Ximatan cable car to over 3,900 m on Cangshan: only on a clear morning
Cangshan, above Dali Old Town
The longest of Cangshan's three cableways runs about 5.5 km in two stages and climbs some 1,650 m to Ximatan, a glacial lake just below the summit ridge at over 3,900 m. On a clear day you look down on the whole of Erhai, with rhododendrons around the lake from mid-May into June. In cloud you pay the top price to stand in fog, and the top is often 10°C or more colder than the old town.
What locals sayReviews split by weather: clear-day riders rave about the view, while those who went up into cloud call it an expensive look at fog.
- Cost
- About ¥300 round trip to the top, park entry may be extra (2026)
- Time
- Half day · Early on a clear morning
- In Chinese
- 苍山 洗马潭索道
Ticket Cangshan Mountain (Geopark) & cable cars US$6 ¥40 · prices & how to book →
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Based on what locals and regular visitors share, checked against current sources · Updated September 2026. Details change — check opening times locally.
