Mountains
While walking on the mountain meadow, looking down at the houses in the valley, the name of this travel route popped into my mind: Spending a Day at the Home of Relatives in the Mountains. This name came from a guesthouse we stayed at in Chiang Dao, Thailand, set by the fields. Several guests wrote in reviews: 'Staying here feels like visiting relatives in another province.' At that time, I thought this metaphor was really fitting. It was probably written by people from Chiang Mai city who came to Chiang Dao for a vacation.
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Tang Tang | On the Road
I love being on the road; every time brings different encounters and feelings. Life may be just an experience, so why not savor it.
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Mage | The West Slope of Cangshan | The Enchanting 'Other Side'
I recalled a saying I once saw online: people come to this world to serve their sentence. Heaven and earth are the prison, the body is the prison uniform, and others are hell. When the sentence is served, one is free. On the way back, we saw the continuous snow-capped mountains and the new moon of the fourth day of the lunar new year.
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Qiqi | Songhe Village in Dali: Ten Thousand Acres of Ancient Plum Trees at the Foot of Snowy Mountains, Deep in the Mountains
This time I visited Songhe Village with the Plum Forest trip from Cangshan Hiking Home, led by Xiao Li, a Dali local whose home is in Eryuan, not far from Songhe Village, so naturally he knows the area better than we do. Although I am no stranger to Songhe Village, following Xiao Li's local perspective allowed me to see and feel many different things.
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Huanhuan | Best Partner Xiaobin
Because Xiaobin is a passionate person, he has natural affinity and is willing to communicate with strangers. I raised my hand and offered the second-floor space of the store for his class. That way, everything is perfect.
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Zacaojing | What We Do When Not Picking Mushrooms
During summer, guests often ask: "You pick mushrooms in summer, so what do you do in winter?" When faced with this question, I only know to reply with one word: "Play."
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Weed Scene | Mushroom Picking Memoir
The place where I first practiced mushroom picking was Wuwei Temple Mountain. I heard it was the place where the most white jian shou mushrooms grew. But because white jian shou are delicious and expensive, this mountain also had the most villagers picking mushrooms.
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Flourishing Bikes | Around Erhai Lake Cycling Guide
On September 7, I, Landy, and some friends cycled around Erhai Lake. Everyone took photos and recorded data for us, providing a lot of material for this article. I boldly used the word "guide" in the title, hoping the following content lives up to that name.
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Jason | Phoebe
Phoebe, apart from these obvious life choices, doesn't seem to have a particularly dramatic story. I think it's partly due to my ability to tell stories, and possibly because she didn't face intense conflicts when making all her decisions. Everything seemed natural and inevitable, without strong resistance. If there was ever opposition, she probably didn't struggle fiercely—she just did what she did and moved on.
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A Tu | West Lake Stargazing: The Beauty of Uncertainty
On the way back, there was a small interlude that moved me deeply: besides us and a fellow stargazer, A Tu's mother was also on this trip. The auntie followed us all the way to watch the stars. I don't know if she had come many times before or if she only had this chance because she was visiting her daughter. In the darkness, I heard A Tu say, 'Mom, you can rest assured this time.' 'I'm assured. I have nothing to worry about.'
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Feibi | Shining Days (1)
Every time summer arrives, I always anticipate that 'this time is the one'. But when summer ends, I feel that no summer is the only one in my life.
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Huanhuan | Becoming an Outdoor Team Leader
This summer I got a part-time job as a team leader at Cangshan Hiking Home, mainly leading light hiking and stream trekking. When I'm outdoors in nature with guests on vacation, it's not my usual work identity—I am myself. I really enjoy this relaxed state, so even though I'm very busy, whenever I get a gig I try to arrange time to lead a group.
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Li Zhenhao | Life in the Village
A few days ago, I soaked this year's plum wine. The neighbor lady saw me poking at it until too late and came over to help prick the plums together. We finally finished the day's work before midnight. This is very good, and I also like it very much.
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Dayangyang | Watching Stars in Dali and Making a Documentary
Atu is sometimes quiet, but as long as she talks about stars, she becomes eloquent. Astronomical, historical, philosophical, legendary, even metaphysical topics related to stars... she can piece them together like a puzzle. With her, I truly see that passion can make a person shine.
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Aruna | Nomadic
Just like our current camping: being in nature, carrying the food we need, without signal or phone distractions, two days pass quickly. There's so much to do—setting up the tarp and tent, making fire, cooking, brewing milk tea, paddling, walking in the mountains, watching sunrise, sunset, and the starry sky... And the one migrating is yourself, heading into the mountains.
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Jason | Zayaa
A note on Zayaa, recording the wonderful people and moments.
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Jingshan | Being with the Things You Love
I think of pottery as a camera, and I aspire to be a craftsman who earnestly records life. It is also a friend that needs no words, accompanying me for a lifetime. Finally, I hope everyone can find those fragments of time in ordinary life that they are willing to devote themselves to.
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He Chen | Time No Longer Sticky 1.
b is a driver. (During peak travel seasons like winter and summer vacations, b drives the red minivan bought with money borrowed from J, using Dali Prefecture as a hub, picking up tourists from all over. Most guests are referred to b by J, who runs a private outdoor travel agency (different from traditional tour groups). Because the routes b takes, even during busy summer breaks, perfectly avoid the crowds in Dali, and the places visited are neither mysterious nor hard to reach. However, when b leads a group, the feeling is like...
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Swallow | Beautiful Creatures
Beautiful creatures that can only be discovered if you look closely
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Jason | Two Things We Want to Do
In April 2023, we traveled to Iran. Because we had local friends, we were fortunate to experience local life in depth. We realized that it is not easy for a traveler to truly enter an unfamiliar place and have an immersive journey. Therefore, we are more determined to do our part well from the traveler's perspective.
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Jason | Qiqi Restaurant
I didn't know Qiqi well either, having only met her once or twice. All I remember is that she had short hair, a brisk and decisive manner, and rode a motorcycle.
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Jason | "Zayaa" and "Shanxia"
In the current construction of the 'Cangshan Hiking Home' group, I've gained new insights on 'freedom': not only the freedom to leave, but also the ability to be 'free' when leaving.
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Xiao Chun | Tailor and Xiao Shuang
The return trip was short, only a few songs away. I never thought there would be a day when the people in the story would come together again, talking about the past as if it were someone else's story, so casually. I have no idea what Tailor and Xiao Shuang were thinking. But I truly felt that it was so good back then, everyone was so good, and youth was so good.
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Xiaochun | The Lost Notebook
Xiaochun has a regret, mentioned several times, about losing a notebook.
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Xiaochun & Jason | Old Times · Dali Rainy Season
It is the rainy season in Dali again. The rain falls sparsely, washing over the stone slabs of Dali's old town, and also washing over people's memories. Some memories become blurrier with each wash, while others become clearer.
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Honghong | Three Restaurants She Ran in Dali
The three restaurants I ran during these ten years in Dali have been the most important part of my personal growth. From a complete novice who couldn't cook, had never run a store, and lacked any confidence, to developing all the dishes on the menu myself, designing menus, catering cold buffets, delivering takeout, and training staff, I have become a more independent, self-reliant, and confident person. I really love the changes I've gone through over these ten years.
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Tailor | Old Songs, Time, Love
I remembered a small string of amusing anecdotes from ten years ago. "Sailing Across the Ocean to See You" counts as one of the theme songs of my life. In the early days, when I went to KTV with close friends, they would order it for me first. A few years later, it became the must-order song for Xiaochun, Wu Bai's "Ring".
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Jason | A Rather Strange Cold Buffet
Now that I think about it, all of us were like amateur actors, following Honghong to perform a play, bizarre and full of youth. At that time we just thought it was ordinary life, but now we know it was far from that. My memory is getting worse, but I can always remember that day.
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Liangzi | Jason's Ten Years in Dali
Some people come and go, some leave and return. Jason is always here, just like me.
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Wangwang | The Teenager and Me
He shouted loudly at me, ran up to me, and showed me what he had gained. He symbolically used his raincoat to build a 'rain shelter' for himself before eating, and he kept searching for wild raspberries to eat. During his usual hockey training, his heart rate would reach 190. His excellent sense of balance made it impossible for me to catch up with him on the way down the mountain. This was the first time in my life. But as I ran, I thought, maybe I am doing the happiest job in the world.
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Zacaojing | Go Deep into the Mountains to Pick Mushrooms with Me
Activity time: 9:00-18:00. Every Monday and Thursday, special needs can consult customer service. Two people to form a group, limited to six people. Meeting point: Pushi Cafe near the ancient city. Drive about 2 hours. Suitable for: Because the number of guests we can take each time is limited, we hope to be on the same wavelength. Casual, not anxious, mushroom lovers who like nature and wild fun. Age: 6-65 years old. Fee includes: round-trip transportation, lunch. Cancellation policy: Within 12 hours refund 30%, 12-24 hours refund 50%, 24-4
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Weed Scene | Poisonous Mushrooms That Locals Eat #3: Slippery Jack
Today I mainly write about: Cangshan's Slippery Jack, including Pine Slippery Jack, and several other mushrooms with similar texture: Amber Bolete, Dotted Stalk Slippery Jack, Brown Ring Slippery Jack. The so-called Suillus genus means they all taste slippery and have slime on the cap surface after rain. Every year, the earliest mushrooms to grow on Cangshan and the latest to end are the Slippery Jacks; I feel their growth is the strongest. My hometown
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