Day 1: All over the country → or → Zhengzhou [National Tourists Gathering Day]
All day
Tourists from all over the country will meet in Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan Province, by plane or train, and then check into their hotel. (Hotels in Zhengzhou can check in after 2:00 PM.) Tourists arriving early can leave their luggage at the hotel front desk and make their own arrangements for sightseeing in downtown Zhengzhou.
Recommended Tours
Visit the Henan Provincial Museum, the Erqi Memorial Tower, the Yellow River Huayuankou, the Dengfeng Shaolin Temple and other attractions, and taste Zhengzhou's specialties (Henan braised noodles, Daokou roast chicken, etc.).
Please be careful during the free time. The tour leader will inform you of the departure time the next morning.
Day 2 Zhengzhou → Linzhou Red Flag Canal
All day
After breakfast, we gathered for a bus ride across the Yellow River to the Red Flag Canal in Linzhou, northern Henan. A canal winding through the mountains, its spirit moving the world, the Red Flag Canal, known as the artificial "Heavenly River," winds like a blue ribbon through the Taihang Mountains, known as "the most magnificent scenery in the north."
Arrive at the Red Flag Canal Scenic Area around 13:00. First, visit the Dividing Water Garden, a garden-style scenic area where the main canal of the Red Flag Canal is divided into three main canals. You can learn about the history of the Red Flag Canal by visiting the Red Flag Canal Memorial Hall and Dividing Water Village.
Around 2:00 PM, we'll depart for the Youth Cave, a major project of the Red Flag Canal and the epicenter of the Eighth Wonder of the World. The cave passes through the breathtakingly steep Xiaogui Face, a site of uncanny craftsmanship. The cave was named "Youth Cave" after the 300 young men and women from the county who carved it were drawn from migrant workers. The renowned artificial "Sky River" stretches majestically across the mountainside cliffs. Walk along the canal dam to experience the arduous construction process up close. You can take an optional boat tour inside, then visit the "One Line Sky" and the "Sky Bridge."
After descending the mountain, you can walk to Luosi Pond, where you'll experience the grandeur of stepping onto the border of three provinces (Henan, Shanxi, and Hebei). Watch the Zhuozhang River cascade down, creating a breathtaking spectacle.
Gather at the right time and drive to the hotel in Shibanyan Town, Linzhou, for check-in and dinner.
Day 3 → Taihang Pinghu → Louzitou Village → Taihang Grand Canyon
All day
After breakfast, we'll depart for Taihang Lake, offering breathtaking views and a perfect spot for panoramic views. Like a celestial lake nestled in the Taihang Mountains, Taihang Lake is majestic yet beautiful. Clouds and mist often drift through the canyons! It's breathtaking! We'll then visit Louzitou Village, nestled in the Linlü Mountains in the southern section of the Taihang Mountains in Henan Province. In August 2013, Louzitou Village was selected as a "Chinese Traditional Village" in the second batch and is a key protected village by both the state and Henan Province. The scenery is breathtaking, with vibrant autumn colors and a rustic, rural atmosphere. The hidden beauty of the Taihang Mountains lies within! We'll then visit Hanjiawa Village, where the crimson leaves are the first to turn red in Linzhou, a vast expanse that will captivate photographers. The fiery crimson leaves and blooming chrysanthemums create a vibrant display of color, capturing the allure and beauty of autumn. There are no noisy cities here, only simple villages scattered among the charming mountains and rivers, which give the red leaves an elegant and unique temperament. The mountains are covered with red leaves, and the forests are dyed red, which is poetic and picturesque, and beautiful beyond words.
We had lunch in town at the right time and split the bill, then headed to the highlight of the day - Linzhou Taihang Mountain Grand Canyon.
At the Taihang Grand Canyon, we'll first hike upstream through Peach Blossom Valley, enjoying the company of gurgling streams, occasional waterfalls, and sometimes cliffside plank paths. The scenery is truly breathtaking!
After a 1.5-hour stroll, we'll transfer to the scenic shuttle bus for the Taihang Sky Road. Following the changing terrain, we'll meander through the mountains, winding through the wilderness. Upon reaching the observation deck, we'll gaze down at the towering Taihang Grand Canyon from above, where the autumn colors blanket the mountains, bringing a sense of grandeur.
We'll then exit the scenic area in time for dinner.
Day 4 Linzhou → Wanxian Mountain (Guoliang)
All day
After breakfast, we will gather and set off, driving south to Wanxian Mountain Scenic Area.
Arriving around noon, we took a scenic shuttle bus to Guoliang Village halfway up the mountain, passing Guoliang Cave, a cliff-like corridor stretching over 1km. We marveled at the sheer aspirations of the cliffs, the unwavering determination of man to conquer nature. We then proceeded to Guoliang Village to check in and arrange lunch.
After savoring the local flavors of the mountain village, we'll take a short lunch break before gathering at an appropriate time to depart for Guoliang Film and Television Village. We'll explore scenes from film and television dramas and see the old stone house where renowned director Xie Jin once lived. We'll then touch the Zhangshiyan rock face and hike through Guoliang Cave, where intermittent pores cast a flickering light and shadow. Leaving the Cliff Corridor, we'll cross Tianchi Lake and arrive at the Cliff House. Here, you'll find multiple viewing platforms offering panoramic views of Guoliang Cave, a breathtaking spectacle that truly captures the spirit of the Taihang Mountain people. The Cliff House also boasts a rare vantage point overlooking the Red Rock Cliff Canyon. From afar, the sheer red rock face resembles a towering city wall. On rainy days, misty clouds rise, creating a sense of celestial presence. For those still interested, explore the magical Hanquan Spring!
In the evening, return to your accommodation to rest and you can find your own food for dinner.
Day 5 Guoliang → Kunshan Hanging Wall → Wangmang Ridge → Xiyagou
All day
If the weather is good in the morning, you can get up early and go to the watchtower and the ladder to watch the sunrise. If you want to sleep in, you can still sleep in.
After breakfast, we packed up and transferred to a scenic bus to Kunshan Village on the Henan-Shanxi border. Here, we'll transfer to a local car to cross the young and magnificent Kunshan Cliff in the Southern Taihang Mountains. As we ascend, we'll gaze back from time to time at the majestic mountains, their peaks overlapping one another. The "holes" we initially see in the cliffs are the Kunshan Cliffs we'll soon cross. This 8km-long cliff road, due to its altitude, is even more breathtaking and magnificent than the Guoliang Cave. As we near the end of the tunnel, we'll be treated to a breathtaking view of Wangmangling, the peak of the Southern Taihang Mountains in Shanxi, and Danfengou, Henan, below.
Upon arrival at Wangmangling Scenic Area, we'll take a scenic shuttle bus to the summit. Our tour leader will then lead you on a scenic loop tour of Wangmangling, showcasing clusters of karst peaks and lush green mountains. "If you haven't climbed Wangmangling, how can you truly appreciate the Taihang Mountains?" This experience is sure to be worthwhile!
Take a bus down the mountain in time and check in at Xiyagou Hotel. After enjoying a delicious farm lunch, take a short rest.
After gathering in due time, we headed to the Red Stone Cliff Grand Canyon in Xiyagou. This place is comparable to Colorado, with its winding canyon and sheer cliffs. From the cliffside observation deck, you can even admire four generations of a family living together, a rare spectacle. We then had some free time to explore the ancient village of Xiyagou, known as a water town, enjoying a rare moment of leisure in the mountains.
After dinner, we fell asleep under the stars~
6th Tianjie Mountain → Zhengzhou
All day
Sleep until you wake up naturally in the morning. Early risers can go for a walk and exercise in the ancient mountain village.
After breakfast, we'll travel to Qingfeng Pass, an ancient pass between Henan and Shanxi, and take a cable car directly to the core scenic area of Tianjie Mountain. Looking up, we'll be greeted by the towering Laoye Peak, the Iron Summit of the Taihang Mountains, standing at a remarkable 1,570 meters. We'll ascend to Tianmen, ride the cable car, and climb the Cloud Ladder to gaze upon the thousand peaks, immersing ourselves in the allure of Huilong Tianjie Mountain and experiencing a sense of ethereal wonder. Descending at an opportune moment, we'll take a scenic shuttle bus around the 360-degree Yunfeng Gallery, an 8-kilometer journey with numerous viewing platforms along the way. Among them are the towering Guizhen Terrace, a perilous plank road built approximately 1 km above the cliffs, a journey not for the faint of heart; a glass plank bridge spanning the cliffs; and a courage-testing platform jutting dozens of meters into the abyss.
At noon, we had lunch at Qingfeng Pass. After lunch, we took the scenic bus down the mountain, crossed the S-shaped Huilong Hanging Wall, one of the seven major hanging walls in the southern Taihang Mountains, and arrived at the foot of the mountain. We then took a bus back to Zhengzhou.
Under normal circumstances, we will return to the gathering hotel in Zhengzhou city around 17:00 in the afternoon, and everyone will arrange the return trip according to the time.
