Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake are praised as Dali's leading scenic areas. Most attractions in Dali lie between these two landmarks, such as the Butterfly Spring, and the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple. Ethnic minorities have inhabited Dali for generations, with the Bai Minority making up the majority of Dali's population (65%). The customs of the ethnic minorities bring charm to daily life in Dali. Each spring, celebrations and festivals bring the city to life. Celebrations such as the March Street Festival and Butterfly Fest provide excellent opportunities to learn about local folk customs. The mountains behind Dali are part of the Hengduan range. From east to west, it has a total of 19 peaks. The 18 creeks that flow out to Erhai Lake have carved out ravines on the western side of the range, they then continue on to join the Mekong River. Easiest access to these mountains is via Zhonghe Temple 中和寺. The temple provides beautiful views of the valley (entry 30Y). Chairlift from town for 40Y or walk up a very steep slope (about 1 hour). Starting from Zhonghe temple is a well-maintained path. Head south and it ends at Qingbi Creek, 18 km. From here you must get a cable-car down to a temple, 50Y. From the temple you need to walk out to the main road, there will be buses heading into Dali. If you head north you will find yourself at a gate after 6 km.
Behind the gate, there is a path of white stones, this leads down to the back of the Three Pagodas (about 8km). The scenery on the trail either North or South is spectacular, winding around ravines with the lake hundreds of meters below.
