Ascend to the Clouds: The Ultimate Vertical Journey at Cangshan Ximatan Ropeway

The Stairway to the Sky

1.Located west of Dali Ancient: City, facing the vast Erhai Lake, the Cangshan Ximatan Ropeway is not merely a transportation tool but a spectacular journey through geological history and biodiversity. Starting near the Tianlongbabu Film City at an altitude of 2,200 meters and ascending to the Ximatan area at 3,920 meters, this ropeway covers a total length of 5,555 meters with a staggering vertical drop of 1,648 meters. It is recognized as one of the tourist passenger ropeways with the largest vertical drop in the world. As a core component of the Cangshan Erhai National Nature Reserve and Geopark, this ropeway allows visitors to traverse from the warm temperate zone at the foot of the mountain directly into the chill of the alpine zone in just about 40 minutes.

A Vertical Ecological Gallery

2.One of the most unique features of the: Ximatan Ropeway is the ability to witness a complete vertical vegetation spectrum. As the cable car rises, the landscape shifts dramatically beneath your feet. You begin in the lush, pine-covered temperate forests. As you ascend past 3,000 meters, the tall trees give way to alpine shrub meadows and eventually to the rugged beauty of bare rocks and ancient glaciers. In late spring and early summer (May to June), this transition is particularly breathtaking as the mountainside is covered in blooming azaleas (rhododendrons), turning the slopes into a sea of red, white, and purple flowers against the backdrop of snow-capped peaks.

The Legend of the Washing Horse Pond

3.The destination of the ropeway is: Ximatan, which translates to "Washing Horse Pond." Located between the Jade Bureau Peak and Longquan Peak, it is a crystal-clear alpine moraine lake formed by Quaternary glaciation,. Legend has it that when Kublai Khan led his Mongol army to conquer Dali in 1253, he crossed the Cangshan mountains and stopped here to wash his horse in this pond, giving it its name. Today, it stands as a pristine "Mountain Eye," reflecting the changing clouds and the rugged peaks. The area around the pond is often shrouded in mist, creating a mystical atmosphere that feels far removed from the human world below.

Panoramic Vistas

The ropeway journey offers an unparalleled visual feast. As you look east from the cabin, the entire Dali Basin spreads out before you. The vast Erhai Lake looks like a giant sapphire embedded between the green fields and white villages. On clear days, the reflection of the clouds on the lake surface and the outline of the distant mountains create a mesmerizing painting. To the west, the sheer cliffs of Cangshan rise majestically, showcasing the raw power of geological forces. The ropeway also features a middle station near the Seven Dragon Girl Pools (Qixinu Chi), where visitors can disembark to explore the famous Jade Belt Road or view the cascading waterfalls hidden in the deep canyons.