Climbing Da Wa Mountain: A Hidden Gem Trip to China's Table Mountain

Last week, I finally fulfilled my dream of going to Da Wa Mountain! I had seen it called "China's Table Mountain," even more off-the-beaten-path than the one in South Africa. Thinking it would be less crowded, I rushed there, and although it was really exhausting, it was also incredibly refreshing!

We drove from Leshan, and the last stretch of the mountain road totally confused me — it was full of sharp hairpin turns. My friend in the passenger seat was gripping the handle and kept shouting "slow down." But the higher we went, the more breathtaking the view became. We could see the lake below like a green jewel, totally worth it!

We stayed at a farmhouse at the foot of the mountain, and the landlady was so genuine! At night, she cooked us some cured meat, paired with homegrown green bamboo shoots and wild onion scrambled eggs. It was so delicious I ate two bowls of rice. Before bed, I chatted with her and learned that the best time to climb Da Wa Mountain is early morning, because the sun gets really strong by noon. She even pointed out a less-traveled shortcut for us.

We set off at 6 a.m. the next day, starting on a forest trail filled with the scent of pine needles and the sound of birdsong. After about an hour, we reached the legendary "Elephant Trunk Cliff," which really looks like an elephant's trunk hanging on the mountain. My friend hurried to take photos but almost dropped his phone, which scared us both into a cold sweat.

Going further up got steeper, and we had to hold onto iron chains to climb. I'm not usually active, so I was out of breath after a while. When I rested and looked back, I realized we were already halfway up the mountain. The houses below looked as tiny as building blocks, and I felt a surge of accomplishment!

After about three hours of climbing, we finally reached the summit! I was stunned the moment I stood there — the top was flat! Just like a table, no wonder it's called Table Mountain! Surrounded by cliffs, the wind was howling, and we could see the distant sea of clouds moving. Several lakes connected together, blue and green, looked a hundred times better than in photos! We found a rock to sit on, ate the bread we brought, and enjoyed the view. All the tiredness just melted away.

We took a different path down and met a local uncle who told us Da Wa Mountain was formed by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago, and the flat summit used to be a lake. I was amazed. On the way, we also saw little squirrels darting around with pine cones in their mouths — so cute.

We got back to the farmhouse around 3 p.m., and the landlady cooked us noodles with a fried egg on top. Eating the warm noodles made me feel completely relaxed. Lying on the kang bed in the evening, thinking about the day's scenery, my legs were a bit sore, but I was really happy!

If you want to go, take my advice: don’t wear leather shoes! Definitely wear sneakers, bring a bottle of water and some snacks, and remember to take lots of photos. Otherwise, you won’t be able to show off such beautiful scenery to your friends! I want to come back again — I heard the summit turns yellow in autumn, which must be even more beautiful!

Post by olivermountain | Oct 23, 2025