Day 1 Zhengzhou → Yanshi Grassland starting point → Qingluo Mountain → Golden Grassland → Yanshi Little Great Wall → Zhengzhou
All day
Meeting point (refer to the map for recommended boarding points):
6:30 Opposite to Exit D1 of Nanwulibao Subway Station | 6:40 Opposite to Exit C of Qiliyan Subway Station | 6:50 Exit H of Greentown Plaza Subway Station |
7:00 Zijingshan Subway Station Exit C | 7:10 Dongfeng Road Subway Station Exit A | 7:20 Shamen Subway Station Exit D | 7:30 Liuzhuang Subway Station Exit D2
1. Please join the WeChat travel group on the afternoon of the day before your trip (for group entry, please see the "Travel QR Code" in the app's travel notification)
2. Please arrive at the boarding point 5 minutes before the designated time. If you are late, please take a taxi to the last stop (no waiting will be made for latecomers)
10:00 Starting Point: A First Encounter Before the Morning Dew
The Yanshi Golden Grassland hiking trailhead is nestled among the shallow hills of the Songshan Mountains.
The distant mountains are shrouded in a veil of mist, their undulating outlines barely visible, like the wet brushstrokes of an ink painting, radiating a hazy, poetic quality.
The mountain path clearly extends deeper into the mountains, flanked by a crisscross of shrubs. Occasionally, sunlight filters through gaps, casting dappled shadows on the road. This interplay of light and shadow creates a paved passageway into a hidden natural wonderland.
10:50 Qingluo Mountain: A Symbiosis of Ancient Temples and Vegetation
Ascending the mountain path, the vegetation gradually transitions from low shrubs to taller trees, with ever-growing foliage forming a natural "green tunnel."
Sunlight filters through the layers of leaves, transforming into tiny specks of light that flow across the ground. As we reached the mountainside, the view suddenly opened up. The Qingluo Mountain Ancestral Temple nestled quietly in the valley. The walls of the temple, constructed of dark blue bricks and black tiles, were covered in verdant vines, their tendrils entwining the cracks between the bricks, like a natural cloak weaving around the ancient temple.
Two ancient cypresses stood tall in front of the temple, their bark deeply furrowed, revealing the weight of time. Their branches and leaves spread out in all directions, their dense green shade almost obscuring half of the temple gate.
11:00 Golden Meadow: A Magnificent Horizon Where Heaven and Earth Meet
. Passing the last gentle slope, the scenery suddenly shifted: the golden grasslands stretched out like a vast velvet carpet between heaven and earth.
Looking up, we were greeted by a clear, almost transparent blue sky, devoid of a single cloud, only occasionally a few fluffy white clouds drifted slowly by, like cotton wool blown by the wind.
Looking down, an endless expanse of yellow meadow undulates along the mountainside, its blades ankle-high, their color uniform and vibrant, as if meticulously stained by sunlight.
The wind sweeps across the meadow, stirring up waves of grass, from near to far, until it meets the distant mountain line. The flowing golden color seems to envelop the world. Dotted among the meadow are scattered wild daisies, their white petals surrounding yellow stamens, like diamonds scattered on a velvet carpet.
Occasionally, a few clusters of unknown purple wildflowers stand out against the golden hue, adding a vibrant dimension to the monotonous grass.
11:30 Atop the Mountain: A
Small Temple Blends with the Meadow. Nestled at the edge of the meadow, the small temple on the mountaintop blends in beautifully with the surrounding landscape. Its dark gray tiles gleam softly in the sunlight, while the moss lushly grows in the corners, revealing a moist green.
The meadow around the small temple is smoother, with soft and thick grass leaves, like a carefully trimmed carpet. Occasionally, a few dandelions hold up white balls of fluff, and when the wind blows, they carry their seeds away into the distance.
Standing in front of the temple and looking into the distance, the view is unobstructed - the meadow spreads in all directions until it meets the mountains in the distance. Those mountains are deep or shallow, and the blue-gray mountains are covered with sparse vegetation, forming a sharp contrast with the golden meadow.
The sun is shining brightly, shining on the meadow, making every blade of grass shine, and the distant skyline is clearly visible.
Resting the team here
Double-line scenery: the dual charm of meadow and wild path
Route A: Meadow photography: an immersive natural landscape
. The meadow, a golden canvas, is a prime choice for high-saturation clothing: a red dress swaying in the breeze creates a vibrant effect, a royal blue windbreaker/hoodie adds a vibrant pop against the blue sky and meadow, and a bright yellow jacket complements the grass for a soothing effect. For a more understated look, a white dress complements the daisies in the meadow.
Accessories should be simple: a wide-brimmed straw hat adds a pastoral touch, a colorful scarf adds a flowing touch, and holding or wearing wild daisies brings you closer to nature.
Route B: Reverse the Little Great Wall: A fusion of grandeur and vastness (Strong Donkey Charge).
Hidden within the mountains, the Yanshi Little Great Wall, constructed of bluestone, is relatively modest, winding along the mountainside like a "little dragon" resting quietly on the ground.
Its surface, smooth from wind and rain, remains firmly joined. Some stones are slightly loose, and weeds and tiny white flowers sprout from the cracks. This blend of natural vitality and the vicissitudes of time exudes a pristine mountain atmosphere. The wall is dotted with low battlements, its tops uneven, and its edges marked by weathering, lending it a rustic charm.
2:30 PM: Descend: The mountains stained by the first rays of sunset .
The dirt road descends through meadows and forests. The sunlight, less glaring than at noon, carries a gentle warmth, beginning to cast a gentle hue over the mountains.
The meadows flanking the road glowed golden-red in the setting sun, their shadows stretched long and slanting across the ground.
The leaves of the trees along the way were also tinged with different hues, some still emerald green, others with a faint yellow tinge at the edges. Occasionally, a few fallen leaves drifted in the wind, swirling through the air before finally settling in the grass by the roadside.
The small temple atop the distant mountain became a blurred silhouette in the setting sun, with only the faint outline of its roof visible.
Mountain mist began to slowly rise, spreading upward from the valley, entwining itself with the trees on the mountainside, obscuring the distant view.
The air remained crisp, but with a hint of evening coolness. The wind carried the scent of grass, trees, and earth. A deep breath filled it with the gifts of nature.
5:30 PM View on the return journey: meadows and mountains in the twilight
. As we neared our parking spot, dusk was quietly approaching.
In the afterglow of the setting sun, the golden meadow gradually shifted from golden yellow to orange, finally tinged with a faint purple, as if nature had overturned its palette.
The outlines of the distant mountains gradually blurred, leaving only dark silhouettes that merged with the darkening sky.
A mountain breeze picked up, bringing a hint of coolness. The grass on the meadow swayed in the breeze, making a rustling sound like the whispers of the mountains.
Occasionally, a returning bird flew overhead, its wings sweeping through the twilight before disappearing into the depths of the forest.
The branches and leaves of the trees surrounding the parking spot turned varying shades of dark green in the twilight, and a thin layer of night mist began to shroud the ground beneath the trees, exuding a tranquil atmosphere.
Looking back at the golden grassland behind me, it was already immersed in the twilight. Its grandeur and gentle beauty, against the backdrop of the night, added a touch of mystery.
19:00 Arrival in Zhengzhou: End of the walking tour
The vehicle drove smoothly into Zhengzhou, and this hiking trip full of mountain and wild fun came to an end.
Everyone said goodbye, carrying with them the scent of plants and trees and the beautiful scenery, looking forward to their next encounter with nature. (In case of traffic jams, the return trip will be slightly delayed.)
