Red Rock Gorge

#2023TravelWish #nationalpark #mountainview #henanprovince #china Heard of Henan before? If you have, it’s likely for the Shaolin Temple or Longmen grottoes (check out my other posts for a review on those cultural highlights) but it’s not often that YunTai mountain is talked about as a must-go place. Situated in the north of the province, YunTai mountain not only hosts beautiful waterfalls, monkey trails and mountain top temples, but also the Red Rock Gorge. This really took my breath away with miles of stairs up and down the crevice with the characteristic… you’ve guessed it! Red rocks! The whole scenic area is easily accessible via tourist bus, cable car and boat!

In the dawn, we embarked on a fascinating self-driving journey from Zhengzhou, with our destination being the fascinating Yuntai Mountain. The scenery along the way was picturesque, and the tour route was very well designed, allowing us to fully appreciate the wonders of nature. At half past seven in the morning, we left Zhengzhou by car, enjoying a delicious breakfast on the road. We arrived at the foot of Yuntai Mountain at nine o'clock, and it is recommended to navigate directly to the shore service area to buy tickets for entry. Remember to carry your ID card with you, as each scenic spot requires an ID card for entry, but if you forget, you can also get a paper ticket on site. The ticket price is 120 yuan per person, valid for three days. University students can enjoy a half-price discount, but they need to show valid proof, either a student ID or a proof from the student credit network. In addition, the bus fare is 60 yuan per person, which is a necessary expense during the tour. The park bus is considerate and convenient, with direct access to each scenic spot. Hongshi Gorge was our first stop. We took the bus directly to Hongshi Gorge at half past nine. The whole journey was 2 kilometers, and the beautiful scenery along the way was all in sight. The tour route here is very cleverly designed, like a wonderful journey up and down the mountain, with beautiful scenery everywhere, making it a paradise for photography enthusiasts. I especially recommend taking photos by the water, the effect is outstanding, and the whole tour process takes about 1.5 hours. At 10:50, we left Hongshi Gorge and took the bus to Xiaozhaigou, in the direction of Monkey Valley. Watching the wonderful performance at 11:00 in Monkey Valley became our next itinerary. There are two choices here, either hiking up the mountain or choosing the jungle slide, 20 yuan for going up, 40 yuan for going down, and 50 yuan for going up and down. Although the speed of the jungle slide is slow, the experience of going down the mountain is very exciting, and I highly recommend it. The entire tour time in Monkey Valley is about 0.5 hours. After leaving Monkey Valley, we went to Quanpu Gorge and chose the 10 yuan round-trip electric car at the door, which is time-saving and labor-saving. Along the way, the small waterfall was gurgling, and the scenery became more and more charming all the way to the end, which is Tiantai Tianpu. It is recommended to visit again in the season when the water flow is large, the effect is better. The entire tour time is about 1.5 hours. Around one o'clock in the afternoon, we had a meal at the door. As we are locals in Henan, we didn't think about eating local specialties, so we chose Dicos and took a short break. If you have plenty of time, you can also continue to visit Tanpuquan. At half past three, we left Xiaozhaigou and took the bus to Phoenix Ridge Cableway. Although the cableway lasts for ten minutes, the glass plank road is our missed regret. After getting off the cableway, we chose to hike to Zhuyu Peak, a total of 2.5 kilometers. Although we climbed quickly, due to the strong wind, the park staff reminded us at around six o'clock that the cableway was about to close, so we hurried down the mountain. It is recommended that if you are tired from climbing in the morning, you can choose to take the cableway up the mountain from Zhuyu Peak. At twenty past seven, we returned to the visitor center, ready to return to Zhengzhou, and arrived home smoothly at half past eight. Although there are some scenic spots that we have not been able to visit, the overall feeling is very good. The beauty and grandeur of Yuntai Mountain left a deep impression on us. We hope that our tour route can provide some small references for everyone, and wish everyone a happy time in Yuntai Mountain!

💚The answers to life are all hidden in nature. Yuntai Mountain, this magical place at the border of Henan and Shanxi, seems to spread the most beautiful landscape painting on the earth. It is a dazzling pearl in the Taihang Mountains, attracting countless travel enthusiasts to explore its mysteries. 🌿The uniqueness of Yuntai Mountain lies in its 'northern karst topography', which is one of the reasons why it was included in the first batch of World Geoparks. It is not only a 'history book' of thousands of volumes in the geological museum but also a 'gallery of hundreds of miles' of landscape scenery.📚 Yuntai Mountain Travel Tips👇 🔸Stepping into Yuntai Mountain, you will be attracted by the wonders of the Red Stone Gorge. Located 68 meters underground, it combines beauty, tranquility, grandeur, and steepness. The springs here babble, waterfalls flow like silk, streams meander, and the deep pools are profound. The rocks on the cliffs on both sides are in various shapes and forms, as if they were carefully carved by the divine workmanship of nature.💧 🔸Zhuyu Peak is another major attraction of Yuntai Mountain. It is the main peak of Yuntai Mountain, also known as 'Little North Top'. In ancient times, it was as famous as the Golden Summit of Wudang Mountain in Hubei and witnessed countless legendary stories. Standing on the top of the peak, looking around, you will be shocked by the magnificent landscapes and feel the infinite charm of nature.🌄 Practical tips: Tickets🎫 Entrance ticket: 120 yuan (teachers, students, and veterans can enjoy a half-price discount of 60 yuan) Scenic area shuttle bus: 60 yuan The tickets and bus tickets are valid for three days, and you can enter the scenic area and take the shuttle bus an unlimited number of times with your ID card. 🚌Transportation Take an intercity or high-speed train to Jiaozuo Station, and then take the No. 3 bus directly to the Yuntai Mountain ticket office. Take a bus to Xiuwu West Station, which is closer to Yuntai Mountain In your journey through Yuntai Mountain, you can not only appreciate the beauty of the mountains and waters but also find the answers to life. Because in this nature, every detail is filled with the power and beauty of life. Come here, let your soul relax, and return to a simple life.🍃

Yuntai Mountain, a 5A scenic spot in Jiaozuo, Henan, is known for its natural oxygen bar, green mountains and rivers, and pleasant climate. It is an ideal place for relaxing travel. Day1⃣ ✈️ **Transportation:** Take the C2962 train from Zhengzhou, depart at 09:00 in the morning, only need 28 yuan, the journey takes about 48 minutes. After getting off the train, exit from the "South Station Exit", you can take the tourist bus to Yuntai Mountain Scenic Area, 40 minutes in total, 30 yuan round trip. 🏡 **Accommodation:** Arrive at the homestay around 11:00 in the morning, after putting down the luggage, the bus directly to the scenic spot is just across the road, extremely convenient. 🍔 **Lunch:** Walk 50 meters, you can taste the food on Yuntai Mountain Snack Street, 35 yuan per person, allowing you to enjoy Henan cuisine, barbecue and snacks. ⛰️ **Attractions:** Visit Red Stone Gorge, the beautiful scenery is intoxicating, the design is unique, especially suitable for photography. It takes about 3 hours, and the rate of good photos is extremely high. 🌃 **Night:** Experience the nightlife of Snack Street, immerse yourself in Henan's special cuisine, and end the fulfilling first day. Day2⃣️ 🍔 **Breakfast:** Taste local pepper soup, buns, and fried dough sticks to inject vitality into the new day. ⛰️ **Cornelian Cherry Peak:** Take the scenic bus directly in the morning, it is the highest peak of Yuntai Mountain, Cornelian Cherry Peak. Although the climb is quite laborious, the magnificent scenery on the top of the mountain makes all the effort worthwhile. It takes about 4 hours. 🍔 **Lunch:** After coming down the mountain, taste the lunch at the foot of the mountain, the price is moderate, two or three yuan more expensive than usual, but it's worth it. ⛰️ **Tanpu Gorge/Monkey Valley:** Visit Tanpu Gorge, feel the wonder of "a spring every three steps, a waterfall every five steps, a pool every ten steps". If you want to see cute monkeys, you can visit Monkey Valley, which is very convenient. 🏡 **Pack up:** Return to the homestay to pack up and prepare to set off. 🚌 **Return:** Choose the 18:00 bus in the afternoon, just after playing in the scenic area in the afternoon, it is convenient to take the C2969 train and return to Zhengzhou at 19:59 in the evening. The ticket cost of 28 yuan is affordable. 🌟 **Summary:** The two-day and one-night trip to Yuntai Mountain, enjoy the fun of travel. The detailed arrangements in the guide allow you to have no worries, just immerse yourself in the natural scenery and food, break the fatigue, and relax. Every moment in the journey is a memory worth cherishing.