Picking mushrooms and pine cones on the forest trail | Eating vegetarian food at Jizhao Temple after hiking

Together with Zhenhao and Fried Hair, wandering through various vegetation in Cangshan, where mushrooms hide along the forest paths in different colors and caps. Zhenhao also explained many scientific names. Moss climbs old trees, ferns curl with new buds. When fingertips brush past, the pulse of Cangshan feels like it’s in the palm.

When we arrived at Jizhao An, the sun was just slanting over the eaves. On the wooden table, there was a bowl of vegetarian dish, the tofu was soft and tender, the pumpkin steamed with honey. In the time it takes to eat a bowl of vegetarian rice, the green mountain scenery was all tucked into our stomachs.

As we descend the mountain, the wind passes by our ears, Fried Hair happily runs beside our legs. Some encounters need no names, some flavors need no words. Cangshan has long written the answers on every leaf.

Teacher Wanwan is very professional, with a keen eye for discovering hidden fungi. She also took us to experience Silver Powder Fern, which was especially fun!

The older ones among us only walked the small loop, while the kids walked the big loop. Sure enough, the big loop was much more rewarding!

My first experience with Cangshan Hiking Home's program was picking pinecones on Cangshan with Yanzi and having a vegetarian meal at Shuzhao Nunnery. Along the way, I could clearly feel that Yanzi genuinely loves nature and hiking. As city people, we kept gasping in amazement on the mountain. Yanzi was very patient and gently explained the plants we encountered. She stayed with us the whole time as we picked pinecones and extracted pine nuts, and there was also a delicious afternoon tea. I kept thinking, what a heavenly life this is! It all ended with two big bags of pinecones!

This time, I experienced a day at Xipo Renjia. I'm grateful to have met the two guides, Xiaochun'er and Caifeng. I have to praise that all the guides at Cangshan Hiking Home are versatile. From the moment we met until the end, they exuded positive energy and provided extremely high emotional value! The food at the mountain home was delicious and satisfying! I look forward to coming back to Dali after the peak season to travel with all the guides!

I've taken part in two programs so far, and both were super satisfying~

Originally, it was an independent summer camp for children, but considering how wonderful the climate in Dali is, I actually wanted to be in nature myself, so I chose to join the children. This was such a wise choice!!

We followed Zhenhao and Wanwan up the mountain to pick mushrooms. Along the way, Zhenhao and Wanwan explained a lot, including small plants, mosses, and lichens. After a few hours, I even felt time passed too quickly, was a bit reluctant to leave, and didn't feel tired at all.

Captain Cihang, a person who speaks softly but exudes strength, patiently guides, remains calm, and naturally says encouraging words and some small truths. The children love it very much and are very happy.

I didn't want to try, but Captain Cihang and my daughter both encouraged me to give it a shot. Eh, this time, although I only briefly played the role of little captain, it made me feel one with nature, to feel the wind, and learn how to balance and relate to the wind. I think there will definitely be a next chapter of sailing with me......

Cangshan Mushroom Record
Today, I went on a mountain hike with Cangshan Hiking House, embarking on a mushroom adventure in the mountains. Our guides were Zhenhao and Wanwan, two young women who led us along the wild trail, picking pinecones, identifying plants, and accompanied by a little dog called Zha Mao wagging its tail. The tiny footsteps brought a lot of furry joy.

When we took a break halfway, the mountain breeze carried the aroma of tea and fruit. The guides laid out a picnic cloth, and we sat around it, watching sunlight filter through the leaves, listening to the insects and laughter intertwined. Suddenly, I understood the true meaning of 'seizing half a day of leisure'.

The most touching part of the journey was encountering all sorts of fungi. They hid among decaying leaves and in crevices of rocks, some adorned with dazzling colors like the starry sky, some exuding milky sap when their skin was cut open, and some carrying hidden toxins, guarding the secrets of survival in the shadows.

Once I used to think that only by gathering a full basket could we do justice to the forest. But after hearing the guide’s words again and again, I found myself growing reluctant—for in the moment a mushroom cap unfurls, it is both the starting point for spores to ride the wind far away and the tolling bell of life’s final countdown. In that instant, I suddenly understood that these silent fungi are no different from us: all of us strive to complete the cycle of life within our limited time—plants spread their leaves, animals busy themselves foraging, humans chase meaning, and mushrooms, in their own way, nourish this mountain forest, decomposing what has flourished and withered, sustaining the balance.

Along the mountain road, we also came across a few burial sites of local families. The guide said that people here never treat tomb-sweeping as a sorrowful ritual; instead, they bring wine and food and playing cards, and sit around chatting and laughing where their loved ones rest in peace, like a gathering that transcends death. That ease toward death made even the mountain breeze feel soft.

As I descended the mountain, my basket held a few carefully selected mushrooms, yet I felt a greater sense of peace than when I returned with a full load. The best encounters are never about greedy possession, but about prudent choice—knowing which should remain in the mountains to continue their life, which can be picked lightly to share their flavor, and understanding the perseverance of each mushroom and the solemnity of each life. With this reverence and tacit understanding for nature, I bid a gentle farewell, looking forward to our next reunion in the mountain breeze.

I came to Dali again for summer vacation, and this time I joined two activities. Both were excellent, with a very complete experience.

The first was a hike led by Zhen Hao, with two little dogs, Frizz and Custard, as assistant guides. The whole route was under five kilometers, with an elevation gain of about 300 meters. At the end, we had a vegetarian meal at Jizhao Nunnery, and the kids really enjoyed it.

The second was paddleboarding led by Paris. He drove his tank for about 45 minutes to the campsite. We paddled for about two and a half hours, and it was so much fun to fall into the water. Our whole family of three improved from paddling while sitting to paddling while standing. On the way back, we also had a delicious meal at a Hui restaurant. We’ll definitely come back to play again next time.

Oh yes, it was recommended by friends. They don't have a physical store, and we wanted to visit the store but found there was no physical shop when we went to the address. Hahaha! Thumbs up for handmade crafts, will come again.

A gift from Cangshan, guided a 4-hour, 5KM hike through deep mountain wilderness, gathering a basket of mushrooms: fragrant white pearls,多年集毛孔菌, early-flowering ivory ginseng, tiger skin boletus, checkered earthstar, unidentified mushroom genus, white fern, small leopard-spotted earthstar, pine forest乳牛肝, yellow juice乳菇, konjac, fern plants, and also collected white-bellied golden pheasant feathers and porcupine quills. Saw raccoons and squirrels, ending a meaningful day with a vegetarian meal. Leaving boring textbooks behind, entering nature, and experiencing the outdoors.

We signed up for four projects at Cangshan Hiking House. First, we spent two days doing handmade crafts at the mountain's natural coffee workshop, making a mushroom lamp and a fruit butterfly. The kids loved them very much. Teacher Li Zhenhao and Teacher Aguo were both very kind, patient, and taught the kids crafts very well. We also met other children doing crafts, planning to hike together next time! Teacher Li Zhenhao's coffee and drinks in the shop are very delicious, especially the plum drink, which I really like!

On the third day, we signed up to pick pinecones at Cangshan and eat vegetarian food at Jizhao Monastery. Along the way, we collected many pinecones and fern leaves with other friends. Teacher Li Zhenhao kept introducing various plants, very professional! We also saw a little squirrel. The team leader brought lots of fruit, snacks, and hot tea! We sat on the ground, eating snacks and chatting by the campfire—despite just meeting, everyone was very happy! The kids loved it! At 5 pm, we had vegetarian food at Jizhao Monastery, which was really delicious. My child ate a big bowl all by himself!!!

On the fourth day, we went to Shaxi. Leader He Chen took us to Shaxi Ancient Town to enjoy delicious local specialties, then in the afternoon, we climbed Shizhong Mountain to see Tang Dynasty stone caves. The itinerary was very well planned, and we saw beautiful scenery with few people around! The kids loved the explanations about the history of the caves. The mountain guesthouse where we stayed was very comfortable. Sitting by the campfire at night, chatting and roasting marshmallows, was truly joyful! In summary, the guides were very professional, and everyone was super nice! The kids said they want to go back during summer vacation. After summer, we plan to try other activities! Highly recommend Teacher Li Zhenhao and Leader He Chen! Hope they can guide us again next time!~