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Henan has been gaining popularity in recent years, relying on dance works such as "Night Banquet in the Tang Palace", "Heaven and Earth", "Prayer", and "Lanling Prince's Battle Song" to play with Chinese style, bringing the beauty of traditional Chinese culture to the extreme in literary and artistic works. Netizens jokingly call it "Henan TV is going crazy."
After the 2022 Spring Festival, Henan Province has launched another promotion. For those who are planning to travel to Henan recently, it is good news: Henan Province announced that 226 scenic spots across the province will launch free admission to tourists nationwide. Going at this time will not only make you get a lot of money, but also the number of tourists will be small, which is a good time to travel during off-peak hours. If you have a free weekend, why not plan one of these activities?
Picture @Photo.net
From February 16 to March 31, 2022, 226 scenic spots across Henan Province will offer free first-entry tickets to tourists nationwide. Popular scenic spots such as Longmen Grottoes, Laojun Mountain, and Shaolin Temple are all participating in this free admission event.
In addition, some scenic spots will offer free admission to tourists from February 16 to May 31, with some scenic spots offering free admission for up to three and a half months. The participating scenic spots account for 82% of the province's A-level scenic spots with fees, including 17 5A-level scenic spots, 119 4A-level scenic spots, and 90 3A-level scenic spots.
(1) Make a reservation through the "Cultural and Tourism Reservation" section of the official WeChat public account of the Henan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism.
(2) Make an appointment by searching for the “Henan Culture and Tourism” mini-program on WeChat or Alipay.
The official WeChat public account of the "Henan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism" and the WeChat and Alipay "Henan Culture and Tourism" mini-programs will promptly release information, policies and other information during the event. Tourists can check it at any time and arrange their travel itineraries reasonably.
Laojun Mountain in Henan Province is a renowned Taoist mountain designated by the emperor. It's said to be "like the Golden Summit of Wudang Mountain in the south, and the Iron Summit of Laojun Mountain in the north." Laojun Mountain is also the main peak of the Funiu Mountain Range. Ming Dynasty poet Xie Zhen lamented its beauty, saying it "combines the grandeur of Mount Tai, the precipitousness of Mount Hua, and the hazy beauty of Mount Lu." Renowned contemporary writer Li Jun praised it, saying, "Its beauty surpasses the Five Sacred Mountains, and its wonders surpass the Three Mountains. Mount Huang has 72 extraordinary peaks, and how many wonders are there on Junshan Mountain?"
Laojun Mountain is located in Luanchuan County, Luoyang City. It is divided into the Laojun Mountain Main Scenic Area in the center, the Dream Valley Scenic Area in the west and the Zhaigou Scenic Area in the east. Most people visit the main scenic area.
Tips:
Cableway hours: 8:00-18:00, stop going up at 15:00
The first section of the cable car (required): about 10 minutes to the middle of the mountain; the second section of the cable car (optional): about 5 minutes to the top of the mountain
Notes:
① Wear a hat to keep out the wind, as it is very windy on the mountain.
② Wear gloves when grabbing chains and guardrails to prevent hand pain
③ Wear non-slip shoes, as it is easy to slip on the mountain
The Longmen Grottoes, a treasure trove of Chinese stone carving art, are a World Cultural Heritage, a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit, and a National AAAAA-level tourist attraction. They are located on Longmen Mountain and Xiangshan Mountain, on both sides of the Yi River in Luolong District, Luoyang City, Henan Province. Along with the Mogao Grottoes, the Yungang Grottoes, and the Maijishan Grottoes, the Longmen Grottoes are considered one of China's four great grottoes. The scenic area encompasses the West Hill Grottoes, the East Hill Grottoes, Xiangshan Temple, and the White Garden.
Looking at the map, Longmen Grottoes and Yingtianmen are located on the central axis of Luoyang. It takes about 50 minutes to get there by bus from the old city. The essence of Longmen Grottoes is in the Xishan Grottoes.
Tips:
Recommended order of visit: Xishan Grottoes - Dongshan Grottoes - Xiangshan Temple - Baiyuan Garden
Key points of Xishan Grottoes:
① Binyang North Cave: The main Buddha statue "Scissor Hands"
②Ten Thousand Buddha Cave: The cave is named after the fifteen thousand small Buddha statues carved in it.
③Lotus Cave: There is a large lotus flower carved in high relief on the top of the cave.
④ Vairocana Buddha: in a very obvious location
The Shaolin Temple at Songshan, located at the foot of the Five Breasts Peak of Songshan Mountain in Dengfeng, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, is named "Shaolin Temple" because it is nestled in the dense forests of Shaoshi Mountain in the heart of Songshan. It is the ancestral home of Chinese Zen Buddhism and one of the birthplaces of Chinese Kung Fu.
The entire temple is imbued with an ancient charm, featuring ancient bricks, tiles, and trees, each scene and object bearing the test of time. Each building exudes a sense of age and profound meaning. Layer upon layer of painted rafters and beams, these wooden structures utilize no nails, relying solely on the interlocking support of the beams and columns, which have supported the structure for hundreds and thousands of years.
Tips:
Recommended itinerary: Enter from Sanhuangzhai - Liantian Suspension Bridge - Plank Road - Cableway/Walk - Pagoda Forest - Shaolin Temple - Martial Arts Performance - Exit
The Taihang Mountains span three provinces: Hebei, Henan, and Shanxi. Henan people proudly claim to have reserved the most beautiful section for the southern Taihang Mountains, so Baligou is undoubtedly the "Pearl of the Southern Taihang Mountains." The sight of the 180-meter-long waterfall cascading before your eyes is truly breathtaking.
Baligou is located in Huixian County, Xinxiang City, Henan Province. It is a typical southern Taihang scenery and a national 5A tourist attraction. It gathers the essence of Taihang Mountains and waters, and combines the strangeness, danger, steepness, beauty and seclusion. It is known as the "Soul of Taihang and the Chinese Style".
Tips:
Recommended itinerary: Shanmen Square - Taohuawan Waterfall - Baoduqiao Waterfall - Tongyou Bridge - Shanshen Temple Scenic Area - Macaque Reserve - Taihang Tianhe Waterfall - Yixiantian - Hongshi River
Shooting suggestions: Use wide-angle lenses to capture large scenes, medium-focus lenses to record scenes, and telephoto lenses to create a sense of compression.
(Including Qinglong Gorge and Fenglin Gorge Scenic Areas)
Yuntaishan Scenic Area, located in Xiuwu County, Jiaozuo City, Henan Province, is named for its steep terrain and the perpetual mist and clouds that shroud the peaks and valleys year-round. Zhuyu Peak, Yuntaishan's main peak, stands at an elevation of 1,297.6 meters. The Yuntaitian Waterfall, at the end of the scenic area's Quanpu Gorge, boasts a single-stage drop of 314 meters, making it the highest single-stage waterfall in my country and even in Asia. Known as the highest waterfall in China, it is one of Yuntaishan's iconic sights.
Tips:
Recommended check-in spots: Tanpu Gorge & Quanpu Gorge, Macaque Valley, Red Stone Gorge, Zhuyu Peak
Note: Tickets are valid for three days and each ticket can only be used once for each attraction
The Taihang Grand Canyon is divided into three core scenic areas: Taohua Valley, Taihang Sky Road and Wangxiang Rock, allowing you to experience the wonders, beauty and dangers of the Taihang Mountains with your ears, eyes and feet.
The gurgling stream meanders down from the Taihang Mountains. In Taohua Valley, there is a pool every three steps and a waterfall every five steps. The gurgling stream is pleasant to the ear and the pool water is particularly clear. The entire Taihang Sky Road is a zigzag road.
Tips:
Note: Tickets are valid for 48 consecutive hours and cannot be visited repeatedly
This scenic canyon, dominated by the typical red rock ravines and gorge landscape, is the closest to Zhengzhou and boasts the highest drop in elevation. Dozens of ancient and renowned trees over a thousand years old are found within the scenic area, including the ancient Kang tree, a species unique to Fuxi Mountain and known as a "living plant fossil." Water flows year-round in the scenic area, with waterfalls, cascading cascades, deep pools, and a tranquil lake at the valley floor.
Spring is the perfect time to come here to see the red rock landform. The weather is neither too cold nor too hot, and the plants are just sprouting new buds. There is little water in the canyon, and there is basically no obstruction to the rocky landform, so you can see the whole picture of the red rock more clearly.
Picture @Photo.net
Tips:
Note: Some sections of the road in the canyon are quite steep and the whole road is made up of steps. It is recommended to choose shoes and clothing suitable for outdoor sports.
Opening hours: 8:00-18:00
It is said that Henan is a treasure province that has been ignored for too long. It has become popular again with its own strength. It is a good time to take advantage of the free ticket discount and go there for a trip.
