Things to do in Huguan

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Grand Canyon of Taihang

Eight Spring Gap

Eight Spring Gap is located in the middle section of the Taihang Mountains Grand Canyon. Originally named "Badao Water," it takes its name from the eight springs in the canyon that emerge from a single source. The attraction covers an area of approx. 24 km², with a low point at approx. 600 m above sea level and a high point at approx. 1,400 m, a drop of approx. 1,100 m, combining the grandeur of northern mountains and rivers with the soft beauty of Jiangnan waterscapes. The attraction is divided into four touring areas: the gatehouse view, the canyon view, the cableway view, and the trail view, with water routes, land routes, and aerial cableways connecting in alternation to create a three-dimensional touring experience. The water route begins at the sightseeing dam pier, where visitors board a boat to enter the gorge, passing through the emerald waters of the high gorge and calm lake, with cliffs pressing in on both sides and the full force of a sliver of sky visible at a glance. After landing, visitors follow the Quiet Valley Listening to Springs and the Hanging Streams Dripping Emerald deeper into the canyon, where spring water gathers into streams and eight flows tumble over flat rocks, their sound echoing at the bottom of the valley. Pot Hole Grotto is a continuous arc-shaped grotto formed by mountain spring water eroding the mountain body over hundreds of millions of years—an easily overlooked detail that is well worth a stop. Along the trail route, the Cliff Hanging Ladder is built against the cliff face at approx. 60 m above ground, and walking on it offers a panoramic view of the dam; the sightseeing elevator is built vertically against the mountain, with an operating height of approx. 200 m, and a cantilevered transparent viewing platform at the top, making it the highest point for overlooking the canyon. The Cloud Cliff Walk consists of thousands of steps and several thousand meters of cliffside plank walkway, hanging among the clouds on the precipice and leading to high points such as Yuhuang Square and North Heaven Gate. North Heaven Gate is a natural stone arch, over 20 m high, standing atop the peak and echoing the pictographic rock views such as the Chinese Zodiac Worshipping Heaven on the opposite ridge. The Turning Cableway spans more than ten mountain ridges, offering an aerial panorama of the canyon and a commanding view of the layered Taihang mountain scenery from above. It is advisable to allow ample time, as the water, land, and air touring options each offer different viewing experiences; along the way, small views close to the cliff face, such as Pot Hole Grotto and Dripping Valley Nine Lotuses, are easily overlooked and deserve extra attention to the signs along the path.

No. 4 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Shanxi

Taihang Mountain Grand Canyon

Located near the boundary between Shanxi and Henan, the Taihang Grand Canyon offers the scenic areas of Baquan (“Eight Springs”) Gorge, Hongdou ("Red Bean”) Gorge, Qinglong (“Azure Dragon”) Gorge, Heilong Tan (“Black Dragon Pool”), and Zituan Mountain. The whole canyon is a natural oxygen bar, replete with verdant vegetation and clear stream water plunging down from the high mountains and forming marvelous waterfalls. The canyon's attractions are fairly far apart from each other, so when visiting you can take electric cars, boats, cableways, escalators, and other transportation provided by the scenic area to get around more easily.

Hongdou Gorge

Because of the rare tree species "Yew" that symbolizes lovesickness, it is known as the "Chinese Love Gorge". Hongdou Gorge is majestic, dangerous and secluded, combining the masculine and roughness of the north with the feminine and beautiful beauty of the south. It can be said to be a collection of thousands of gorges and a variety of customs. There are majestic mountains and beautiful waters, straight walls and cliffs. The entire canyon was formed by the land-building movement hundreds of millions of years ago. It was cut by axes and knives, with cliffs facing each other, high and broken river valleys, overlapping waterfalls and pools, rich rock formations, and numerous fossils. The forests here are lush and the ecology is intact. The forest vegetation coverage rate reaches 90%, like a natural oxygen bar. On the skirt-shaped gully slope deep in the canyon, there are more than 20,000 natural yews growing in patches, which is rare in northern my country; the 2.5 square kilometers of Shishu Park, with strange stones, uneven trees, and stone trees interdependent, is natural and unique, which is amazing for experts and scholars; the canyon has also been developed into a fruit orchard and botanical garden with great ornamental value, which is a good place for lovers to meet and relax. There are rural families and pastoral scenery here. The folk customs are simple and honest. A poetic painting of "small bridges, flowing water and people's homes" is an ideal place for urban people to return to nature. There are bricks from the Shang Dynasty and Sui Dynasty, and the cultural heritage is profound. The Baixing Ancient Road that passes through the gorge is one of the eight ancient gorges in Shangdang; the Digu Temple and Jiulian Temple built in the Sui Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty still have ruins, and there are rich heritages such as murals, stone carvings, and steles. They are realistic textbooks for exploring, investigating and studying prehistoric culture, ancient history and Buddhist culture. In addition, there are also the remains of the artillery forts in the defense of Hongdou Gorge. Through the preliminary development of the above resources. The main attractions include Qixianyu, Sandietan, Ziyunling, Sawtooth, Longyanquan, Digu Temple, Shishuyuan, Hongdou Valley, Botanical Garden, Ezhanggou, etc. Entering the country along the gorge, it is like falling into a gallery, with thousands of peaks competing for beauty, thousands of trees competing for strangeness, clear streams gurgling, waterfalls cascading, lakes and mountains, and colorful scenery. As the poet praised, "This scene should have been in heaven, but the drunk Buddha accidentally fell to the earth." Visitors here can climb the cliff to admire the red beans, swim in the sky, watch the wonders in the valley, play with the green waves in the lake, ferry to think about the ancient rhyme, sing love songs across the bank, and enjoy harmony, beauty, and unity, and experience tenderness, warmth, and warmth.

Qinglong Gorge ( Taihang Mountain Grand Canyon)

Taihang Mountain Grand Canyon Natural Scenic Tourist Area is located at the junction of Shanxi and Henan provinces, in the southeast of Huguan County, Changzhi City, covering a total area of ​​about 225 square kilometers. It has won the honorary titles of "National Forest Park, National Geopark, National 4A Attraction, China Rock Climbing Base, Shanxi Scenic Spot". Famous scenic spots in the Grand Canyon include Hongdou Gorge, Baquan Gorge and Nuwa Cave. Taihang Mountain (34°34'-40°43'N, 110°14'-114°33'E), also known as Wuxing Mountain, Wangmu Mountain and Nuwa Mountain, is an important mountain range and geographical dividing line in eastern China. Between Shanxi Province and the North China Plain, it spans four provinces, Beijing, Hebei, Shanxi and Henan. The mountain range starts from Xishan in Beijing in the north and extends to Wangwu Mountain in the border area between Henan and Shanxi in the south. It is connected to the Shanxi Plateau in the west and the North China Plain in the east. It runs from northeast to southwest and stretches for more than 400 kilometers. Taihang Mountains are composed of a variety of rock structures and present different landforms. Most of them are as high as 1,200 meters above sea level. Many rivers originate and flow through them. The terrain is high in the north and low in the south, and there are rich coal resources.

Happy Taihang Valley

Happy Taihang Valley is a comprehensive cultural tourism resort centered around large-scale amusement facilities. It features four core zones: Adventure Square, Happy Taihang Valley Water World, Happy Island, and a distinctive folk culture commercial street. This integrated destination combines leisure, entertainment, vacations, fruit picking, science education, study tours, shopping, and learning experiences. In 2019, it was designated as a national 4A-level tourist attraction. Happy Taihang Valley is not only famous for its amusement facilities but also dedicated to cultural heritage and experiences. The attraction features a variety of folk performances (such as sedan chair carrying, rickshaw rides, and traditional opera), where visitors can enjoy folk music and dance performances while gaining a deeper understanding of Taihang Mountain's cultural customs and historical background. During festivals, the attraction also hosts special cultural activities to showcase its rich local heritage. In addition, the attraction's leisure areas and restaurants offer a comfortable environment and delicious dining options. With over a hundred types of folk-style snacks, visitors can taste delicacies from various regions while enjoying moments of relaxation and socializing during their exploration. Whether it's a family trip, couple getaway, or solo travel, Happy Taihang Valley provides a multi-layered experience for every visitor, creating unforgettable travel memories.

Lu'an Prefecture City God Temple

Lu'an Fu Chenghuang Temple follows the central axis from south to north, featuring Liulong Wall, Hong Gate, Wooden Archway, Stone Archway, Mountain Gate, Xuanjian Tower, Offering Pavilion, Central Main Hall, Sleeping Palace, etc. This forms a complete ancient architectural complex from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, with significant historical and scientific research value. The existing Chenghuang Temple's Central Main Hall and Corner Hall are Yuan dynasty structures, while the Sleeping Palace, Opera Tower, and Xuanjian Tower are Ming dynasty buildings, and the Corridors and Ear Hall are Qing dynasty constructions.

No. 1 of Night Attractions in Changzhi

Shangdang Gate

Shangdang Gate is located at the north end of Fupo Street on West Street in Changzhi City. It was the main gate of the ancientShangdangPrefecture Office (later theLu'an Prefecture Office) and is now a symbol and landmark of Changzhi. The nameShangdangdates back to the Shang Dynasty. During the Qin Dynasty,ShangdangPrefecture was established, and the prefecture office was moved from Zhangzi County to present-day Changzhi City. Shangdang Gate was first built during the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty. When Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji, served as the administrator of Luzhou, he undertook major construction projects within the office, addingFeilong Palaceand Defeng Pavilion. At its peak, there were over 280 pavilions, halls, towers, and palaces. It was destroyed by war during the Jin and Yuan dynasties. In the third year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1370), the Shangdang Gate entrance was rebuilt, and theBell and Drum Towerwas added later. Shangdang Gate faces south. The architectural layout includes, in sequence, a glazed screen wall, the entrance (also known as the main gate), the Bell and Drum Towers on either side of the main gate, the second gate and its screen wall, the middle gate, the east and west side gates, a memorial archway, the main hall, the second hall, east and west wing rooms,Feilong Palace, Defeng Pavilion, the office courtyard, Yingchun Terrace, and other structures. The group of pavilions, halls, towers, and palaces are combined with varying heights, creating a grand scale. Today, only the main gate, theBell and Drum Towers, the second prefecture hall, and the office courtyard remain. The main gate and theBell and DrumTowers are arranged in parallel, with high foundations, distinct primary and secondary structures, and a well-proportioned layout. The main gate is 3 bays wide and 4 rafters deep, with the central bay serving as the entrance and the 2 side bays featuring blue brick fan-shaped walls, topped by a single-eave hanging mountain roof. The roof features gray ridges and beasts, finished with traditional tile roofing. TheBell and Drum Towersare built with blue bricks, featuring battlements, arched openings, and steps, with pavilions built on top. They are 3 bays wide and deep, with double-eave hip-and-gable roofs. A plaque on the rightBell Towerreads "Fengchi" (Wind Speed), and a plaque on the leftDrum Towerreads "Yundong" (Cloud Movement), signifying their height reaching the clouds. The outerBell and Drum Towercomplement each other, with dense dougong brackets and magnificent ridge beasts, reflecting the splendor of the entrance.

Yinggu Gorge

Yinggu Gorge is located in Daxiagu Town, Huguan County, Changzhi City, deep in the Taihang Mountain Grand Canyon. It is one of the most spectacular natural wonders in the Taihang Mountains, known as the "Zhangjiajie of the North." Yinggu Gorge is V-shaped, with bedrock mainly composed of thick layers of limestone and dolomite from the Cambrian to Ordovician periods. It is a typical karst landform, with towering peaks and sheer cliffs. The stone forest has various shapes, some resembling a high-coiffed bun, others like a graceful village girl, hence the name "Yinggu Gorge." There are about 1200 bluestone steps leading down the gorge, winding along the mountainside. The slope is steep, with some sections almost vertical, making it a daunting sight. Descending the steps, one can see scenic spots such as "Hidden Dragon Valley" and "Stone Buddha Group," with the words "Yinggu Gorge" and "Hidden Dragon Valley" carved on the cliff face. The valley floor is deep and tranquil, with sheer cliffs on both sides, and only a sliver of sky visible overhead. Every step reveals a new and breathtaking view.

Ewu Natural Bridge

The Goose House Natural Bridge is located in Huguan County, Changzhi City. It is a bridge across the stream that grows out of the cracks in the cliff at an altitude of more than 1,000 meters. There are weeds and clumps of short plants growing on the bridge, and the scenery is beautiful.

Eight-spring Gorge Scenic Area - Gaoxia Pinghu Cruise