Xiuwu, Jiaozuo
Yuntai Mountain
- From Zhengzhou
- About 2 hours by road
- Allow
- One to two days
- Best season
- April–October; autumn for colour
From the official website
In the scenic area's own words
Transcribed from the operator's official site, with the date we read it. Independent of the guide above, which is our own writing.
Yuntai Mountain lies in Xiuwu county, Jiaozuo, 70 km from Zhengzhou. It comprises Red Stone Gorge, Tanpu Gorge, Quanpu Gorge, Zhuyu Peak, Diecai Cave, the macaque valley, Zifang Lake and Baijia Rock — a scenic area whose character comes from the water in the Taihang range, its gorge geology and its history, described by the operator as combining scientific and aesthetic value.
- Location
- Xiuwu county, Jiaozuo
- Distance from Zhengzhou
- 70 km
- Principal sites
- Red Stone Gorge, Tanpu Gorge, Quanpu Gorge, Zhuyu Peak, Diecai Cave, macaque valley, Zifang Lake, Baijia Rock
What to see
Water and gorges
The operator describes the area as defined by the abundant water of the Taihang range and by gorge landforms. Red Stone Gorge, Tanpu Gorge and Quanpu Gorge form the core water-and-gorge routes.
Peaks and lake
Zhuyu Peak is the high viewpoint and Zifang Lake the principal water body, with Diecai Cave, the macaque valley and Baijia Rock among the other sites.
Photographs
These photographs are openly licensed for commercial use (from Wikimedia Commons: CC0, CC BY, CC BY-SA or public domain) and are not the attraction's own gallery. Each photo is credited below with its author and licence, linked to the original file.
The great Yuntai waterfall
Red Stone Gorge
A green pool in Red Stone Gorge
The gorge and its visitors
A waterfall in the gorge
Peaks above the dam
A lone peak
The lake in Tanpu Gorge
The Zhenwu Hall at the summit
Source
On the southern flank of the Taihang range, Yuntai is known for gorge scenery in which springs, falls and plunge pools follow one another continuously. It joined the first group of UNESCO Global Geoparks in 2004; the exposed rock sequences record marine and terrestrial change since the Mesoproterozoic.
What to see
- Red Stone Gorge: roughly 1.5 km of ochre cliffs with green water running between them — the signature walk, about 90 minutes, one way.
- Tanpu Gorge: terraced falls and clear pools on a gentler gradient, suited to visitors with limited stamina.
- Yuntai Waterfall, at the head of Quanpu Gorge — see the note above on the height figure.
- Zhuyu Peak: about 1,308 m, with views over the Taihang ridges; a cable car covers most of the climb.
Practical notes
The park is very large and internal shuttle buses are compulsory between sections. One day covers two gorges at most; two days is more comfortable. Red Stone Gorge is one-way and capacity-limited, with queues over an hour in high season — go at opening. The stone steps are wet and slippery; bring grippy shoes.