Route Overview Total Distance: Approximately 11.5 km (Jade Belt Trail section only); Hiking Duration: 5-6 hours (including sightseeing stops) Transportation Distance

🗺️ Route Overview Total Distance: Approx. 11.5 km (Jade Belt Trail section only) Hiking Duration: 5-6 hours (including sightseeing stops) 🚗 Transportation Distance Starting Point: Qingbi Stream (Gantong Cableway area) Dali Ancient Town → Qingbi Stream Entrance Taxi: 15-minute ride (set destination as "Gantong Cableway Parking Lot"). Bus: Take Bus No. 4 from the ancient town to "Guanyin Tang" station, then transfer to a minivan (¥5/person) to the cableway station (~40 minutes total). Ascend Options: 🏃🏻‍♀️‍➡️ Hiking: Follow Qingbi Stream Trail to the summit (4.5 km, 1.5-2 hours). Cableway: Gantong Cableway one-way ¥85 (includes entrance ticket), 15 minutes direct to Qingbi Stream scenic area. 📍 Endpoint: Zhonghe Temple → Return Trip Descend Options: Hiking: Zhonghe Temple → March Street (4 km ancient trail, 1.5 hours). Cableway: Zhonghe Cableway one-way ¥60, 20 minutes down to March Street. Return to Ancient Town: Taxi (¥10) or Bus No. 2 (~10 minutes) from March Street entrance. 🌿 Detailed Itinerary 1. Qingbi Stream Section (0-1.5 hours) Distance: ~1.5 km loop (includes three pools). Highlights: Lower Pool: Ink-jade deep pool with visible pebbles (ideal for meditating by the waterfall). Middle/Upper Pools: Twin cascades with ancient cliff carvings ("Yu Kong" characters), exuding martial arts ambiance. Tip: Waterfalls peak in rainy season (Jun-Sep), but stone steps get slippery—wear grippy shoes. 2. Mid-Jade Belt Trail (Qingbi Stream → Seven Dragon Maidens Pools, 2-2.5 hours) Distance: 4.5 km (gentle flagstone path). Highlights: Cliff Viewpoint (4 km mark): Panoramic Erhai Lake vista with checkerboard-like farmlands. Ecological Corridor: Primeval fir forests with 100x higher negative oxygen ions than urban areas. 3. Seven Dragon Maidens Pools (0.5-1 hour) Layout: 7-tiered cascading pools; highlights are 5th-7th pools—5th: mist-veiled "mermaid gauze" waterfall; 6th/7th: cliffside "snowflakes," resembling dancing dragon maidens. Tip: Requires climbing ~200 steps between pools—moderate exertion. 4. North Jade Belt Trail (Seven Dragon Maidens Pools → Zhonghe Temple, 2 hours) Distance: 7 km (passing Green Jade Stream → Middle Stream → Peach Stream). Cultural Gems: Cangshan Guardian Rock Carvings: Ancient totem reliefs near Peach Stream. Zhonghe Temple: Kangxi Emperor’s inscribed plaque "Dian Yun Gong Ji"; sunset views align with Dali’s central axis, turning Erhai golden. 💰 Cost Reference Entrance: Cangshan Scenic Area ¥35 (buy at cableway stations or trailheads). Cableways: Gantong one-way ¥85 (includes entrance), Zhonghe one-way ¥60. Food: Mountain rest stops ¥20-30/meal; bring snacks + 1L water bottle (spring refill available). 🎒 Gear & Safety Tips Essentials: 👟 Anti-slip hiking shoes (mossy steps are slippery). 🧥 Windproof jacket (10°C+ cooler than town, windy). ☔ Foldable raincoat (afternoon fog/rain common). Warnings: ⏰ Reach Zhonghe Temple by 15:00 (cableway stops at 16:00). 🚫 Avoid cliff edges—some guardrails are missing. 🌸 Best Seasons & Hidden Gems Ideal Timing: - Mar-May: Alpine azaleas paint cliffs red ("Rouge River" effect). - Sep-Nov: Gilded firs + dry sunny days. Easter Eggs: - Jizhao Nunnery vegetarian lunch (11:30, 1-hour hike from Qingbi Stream; succulent garden oasis).