Yunnan Hiking & Trekking Guide 2025

A paved horizontal path running across the face of Cangshan Mountain above Dali, accessible via cable car from Dali Ancient City. The path offers spectacular views of Erhai Lake and Dali below while traversing through 18 mountain streams and alpine forests.

A leisurely circuit of Erhai Lake through a series of Bai fishing villages and agricultural fields, with the lake to one side and Cangshan's peaks on the other. The western lakeside path is traffic-free and ideal for cycling. Villages along the route offer family restaurants and basic accommodation.

Pre-dawn walks from accommodation in the terrace villages (Duoyishu, Bada, Laohuzui) to optimal sunrise viewpoints overlooking the flooded rice terraces. The terraces fill with water November to April, creating a mirror effect that reflects the dramatic sky colors at dawn.

A peaceful walk around the fringes of Napahai Nature Reserve, a high-altitude wetland that transforms from grassy plain to lake to frozen marsh through the seasons. The walk passes Tibetan farmsteads, yak pastures, and offers views of the surrounding Diqing plateau mountains.

An elevated boardwalk system through the tropical rainforest canopy of Wild Elephant Valley nature reserve, offering up-close encounters with tropical flora and fauna including occasional wild Asian elephant sightings. The walk includes suspension bridges between canopy viewing platforms.

A well-marked loop trail through the remarkable limestone karst formations of Shilin Stone Forest, weaving between towering stone pillars up to 30m tall, past scenic ponds, and through narrow gorges between the formations. Audio guide available in English.