Cangshan–Erhai National Nature Reserve
“Xiaguan wind, Shangguan flowers, Cangshan snow and Erhai moon” are together known as the Four Scenic Wonders of Dali. Cangshan stretches along the western shore of Erhai Lake,…
Cangshan–Erhai National Nature Reserve, Dali · AI illustration for China Trip
Key facts
- Admission
- There are two cable cars up Cangshan Mountain, and cruises on Erhai Lake: 1. Xima Pool Cable Car round trip ¥335 (includes admission to the Film and Television City and the Geological Park) 2. Gantong Cable Car one way ¥115 (Cangshan admission + cable car). It is recommended to ride up and hike down, as the descent offers views of the Tianlong Babu Film and Television City, Dali Ancient Town and Erhai Lake 3. Erhai Lake cruise ¥142
- Time needed
- 1 day
- Getting there
- Cangshan: Near the south gate of Dali Ancient Town (bus stop), and Gantong Temple (bus stop) Erhai Lake: Walk from the old town to the lake; or take a horse-drawn carriage; or take a bus to Longshan Market (bus stop) and get off there
- Guidebook rating
- 5 / 5
From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 214. Open in Google Maps
About Cangshan–Erhai National Nature Reserve
“Xiaguan wind, Shangguan flowers, Cangshan snow and Erhai moon” are together known as the Four Scenic Wonders of Dali.
Cangshan stretches along the western shore of Erhai Lake, like a pair of lovers standing side by side. Touring Cangshan from Shangguan, you can see the water-eroded cave where Tianlong Babu was filmed, where Duan Yu met his fairy sister and learned his peerless martial arts. From the mountain you can take in the full view of Erhai Lake, and if the weather is clear, you can see the “Cangshan snow” on the summit. On the way down, you can enjoy the “Shangguan flowers” blooming across the hillsides.
Tips from the guidebook
- 1. It is best to take a cruise operated by a shipping company, where prices and routes are guaranteed. Travel agency day tours of Cangshan and Erhai usually cover Erhai Park, the Prefectural Museum, Guanyintang Xiaoputuo, Butterfly Spring, the Three Pagodas and Dali Ancient Town, and the boat hosts a “Three-Course Tea” ceremony.
- 2. Large tour boats operated by Dali Tourism Group dock at Longkan Pier near the old town, at Taoyuan Pier in Xizhou Town, and at Dali Port east of Xiaguan. The boats run two routes. Long route: (1) Dali Port (outside the gate of Erhai Park) → Longkan Pier → Xiaoputuo → Nanzhao Village Island → Taoyuan Pier; (2) Taoyuan Pier → Nanzhao Village Island → Longkan Pier in Dali Ancient Town.
- Short route: Longkan Pier in Dali Ancient Town → Jinsuo Island Scenic Area and Luoquan Peninsula Scenic Area → Longkan Pier in Dali Ancient Town.
- 3. Glass balls: The Instagram-worthy “glass ball” photo spot on Erhai Lake has become a trendy hotspot. Many glass-ball props line East Erhai Road, and some vendors also provide white tables, swings and other props.
- 4. Horse riding around Cangshan and Erhai is another way to enjoy the scenery. Horse handlers wait at the foot of the mountain; typically one handler rides a horse and leads another up the mountain.
- 5. For cycling around Erhai Lake, you can rent a bicycle or an e-bike. Rides usually depart around 8:00 am and can go in two directions: East Erhai Road or West Erhai Road.
- East Erhai Road runs entirely along the lakeshore; it is smooth to ride and has the most beautiful scenery. From the Xiaguan direction at the east gate of Dali Ancient Town, the northward route leads toward Shuanglang. Cyclists usually choose to follow West Erhai Road north all the way to Shuanglang, passing many flower fields where you can stop to take photos at any time.
- The West Erhai Road direction passes many villages, so ride with care. When you reach Haishe Park, be sure to stop and charge your bike. Along West Erhai Road, the rice fields on both banks give off a fragrance in autumn, and in winter you can gaze across to the snow on Cangshan.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Cangshan–Erhai National Nature Reserve cost?
Admission to Cangshan–Erhai National Nature Reserve is There are two cable cars up Cangshan Mountain, and cruises on Erhai Lake: 1. Xima Pool Cable Car round trip ¥335 (includes admission to the Film and Television City and the Geological Park) 2. Gantong Cable Car one way ¥115 (Cangshan admission + cable car). It is recommended to ride up and hike down, as the descent offers views of the Tianlong Babu Film and Television City, Dali Ancient Town and Erhai Lake 3. Erhai Lake cruise ¥142, as listed in the 2025 guidebook. Prices can change; check the official channel before you go.
How do I get to Cangshan–Erhai National Nature Reserve?
Cangshan: Near the south gate of Dali Ancient Town (bus stop), and Gantong Temple (bus stop) Erhai Lake: Walk from the old town to the lake; or take a horse-drawn carriage; or take a bus to Longshan Market (bus stop) and get off there
How long should I spend at Cangshan–Erhai National Nature Reserve?
Plan on 1 day for Cangshan–Erhai National Nature Reserve.
Where is Cangshan–Erhai National Nature Reserve?
Cangshan–Erhai National Nature Reserve is in Dali, Yunnan Province, in the Southwest of China.
More places in Dali
Dali Ancient Town
People often compare Dali with Lijiang. Dali may lack Lijiang's graceful charm, but it is more unpretentious and expansive. Some say Dali is the birthplace of China's hippie culture. Underground musicians and painters have brought a free-spirited atmosphere here, so it is no wonder people say that after staying in Dali for a while, you may become “decadent.” The whole old town sits with Cangshan Mountain at its back and faces Erhai Lake. Its streets follow a grid layout, and its houses, with stone-slab paths and grey-tiled sloping roofs, reflect Bai architectural style. Traditional customs are still alive in the old town, and you can feel the long history and culture of the Bai people.
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Tianlong Babu Film and Television City
Backed by Cangshan Mountain and facing Erhai Lake to the east, the Film and Television City is the filming base for the TV series Tianlong Babu (Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils). Its architecture is modelled on the painting “Along the River During the Qingming Festival” and consists of three major zones: the palaces of the Dali Kingdom, the Liao and Western Xia kingdoms, and a Jurchen tribal area. Built as a large-scale production base for Tianlong Babu, it has also been used as a location for other productions, including Tea Horse Road, Legend of Yin Shang, Princess of Dali, Ten Perfect Girls and The Four Great Constables of Youth.
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Shuanglang Ancient Town
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Yuji Island
Yuji Island is one of the three islands in Erhai Lake and is considered the essence of the Cang-Er landscape, earning it the nickname “the Number One Village of Cang-Er.” From the island, you can gaze at the Nineteen Peaks of Cangshan and look down over the scenery of Erhai. The island has well-preserved Bai ethnic dwellings with a distinctive fishing-village character. The famous inns, such as Moon Palace and Qinglu, generally do not admit visitors, but other inns are open for viewing in the afternoon. Touts on the island will offer to take you by boat so you can see Moon Palace up close.
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Nanzhao Fengqing Island
One of the three islands in Erhai Lake in Dali, with scenery so breathtaking that it feels like paradise. If you come early, the island is quiet and uncrowded, with the shimmering waters of Erhai stretching out before you. Many visitors head to the island's center to pose beside the Nanzhao historical sculptures, but the small paths along the lakeshore offer even better views and are more suitable for photography.
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Gantong Temple
Backed by the Cangshan Mountains, whose peaks hold snow year-round, and facing the misty expanse of Erhai Lake with its scattered white sails, Gantong Temple gathers the spirit of heaven and earth. The late-Ming monk Dandang (担当) once inscribed a couplet here: “An ancient temple among dense pines, the finest vista in the southwest; horses neigh and flowers bloom, Cang and Er famed as the foremost mountain.”
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