Ming Yang
I’ve been guiding trips up Cangshan for years. And I still see people stuck at the wrong ticket gate, or sweating in the midday sun, wondering why they followed that outdated blog. Let’s fix that right now.
Getting to Cangshan Mountain isn’t hard—but doing it smartly, avoiding the crowds, and not getting ripped off takes a little know-how. In this guide, I’ll walk you through every route, every cable car, and the exact moves I use to save my clients time and money.
Quick Navigation — What You’ll Learn
Best Way from Dali Old Town
Most travelers start from Dali Old Town. It’s the cheapest and most convenient base. Here’s what I always recommend:
Option 1: Bus No. 4 or “Cangshan Special Line”
Walk to the main gate of the old town (the south gate is easiest). Catch bus No. 4 or the “Cangshan Special Tourist Bus”. Both go directly to the Cangshan cable car base. Fare is 2 RMB – cheap, but can get packed on weekends. The ride takes about 25 minutes. Get off at “Cangshan Gate” stop. You’ll see the giant entrance arch.
Pro tip: The bus driver doesn’t announce stops in English. I always tell my guests to show the driver the Chinese characters for “苍山索道” (Cāngshān Suǒdào) on their phone. Save this image before you go!
Option 2: Taxi or Didi
From anywhere in Dali Old Town, a taxi to the base of the Gantong Cable Car costs about 15-20 RMB. A Didi (Chinese Uber) is even easier – just input “大理苍山感通索道” in the app. No language barrier. Travel time: 15 minutes.
Warning: Don’t let a taxi driver convince you to go to the “new scenic area” or a “private entrance”. There’s only three official cable car stations. I’ve had drivers try to take my clients to a ticket scalper – just say “no, please go to Gantong Suodao”.
Cable Car Options: Which One to Pick
There are three cable cars, and choosing the wrong one can ruin your day. Let me break them down:
| Cable Car | Best For | Travel Time | Scenery | Price (Round Trip) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gantong Cable Car | Half-day trips, visitors who want to see temples and a short hike | 10 min up; 10 min down (gondola) | Good views of the valley and Dali Old Town | 110 RMB |
| Zhonghe Cable Car | Hikers starting the “Jade Belt Road” (Yudai Lu) scenic walk | 20 min up; 20 min down (open chairlift – no enclosed cabin!) | Fantastic, but the chairlift can be scary in wind | 100 RMB |
| Ximatan Cable Car | Reaching the summit – the highest and longest ride | 40 min up (two stages); 40 min down | Breathtaking – above the clouds if you’re lucky | 200 RMB (including entrance fee) |
My personal go-to: If you have one day and want the wow factor, take the Ximatan Cable Car all the way to the top. But come early – the queue before 9 AM is short; after 10 AM it can be 1 hour. I always leave the hotel by 7:30 AM.
If you prefer a relaxed morning with fewer crowds, the Gantong cable car is a solid choice. The nearby Gantong Temple is worth a peek, and the vegetarian noodles there are surprisingly good (10 RMB a bowl).
Public Bus & Taxi Details
Coming from further away? Here’s how to connect:
From Dali Railway Station
Take bus No. 8 to Dali Old Town (about 50 minutes, 3 RMB). From the old town, switch to bus No. 4 or a taxi as above. Alternatively, a direct Didi from the station to the cable car base costs around 60-70 RMB.
From Dali Airport
No direct bus. Taxi or Didi is your best bet – about 100 RMB to the Gantong cable car base, taking 1 hour. If you’re on a budget, take the airport shuttle bus to the old town (25 RMB) and then proceed.
Heads up: Taxis at the airport and train station often refuse to use the meter. Negotiate the price before getting in. For a ride to Cangshan, 100-120 RMB from the airport is reasonable. From the train station, 70 RMB is fair.
Driving or Rental Car
Renting a car in Dali is possible but I wouldn’t recommend it for Cangshan. Parking at the cable car bases is limited and fills up by 9 AM. Plus, the mountain roads are narrow and often congested. If you do drive, navigate to “苍山国家地质公园停车场” (Cangshan National Geopark Parking Lot). Parking fee: 10 RMB per hour.
Better alternative: Rent an electric scooter (e-bike) from Dali Old Town for the day. It costs around 50-80 RMB. Many shops near the south gate rent them. Ride to the cable car base, park for free nearby, and enjoy the breeze. I’ve done this myself many times – it’s liberating.
Hiking Trails & the Back Entrance
Not a fan of cable cars? There are hiking trails, but they’re not for the faint-hearted. The most popular trail starts at Dali University and follows a dirt path up to the Jade Belt Road. No entrance fee here, but you’ll need good fitness – the climb takes 2-3 hours.
My advice: Don’t attempt the hike without local guidance. The trail can be hard to find and there’s no cell reception in parts. I once got lost for an hour – not fun. Better to hire a local guide or join a small group. Expect to pay around 100-150 RMB per person for a guided hike.
Tickets & Booking Tips (Crucial!)
This is where most tourists mess up. You cannot simply buy a ticket at the counter on a busy day – they often sell out by 11 AM for the Ximatan cable car. Here’s the trick:
- Book online in advance via the official WeChat mini-program. But let’s be real – it’s in Chinese, and the interface is confusing. I always ask my hotel receptionist to help me book the day before. They’re happy to do it.
- Alternative: Use Trip.com or Klook to purchase tickets. They add a small markup but save you the headache. Show the QR code at the gate.
- Cash? Most ticket booths accept WeChat Pay or Alipay but not international credit cards. Bring some cash (RMB) just in case.
Ticket prices 2025 (for reference, subject to change):
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Entrance fee to Cangshan | 40 RMB |
| Gantong Cable Car (round trip) | 110 RMB |
| Ximatan Cable Car (round trip, including entrance) | 200 RMB |
| Zhonghe Cable Car (round trip) | 100 RMB |
| Combined ticket (Gantong + Ximatan) | 260 RMB |
No comments yet.