Stop searching for Jiuhua Mountain in Anhui! Henan hides a 22°C summer retreat, perfect for a leisurely 2-day stroll without crowds.
Honestly, too many people from Henan only go to Laojun Mountain, Baoquan, or Yuntai Mountain to beat the heat in summer!
Crowded, two-hour lines, photos full of people, and hidden costs—it’s really not worth it.
Many don’t know that Henan has its own low-key Jiuhua Mountain!
Not the crowded Anhui Jiuhua Mountain with endless crowds, but Xijiuhua Mountain in Gushi, Xinyang.
Half is a vast sea of green bamboo forests, half is layered tea hills, hiding ancient temples, deep mountain valleys, streams, and waterfalls.
The average summer temperature is just 22℃, the air is moist and cool, and there are very few visitors—almost no lines!
I just finished a 2-day self-drive trip here. Honestly, this is the most worry-free, healing, and crowd-free mountain and water retreat I’ve visited this year.
Many online guides are a mess, mixing info about Anhui Jiuhua Mountain, giving wrong prices, and pushing random attractions.
I’ve gathered the real road conditions, hidden costs, pitfalls to avoid, secret photo spots, and local farm meals all in one place—beginners can follow it exactly!
1. Why you must visit Xijiuhua Mountain in summer
Unlike other scenic spots in Henan, Xijiuhua Mountain offers both activity and tranquility.
Want to cool off and play in water? There are valleys, streams, glass water slides, and shallow waterfalls.
Want great photo spots? There are thousands of acres of tea hills and a whole bamboo forest night view that sets the perfect mood.
Want peace and relaxation? There’s a thousand-year-old temple for walking, meditation, and chanting.
Most importantly: no over-commercialization!
No constant sales pitches, no fees at every turn, no rushed tours—perfect for a weekend escape to relax.
2. Real self-drive conditions | Easy even for beginners
I drove from Zhengzhou, mostly on highways, about 4.5 hours direct.
⚠️ Biggest pitfall (90% get this wrong)
Never navigate to “Xijiuhua Mountain toll station”!
The Xinyang section of the Hushan Expressway is often foggy and rainy in summer, and this exit is frequently closed temporarily, causing detours of tens of minutes.
✅ Correct destination: Liji or Chenlinzi toll station
It’s a 10-minute drive from the highway to the scenic area. The roads are great, mountain roads are gentle and not steep, no pressure for beginners.
Ignore the many women on the roadside offering “low-price mountain entry, free tickets”!
These are unofficial paths with no security or guardrails. The roads are slippery in the rainy season and very dangerous. Saving money here is not worth the risk.
Parking is very reasonable: official parking lots charge 10 yuan for the whole day, no extra fee for overnight parking.
Public transportation is not recommended. Transfers are troublesome and time-consuming. Driving here doubles the experience.
3. Ticket savings truth | Don’t buy single tickets blindly!
Xijiuhua Mountain’s attractions are spread out across bamboo forests, ancient temples, valleys, and tea hills. Buying single tickets is a total loss.
The smartest way: buy a multi-attraction combo ticket
Buy online a day in advance for a much better price than on-site. You can enter and exit freely within 3 days, perfect for a relaxed 2-day visit.
✅ Free perks
Miaogao Zen Temple is completely free!
A thousand-year-old Sui dynasty temple, giant ancient ginkgo trees, and a peaceful Zen courtyard trail—all free to visit and chant with no hidden costs.
✅ Great discounts for students and seniors
Seniors over 60 and children under 1.2 meters get free admission. Students get half price with valid ID.
A quick note on secondary activities:
Tea hill slides and glass water slides offer great value. They’re not thrilling but very relaxing and suitable for all ages. Buying them as a package with the combo ticket is the best deal.
4. How to choose accommodation | Avoid overpricing, stay as needed
I compared all accommodations in the scenic area on-site. No exaggeration or bashing, here are three clear options:
1. Bamboo village farmstay (best value)
Perfect for average families!
160–280 yuan per night, just minutes’ walk to the Central Plains bamboo village, very convenient for the evening light show.
The owners are locals, honest and fair, with cheap and tasty breakfast.
Only downside: many mosquitoes in the bamboo forest, bring insect repellent.
2. Egret lake lakeview rooms (for couples and photo lovers)
Lakeside standalone cottages with stunning sunset views over the water, very atmospheric.
Great for quiet vacations and photography. Higher budget, not for those chasing value.
3. Mountain lodge hotel (best for seniors and families)
Elevator building, new facilities, strong air conditioning, easy walking.
Ideal for traveling with elders or those sensitive to dampness and insects.
❌ Pitfall: 99 yuan special offers on short videos are all scams!
No availability in peak season, or you get forced to pay more or stay in the worst rooms. Don’t trust them.
5. Relaxed 2-day itinerary | No rushing, no crowds, all highlights
Day 1: Valley water play + bamboo forest night view (summer soul experience)
Arrive in the afternoon to avoid midday heat and scattered visitors.
Longjin Creek exceeded expectations!
The whole valley is gentle with no steep climbs, streams all along, layered waterfalls, and crystal-clear cool water.
🌿 Secret photo spots
Fairy tiered waterfall shallow pools—wear light colors for soft, healing photos
High-altitude glass suspension bridge overlooking the green forest, with a wide open view
Spend the afternoon playing in the creek, walking the valley, and sliding down the glass water slide to instantly cool off.
Evening highlight: Central Plains bamboo village night tour
The bamboo forest is beautiful by day and twice as stunning at night!
Lanterns hang throughout the bamboo, creating a strong ancient atmosphere. On Fridays and Saturdays, there are live performances and NPC interactions.
Unlike over-the-top lighting at popular spots, this night view is elegant, photogenic, quiet, and healing.
Stay nearby and fall asleep to the sound of wind in the bamboo—super relaxing.
Day 2: Thousands of acres of tea hills + thousand-year-old temple (healing finale)
No need to get up early, sleep in and head out!
Morning visit to the vast tea terraces
The whole mountain is covered with layered tea gardens. The famous giant teapot landmark is perfect for photos.
The mid-mountain viewing platform is my favorite hidden spot. After rain, light mist often rises, making it as gentle as tea hills in southern China.
You must try the tea hill slide!
Slide down through the tea fields with a light breeze carrying tea fragrance. Comfortable and relaxing, not scary at all.
Afternoon visit to Miaogao Zen Temple
Away from the noise, peaceful with quiet incense. Ancient ginkgo trees tower above, and the Zen courtyard is clean and simple.
Walk the trails, sit quietly, chant for free, and calm all city anxieties.
After a full lunch, take a slow trip back. Two days is just right—no exhaustion, no rush, no stress.
6. Real local food | Skip the trendy spots, eat what locals love
There are no overpriced trendy restaurants around Xijiuhua Mountain. Farm dishes are simple, generous, and authentic.
✅ Must-try specialties
Gushi goose pieces, bamboo tube rice, freshly stir-fried mountain bamboo shoots, bamboo fungus stewed chicken, acorn jelly
All made from fresh local ingredients, light and refreshing—perfect for summer.
Farmhouse restaurants at the mountain base cost about 40 yuan per person. You get a full, good meal with no overcharging or scams.
The vegetarian dishes near the temple are light and tasty—great for those who prefer mild food.
7. Pitfalls I sincerely advise you to avoid
1. Don’t take photos of tea hills or glass bridges at noon—the harsh light is unflattering. Evening light is much softer.
2. Only walk official trails when playing in the valley water. Don’t go into deep pools on your own—algae are very slippery.
3. All roadside offers for low-price guides or tickets are 100% scams.
4. Don’t stay too far away. Driving back and forth on mountain roads wastes time.
5. Mountain temperatures vary greatly. No matter how hot it is, always bring a light jacket.
8. Honest travel thoughts
Compared to Henan’s crowded popular mountain and water spots,
Xijiuhua Mountain is a seriously underrated summer escape.
It has the gentleness of bamboo forests, the freshness of tea hills, the coolness of valleys, and the tranquility of ancient temples.
No crowd anxiety, no endless hidden costs.
Spend a weekend here to escape the city heat and retreat into the mountain bamboo forest.
Listen to the wind, the stream, and the rustling bamboo—
this is what summer travel should feel like.