Sunrise, starry sky and sea of clouds, this article is enough for an in-depth travel guide to Laojun Mountain, and it will tell you everything about food, accommodation and itinerary!
Preface
"It surpasses the Five Sacred Mountains in beauty and the Three Mountains in wonder; Huangshan has 72 extraordinary peaks, and how many wonders are there in Junshan?" said contemporary writer Li Jun after visiting Laojun Mountain.
When I saw the photo of Laojun Mountain for the first time, I was stunned. It was shrouded in clouds and mist, with a solitary golden top, lush green peaks, and a dazzling sunrise. It is truly worthy of being called "a famous mountain in the world and a paradise on earth."
Looking at online reviews of Laojun Mountain, you'll find praise everywhere, like "The scenery at Laojun Mountain is breathtaking" and "The biggest surprise of this trip." Simply put, "Come, it's the right place!" Once you visit, Laojun Mountain will surely leave you in awe and admiration. But with such a beautiful mountain, how can you enjoy it while also being effortless?
Overview of Laojun Mountain
Laojun Mountaincheck the details
Located in the north of the county, at the junction of Hubei and Henan provinces, it is the highest mountain in the county, reaching an elevation of 840.5 meters. According to the Huangzhou Prefecture Chronicle from the Hongzhi period of the Ming Dynasty, "it is said that Laojun once refined elixirs here, and a mortar stone is located on top," hence the name Laojun Mountain. To the northeast, it faces Tiantai Mountain, while to the south are Xiaolaojun Mountain and Daxingzhai. Surrounded by majestic and densely forested mountains, the area boasts rugged roads, crisscrossing canyons, and dangerous terrain, home to scenic spots such as the Water Curtain Cave. During the Agrarian Revolution and the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, it served as a vital base and stronghold for the Red Army and the New Fourth Army.
4729 recommendations, 2984 visits
Location
3km southeast of Luanchuan County, Luoyang City, Henan Province
status
Funiu Mountain is the main peak of the 800-li remnant of the Qinling Mountains, the filming location of Qingyunmen in "The Legend of Chusen", a national AAAAA-level scenic spot, a Taoist holy land, and an outstanding representative of the Central Plains landscape culture. Among them, the Taoist culture has a history of over 2,000 years. The Laojun Temple on the top of the mountain is the largest existing temple. There is a saying that "there is the Wudang Golden Summit in the south and the Laojun Iron Summit in the north."
Representative Landscape
Sunrise and sunset, sea of clouds, starry sky, waterfalls, and the Golden Roof complex.
When is the best time to go?
Laojun Mountain is located in the Central Plains. Its scenery varies throughout the year, presenting different aesthetics:
/Spring & Autumn (March-May, September-November)/
Spring flowers are everywhere, and autumn leaves are dazzling;
(The forest is full of colors, photography tourists tear and copy)
/Summer (June-August)/
The starry sky is magnificent, the trees are lush, and the temperature on the top of the mountain is around 10 degrees, which is very suitable for summer vacation. Therefore, on the way to the top of the mountain, you will see many people renting cotton-padded jackets and windbreakers.
(Laojun Mountain starry sky, photographed by tourists)
/Winter (December-February)/
The scenery is crystal clear and the snow fields are vast. It will be cold on the top of the mountain, so you need to keep warm.
(Winter snow scene at Laojun Mountain, photographed by tourists)
Touring Laojun Mountain
Laojun Mountain Scenic Spot Guide Map
1. A Quick Look at Laojun Mountain Scenic Spots
The Laojun Mountain Scenic Area is mainly divided into six parts: the Ten-Li Painting Screen, the Golden Summit Taoist Temple Group, the Self-Sacrificing Cliff, the Dream Chasing Valley, the Village Valley, and the Laozi Wenhua Garden.
The Ten-Li Painting Screen and the Golden Summit Taoist Temple complex are the essence of Laojun Mountain's scenery. Ma Zongling on the Ten-Li Painting Screen is the best viewing platform for Laojun Mountain, suitable for creating panoramic views of sunrise, sunset, sea of clouds, and Taoist architectural complexes.
Dream Chasing Valley and Zhaigou are mainly mountain springs and waterfalls, suitable for slow-motion photography.
There is a glass plank road on Sheshen Cliff, which tourists who like excitement can go and experience;
A central intersection of the Laozi Cultural Park Scenic Area, where many electric vehicles in the scenic area gather and distribute.
2. Representative Landscapes of Laojun Mountain
/Jinding Taoist Temple Group/
The Golden Summit is really the highlight and surprise of Laojun Mountain. A group of palace-style Taoist temples are built on the top of the mountain. No matter how the wind and clouds change in the sky, or the stars move, they remain motionless, with only the wind chimes under the roof making "ding-dong" sounds.
The Golden Summit buildings mainly include the Laojun Temple, the Daode Palace, the Jade Emperor Peak, the Bell and Drum Tower, the South Gate of Heaven, the Chaoyang Cave, the Dadao Courtyard, the Shinto Sky Bridge, the Corridor, etc., all of which adopt the architectural style of the royal palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Recommended viewing spots: the square in front of Daodefu, Mazongling, Yuhuangding, Laojun Temple, and the Bell and Drum Tower
/Sea of Clouds/
The probability of seeing the sea of clouds at Laojun Mountain is very, very high. You don’t need to watch the time-lapse video in post-production. You can see the time-lapse effect with your naked eyes.
A fairyland-like sea of clouds, mist enveloping the azure peaks and clouds covering a hundred miles, makes the entire Laojun Mountain repeatedly float in the sea of clouds. In just a few minutes, the boundless waves of cloud can swallow up an entire mountain, and occasionally a few towering peaks will emerge from the sea, looming and disappearing, giving people the feeling of "suddenly hearing a fairy mountain on the sea, the mountain is in the ethereal nothingness", and they just want to exclaim "fairyland, fairyland".
Recommended viewing spots: Jade Emperor Peak, Ten-mile Painting Screen, Huixian Bridge, Taibai Slope, Tai Chi Maze
If you go there after a rain, the fog will be so thick that you will wonder if your glasses are fogged up.
The scenic area is shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, with tall peaks standing in rows. The forest coverage rate is as high as 96.5%. The clouds and mist can change the sky, making people feel as if they have arrived in heaven.
/Starry sky/
The starry sky is a childhood memory for many people. Nowadays, so many people like to take pictures of and watch the starry sky. In addition to the fact that the starry sky is beautiful, it is probably because it is rare.
Laojun Mountain is approximately 2,200 meters above sea level, with a vegetation coverage rate of over 95%. At night, the summit is only illuminated by the moon, leaving minimal light pollution. The Golden Temple is located at the summit, offering a beautiful foreground and perfect for photographing the starry sky.
If you don’t want to take pictures, you can also sit in front of the Golden Palace with your friends, watch the moon and stars, and feel the breeze. How comfortable it would be.
Recommended viewing spots: Huixian Bridge, Daodefu Square, and Funiu Peak
/Sunrise/Sunset/
Recommended sunrise viewing spots: Mazongling, Yuhuangding, and Shili Huaping
Recommended sunset viewing spots: Liangbao Terrace, Sheshen Cliff, and the square in front of Daode Mansion
Recommended viewing spots are not only for watching the sunrise and sunset, but also for seeing the large-scale sea of clouds and mountains.
/Fall/
The waterfalls of Laojun Mountain are located on both sides of the scenic area, with Zhaigou on the east and Dream Chasing Valley on the west. The brooks here are gurgling, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, with uneven heights and a patchwork pattern, making it perfect for slow-motion photography.
Practical information about Laojun Mountain
Tickets
Scenic spot entrance ticket: 90 yuan/person
First-level cable car: Zhongling Cable Car 130 yuan/person (round trip)
Yunjing Cableway: 130 yuan/person (round trip)
Second-level cable car: Fenglin Cable Car 80 yuan/person (round trip)
Free of charge for the ticket (not for the cable car): Children under 1.4 meters in height, people over 70 years old, soldiers, journalists, tour guides, and those who present their valid ID.
transportation
How to get to Laojun Mountain
(1) Public transportation
Regardless of where you're coming from, you can fly or train to Zhengzhou or Luoyang, then buy a bus ticket to Luanchuan at the bus station. Buses run frequently. From there, take a bus or taxi to the scenic area. Laojun Mountain is located in downtown Luanchuan, so it's not far to get there. If you take a taxi, ask the driver to take you to the Laojun Mountain East Gate ticket gate.
(2) Self-driving
Just navigate to the scenic spot.
(3) Join a tour group
Luoyang and Zhengzhou both have two-day and one-day tours to Laojun Mountain. You can choose to include only the round-trip fare, the fare + tickets, or the fare + accommodation + tickets, which is very convenient.
Transportation within Laojun Mountain Scenic Area
There are three gates in Laojun Mountain: the East Gate, the West Gate, and the West Gate Ticket Gate (individual tickets are also sold at the West Gate Ticket Gate). See the picture below:
Let’s start with the internal transportation from the west gate of Laojun Mountain. There is still some distance between each scenic spot.
(1) West Gate Ticket Office - West Gate Ticket Gate: It is about 3-4 km away, which is quite far. It is not recommended to walk! The ticket office at the West Gate ticket gate can only sell tickets to individual tourists. People with discount certificates can enter the mountain directly with their certificates. Tour groups need to buy tickets at the West Gate.
Taxis can enter this section of the road, but cannot enter the scenic area ticket gate; tourist buses can enter; self-driving cars can enter; independent travelers can take a battery car, which costs 5 yuan per person one way (the battery car is not under the management of the scenic area, and the fare may vary depending on the number of passengers)
(2) Laozi Statue - Dream Chasing Valley: about 1.5 km away, flat road
This section of the road can be driven by tourist buses, self-driving cars, and independent travelers can take electric cars.
(3) Laozi Statue - Zhongling Cableway: about 3 km, flat road
This section of the road can be driven by tourist buses, self-driving cars, and independent travelers can take electric cars.
In short: If you don’t have a car and come to Laojun Mountain on your own, you either need to take an electric car or walk a lot.
stay
If you come to Laojun Mountain for accommodation, you can have 5 options, see the picture below
(1) Luanchuan City
Luanchuan City offers a wide range of hotels at various price points, some of which are cheaper than those in the scenic area. Since Laojun Mountain is not far from the city, it is very convenient to stay in the city if you are not in a rush or have a limited budget.
(2) Entrance of Laojun Mountain Scenic Area
There are three hotels at the ticket gate of Laojun Mountain's Shandong Province. The prices are slightly cheaper than those in the scenic area, but not much cheaper. It is better to stay directly in the scenic area.
(3) Entrance to Dream Valley Scenic Area/On the way to the cable car entrance
It is mainly homestays with various conditions. They are generally clean and hygienic. You can choose freely according to your itinerary.
(4) Zhongtianmen
At the lower station of the Zhongling Cableway, there is a Jingshi Photography Theme Hotel (the fee is relatively high, about 300-500 yuan). Because the Fenglin Cableway starts operating at 8 o'clock the next day, if you plan to watch the sunrise, you need to get up early the next day and climb the mountain for more than an hour.
(5) Near the Golden Summit
You can see the Golden Summit as soon as you go out. If you plan to watch the sunrise and the starry sky, it is highly recommended. However, the conditions are limited. It is a multi-person room and you can only wash in the bathroom, which is not very convenient. Beds will be a little tight during the peak season.
Food & Clothing
(1) Food
There are many rest areas in the scenic area, providing drinks, bread, instant noodles, noodles, corn and other foods. The accommodation at the top of the mountain also cooks (noodles, breakfast porridge, cakes, etc.) and sells things; the prices are a bit expensive, so if you mind, you can bring some snacks with you.
In addition to wild sour dates and wild kiwis, Luanchuan tofu is also worth trying.
(2) Wear
Dress warmly, warmly, warmly! It's really cold at the top, so if you find it too daunting, you can rent clothes. Padded jackets and jackets are available for rent from the foot of the mountain to Zhongtianmen. Rentals are also available at the mountaintop accommodations, though they're more expensive than at the foot of the mountain and are limited in quantity.
How to play in Laojun Mountain
Basic play time
Dream Valley/Zhaigou: 2-3 hours
Ten-mile Painting Screen: 2-3 hours
Climbing the mountain from the foot of the mountain to Zhongtianmen: It mainly consists of gentle uphill roads and steps, and takes about 4-5 hours one way;
Zhongtianmen Mountain Climbing - Golden Summit: Mainly a stairway, a one-way trip without visiting the Ten-Li Gallery takes about 1.5 hours
Day Trips
In the morning, take the cable car up the mountain to visit the Ten-Li Painting Screen and the Golden Summit. In the afternoon, take the cable car down the mountain and visit the Laozi Cultural Park or Dream Chasing Valley depending on your schedule (it is recommended to take the cable car, otherwise it will take two days).
Two-day tour
Day 1: Visit Dream Valley or Zhaigou in the morning, take the cable car up the mountain in the afternoon, visit Zhongtianmen and the Golden Summit complex, and take photos of the starry sky;
D2: Watch the sunrise early the next morning, visit the Ten-mile Painting Screen, and take the cable car down the mountain (the specific order of the tours can be adjusted flexibly according to weather and time)
(Photography by tourists)
How to avoid crowds
(1) During holidays and weekends, the ticket windows of scenic spots are often crowded. In order to save your time, it is recommended to purchase tickets online one day in advance!
(2) Generally, there are more people going up the cable car in the morning and more people going down the cable car in the afternoon. If it is a major holiday, you can go to Dream Valley first, go up the mountain in the afternoon, and go down the mountain the next morning.
(3) For people who have many holidays: Go out to play from Monday to Friday, and avoid weekends and short holidays.
Conclusion
It is no exaggeration to say that when I went to Laojun Mountain for the first time, I exclaimed continuously because it looked like a fairyland!
The clouds float like flowing water, and the green mountain peaks appear and disappear from time to time; the golden palace stands on the top of the mountain, and the clouds around it float back and forth; when you walk to Laojun Temple and Yuhuangding, super large clouds are in the sky, and the wind blows the wind chimes jingling; between the mountains, the clouds of Mazongling are rushing like the sea, and on the way back, you can also see cute little squirrels.
What surprised me the most was that in the hottest days of summer, we actually needed to rent cotton clothes when we reached the top of the mountain!
So when you come to Laojun Mountain, no matter what the weather is like, it will always make you feel that the trip is worth it!
