Despite the cable car being out of service (adding an uphill 2 hours to our hike) this still ended up being one of the best experiences of our 18 months on the road. Once you get to the walk it is 10km of flat walking with simply stunning views. You spend half your time saying "WOW, look at the amazing scenery" and the second half saying "How in the hell did they build this". It ended up taking us most of the day, but we walked off the mountain with awe and memories of a tremendous experience. We liked it so much we may even do it again before we leave.

Do not miss it!

Beautiful from afar but you are herded into cable cars and the walk itself is along a paved road. As in many places in China, it is hard to feel like you are really enjoying nature as opposed to following a well beaten tourist trap trail.

The trip up the mountain on the cable car is fun. You get a really good view across Dali old town and Erhai Lake. Walking around up the top is a nice, relaxing way to spend a couple of hours away from alot of people.

A bus takes you to the parking lot where you pay, as for almost all attractions in China, the 200 yuan (£20) entrance & cable car fee.
A 10 min steep climb up steps past vendors selling souveniers,barbecued food, fresh fruit & drinks, then you arrive at the cable car shed. Steps lead off up & down to beautiful vantage points by a waterfall & a super large chinese chequers board. 10 minute spectacular ride to about half way up the mountain. Then more very steep steps to paths that takes you around the mountain. make sure you have map.
This bit is fairly flat with fantastic scenery looking down onto Dali & Erhai Lake below.

A second cable car takes you further but it was closed when we went. We walked a total of 12 miles but the walkway, excellently kept clean & free from branches & rocks, was closed past a certain poiint due to rock-slide. Hence the 2nd cable-car was closed.

Try to choose a sunny day, plenty of shade in the trees & ice cold steams all around. I spent 10 mins with my feet in one of these.

Allow a whole day to get the best from this great attraction.