Live Your Best Lives
There is a mountain with the amazing sight of "Snow in June"
There is a mountain with the grandeur of "sea of clouds rolling"
There is a mountain with the depth of "Alpine Wonder Lake"
There is a mountain with the sharpness of a "tough cliff"
There is a mountain with the romance of "beautiful forest"
There is a mountain with the ancient history of "mountain temple"
... ...
This is Taibai Mountain, the main peak of Qinling Mountains, the dividing line between north and south China, a legendary mountain where “you can pick the stars with your hands but dare not speak loudly”!
There is a legendary hiking route in Taibai Mountain, which runs through the north and south of Taibai. "One mountain is divided into north and south, and one mountain has four seasons." Not only can you see many wonders of Taibai, but you can also feel the changes in altitude and temperature throughout the day. This is the "North-South Road"!
There are 4 hiking routes in Taibai Mountain.
① Return to Taibai Mountain Scenic Area. Start from the scenic area and hike to Baxiantai and return to the original
② Taibai Mountain North-South Crossing, the route from Tiejiashu to Baxiantai to the scenic area
③ The route from Ping'an Temple to Baxiantai to Dudumen is currently prohibited due to its high difficulty, high risk, and high rescue difficulty.
④ The route from the south to the south of Taibai Mountain, Dudu Gate - Baxiantai - Tiejiashu, is currently prohibited due to the difficulty of rescue.
Therefore, the Taibai Mountain North-South Crossing is currently the only option for crossing Taibai Mountain. Because the weather in Taibai Mountain is changeable, supplies are difficult, and rescue is difficult, so in addition to the scenic area route, you must travel with a regular team and never go there on your own!
The Iron Armor Tree is the starting point of the "North-South Road" of Taibai Mountain. It is actually a 550-year-old spiny oak tree. It is called the Iron Armor Tree because it grows extremely slowly, its wood is as hard as iron, and its leaves are shaped like the armor plates worn by ancient generals. Starting from here, we arrived at the Taibai Mountain Nature Reserve!
After about 2 hours and climbing about 100 meters, we arrived at Sanhegong Waterfall. There were virgin forests all along the way, with green vines hanging and moss covering the rocks. The meltwater originating from the Taibai Mountain roared and flowed down the valley, forming clear pools and waterfalls along the way. It is worthy of being the south slope of Taibai Mountain, which is already the south in the geographical sense, and it feels a bit like a southern rainforest!
After leaving Sanhegong Waterfall, we entered a section of road that continued to rise. We had to take a break after walking a short distance. We also passed by the "Huixin Stone". It felt like every mountain in the Qinling Mountains had a Huixin Stone. It was indeed too tiring to climb higher. There were huge rocky hills and primeval forests all along the way. However, the continuous rise made it impossible to enjoy the scenery. When we arrived at Laojun Temple, we could see the iconic ridge and sea of stones of Taibai Mountain!
Sanhe Palace is only 5km away from Nantianmen, but it is nearly 1,100 meters higher. After leaving Laojun Temple, you have to pass by two iconic stone seas of Taibai Mountain. Huge stones are piled together, covering the entire mountain, like a sea of stones. Everyone can only use their hands and feet because there are no landmarks. It is very easy to get lost here. The stone sea is very steep, as if you have to move over it bit by bit. When you arrive at the Nantianmen accommodation, it is almost dark.
All the way from Nantianmen to Yaowang Temple is lined with tall redwood forests. The Taibai Mountain redwood forest was once selected as one of the "Top Ten Most Beautiful Forests in China" by China National Geographic. However, as the altitude increases, the redwood forest gradually becomes shorter and sparser, and large meadows begin to appear. This also means that the mountain top is not far away!
There are many alpine lakes in Taibai Mountain, the largest of which is the Jade Emperor Pond, covering an area of about 90,000 square meters. The vegetation here is getting less and less, and it is all a huge sea of rocks. At this time, you can see an alpine lake every 100 meters you rise, but this is already a high altitude area of 3,300 meters, and the continuous ascent makes people walk slower and slower!
The highest peak of Taibai Mountain is 3767.2 meters above sea level. Coming here means that you have already completed more than half of the north-south road of Taibai Mountain. Legend has it that this is the place where Jiang Ziya appointed gods and immortals after King Wu defeated King Zhou.
When I got here, I was overwhelmed by the beautiful scenery along the way and forgot how tired I was. Dayehai is definitely the top stream of Taibai Mountain. It is 3590 meters above sea level and is the highest alpine lake in mainland my country. It is said that the depth of Dayehai is still a mystery.
This is the knife-edge ridge of Taibai Mountain. One side of here is the south and the other side is the north. Because this is the geographical landmark of the north-south dividing line of China, it is a place where tourists often check in!
Taibai Mountain's scenery offers unique highlights at every time of year. April to November is the best time to hike, as the Taibai Mountain Nature Reserve establishes checkpoints and prohibits hiking from December to March, making this the most dangerous time of year. The period from April to November can be divided into four climbing seasons, each with its own unique attractions.
This is Taibai Mountain's snowy season. During this time, there are more sunny days and high visibility. You can see the spectacular scenery of the Qinling Mountains, as well as the most beautiful starry sky, sunrises, and sunsets! There are also fewer tourists at this time, so there's no shortage of resources!
Summer has arrived at Taibai Mountain, and it is also the best time to climb Taibai Mountain. The weather is gradually warming up, and the fir forests and meadows have turned green again. It is also the rainy season at Taibai Mountain, and there is a high chance of seeing the sea of clouds. However, Taibai Mountain is crowded with tourists at this time, and the supply and accommodation resources on the top of the mountain will be relatively tight.
The most beautiful autumn in Taibai Mountain has arrived. From mid-September to mid-October every year, Taibai Mountain is at its most beautiful. You can see the colorful forests of Qinling Mountains, the golden redwood forests, and the most stunning sea of clouds in the year!
Taibai Mountain's unpredictable weather, high altitude, and difficulty resupplying supplies mean warm clothing is essential regardless of the season. From late October to May, the mountaintop's snowy season typically reaches subzero temperatures. From June to September, even though summer arrives, the mountain experiences heavy rainfall, so the perceived temperature often remains very low.
Tips:
① Clothing
Head: quick-drying hat, headscarf
Upper body: quick-drying T-shirt, fleece jacket, down jacket (thin down from June to August, thick down at other times), jacket
Bottoms: Soft shell pants or combat pants, sports briefs
Feet: Hiking boots (high-top, GORE-TEXT® waterproof), 3 pairs of terry socks or wool socks (one pair per day)
②Backpack
35 liters of capacity is enough, and a good carrying system is required
③Mountaineering equipment
Trekking poles (double poles), knee pads (2), gloves, raincoat
④Personal belongings
Thermos cup (about 500ml), power bank (20000 mAh), ID card, medicine, a small amount of cash, personal toiletries, sunscreen (make sure to use sunscreen in the summer)
①There are only three accommodation spots in Taibai Mountain, Xiao Wengong Temple, Da Wengong Temple and Dayehai, all of which are large bunk beds in wooden houses!
There are only two types of accommodation in Taibai Mountain: large bunk beds in wooden houses and tents. The bunk beds are generally on a first-come, first-served basis, but the sanitary conditions are relatively poor. You must bring your own sleeping bag. You can carry the tent yourself or rent one at the campsite. Camping fees are required to set up a tent, and it will be very cold at night, so it is recommended that you carry your own sleeping bag and sleep in the large bunk beds!
② There are very few supply points in Taibai Mountain, and they are only available at accommodation points. However, the price is very expensive. A bottle of mineral water starts at 15 yuan, so it is better to bring your own meals!
③ There is a possibility of altitude sickness in Taibai Mountain. If you are afraid of altitude sickness, it is recommended that you bring an oxygen tank in advance!
