The Ultimate Guide to Zhongyuan Qixia: Your Foolproof Guide to Yuntai Mountain

🌈Basic Information and Highlights: 📍Address: Yuntai Mountain Scenic Area, Xiuwu County, Jiaozuo City, Henan Province 🎫Tickets: Peak Season (April–November): CNY 180 (including CNY 60 for the sightseeing bus) | Off-Season (December–March): CNY 120 Discounts: Half price for students/teachers | Free for children under 1.4m/seniors over 60/military personnel ⏰Opening Hours: Regular: 6:30 am–5:30 pm | Night Tour: 6:30 pm–10:00 pm (summer only) ✨Highlights: One of the world's first geoparks❗️Red Stone Gorge's Danxia landforms + the 314-meter Yuntai Waterfall🌊, cliffside walkways, monkey interactions, Tai Chi performances, and the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove relics! 🚗Transportation: By Car: Navigate to "Yuntai Mountain Baijiayan Parking Lot." A 40-minute drive from Zhengyun Expressway (parking: CNY 20/day)🚙 By High-Speed Rail: Zhengzhou East Railway Station → transfer to Zhengzhou–Jiaozuo Intercity Railway to Xiuwu West Railway Station → take the scenic area bus directly for CNY 10🚌 By Plane: Xinzheng Airport → airport bus (2 hours) to Jiaozuo → taxi (CNY 80) to the scenic area✈️ ✅Tip: Traffic control is a must on weekends! Don't trust "unofficial guides." Take the official shuttle bus. 📅Itinerary: 🌞Half-Day Express Tour: 1️⃣ Morning: Catch the first bus at 6:30 am → take photos of the Danxia landforms at Red Stone Gorge📸→ enjoy a speedboat ride on Zifang Lake🚤 2️⃣ Afternoon: Step into the "Fountain of Youth" at Quanpu Gorge💧→ watch the monkey show at Macaque Valley🐒 🌙Two-Day In-Depth Tour: D1: Red Stone Gorge → Zifang Lake → Quanpu Gorge Waterfall → night light show🌌 D2: Zhuyu Peak cable car → glass walkway → pray at Wanshan Temple → take photos of the highway at Diecai Cave🛣️ ⛱️Recommended Activities: Top 3 Must-Dos: 🌉Red Stone Gorge cliffside walkway | 🛷Macaque Valley jungle slide | 🎭Tai Chi performance (free at 9:00 am/2:00 pm) Thrilling Experiences: 🪂Glass walkway selfies | 🚡Phoenix Ridge cable car for canyon views | 🌠Night tour of the Firefly Forest Culture Buffs: 🍵Visit the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove relics | 📿Attend morning chanting at Wanshan Temple (reservation required) Family Fun: 🐟Feed the koi at Zifang Lake | 🎢Quanpu Gorge rock climbing (minimum height: 1.4m) 🏨Accommodation and Services: ▪️Luxury Pick: Yuntai Mountain Resort (Zhuyu Peak views, CNY 800+ per person including breakfast)⛰️ ▪️Budget-Friendly: Anshang Service Area B&Bs (5-minute walk to attractions, CNY 100+ per person with breakfast coupons)🏡 ▪️Trendy Experience: Sky Courtyard (white cave style + infinity pool, free Trip Moments photos in Hanfu)📸 ✅Services: Free luggage storage | multilingual audio guides | free Wi-Fi throughout the scenic area 💗Travel Tips: ✅ Must-Haves: Non-slip shoes + light jacket! 70% of the walkways are slippery on rainy days, and the temperature difference at the summit is 8°C❄️ ✅ Best Photo Spots: 📍Red Stone Gorge "A Thread of Sky" (backlit) | 🌅Zhuyu Peak sunrise over the sea of clouds | "Fluorescent Sea" during the night tour🌌 ✅ Don't: 🚫Buy "blessed" bracelets from roadside vendors! The scenic area's cultural and creative stores offer better value. 🍜Bring your own water bottle! Free refills of mountain spring water are available at restaurants; bottled water is CNY 8/bottle. ✅ Fun Facts: 🌟Red Stone Gorge is the only Danxia gorge in northern China | The Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove lived in seclusion here for 20 years🎋 ✅ Hidden Perks: 🎁Recite the Heart Sutra for free tour guide services (limited to 5 people daily) | Get a free sachet when wearing Hanfu ✅ Safety Reminders: 🔥No open flames in the forest | 🌧️Cable cars may be closed during rainy weather