High on the slopes of Mt. Cangshan, in Taiwan Village within Dali's Yinqiao Town, stands a five-story sanctuary of stone and glass. The Cangshan Natural Image Museum sits directly beside the rushing waters of the Shuangyuan Stream. This vertical structure was once the private home of Xi Zhinong, a wildlife photographer who founded the environmental group Wild China. In late 2021, Xi chose to transform his personal residence into a public space. He opened its doors on May 22, 2022, marking the International Day for Biological Diversity.

Inside, the building functions as a biological diversity image center. The Prologue Hall traces the history of ecological photography. In the main galleries, life-sized animal replicas, mock darkrooms, and historical archives preserve conservation stories. On the fourth floor, visitors find a nature-themed library and the Wild Coffee cafe, where the aroma of fresh espresso mixes with the scent of mountain pine. Outside, open balconies on the second, fourth, and fifth floors serve as birdwatching decks, offering views of Erhai Lake.

The building merges with the mountain landscape. To the south, a stepped concrete retaining wall stabilizes the slope while protecting the natural riverbed of the stream. Guests staying at the integrated boutique hotel sleep to the sound of rushing water. In the bathrooms, walls are made of ancient fossilized Dali marble, cool to the touch and patterned with prehistoric life. Skylights in the guestrooms reveal the night sky, allowing visitors to watch the stars from bed.

The museum is a place of human connection. Visitors often sit on the terrace to talk with Xi Zhinong about his forty years of wilderness work. In the morning, local staff prepare traditional bait shreds for breakfast, sometimes running to nearby villages to source specific meals for guests. The museum is a living home where the boundaries between human shelter and the wild mountain dissolve.