A one-day trip to Qifeng Mountain in Fangcheng: The Chu Great Wall, Yunv Lake, and a glass skywalk
Depart from Nanyang, take the highway northeast to Dahekou Village, Yangji, Fangcheng, and navigate to "Qifeng Mountain Ecological Tourism Area." The scenic area is on the southeast foot of Funiu Mountain, with steep mountains and sheer cliffs. It features caves, waterfalls, and springs, making it a 4A-rated scenic area in Fangcheng, Nanyang, perfect for a one-day weekend hike.
We arrived at the visitor center before 8:00 AM. The day session usually opens at 8:00 AM and stops entry around 5:30 PM; don't arrive right at the cutoff time after buying tickets. The three official parking lots are quite large; it is safest to park according to the scenic area signs. Ask for prices in advance if parking at private spots near village entrances.
1. Start with the water route: Yunv Lake and Shili Huaxi (Ten-Mile Flower Stream)
Don't rush to the summit after entering the main gate. First, take the sightseeing bus or walk to the lower water route. The first stop is Yunv Lake, with its emerald green water. The waterfront plaza and the ancient-style street are great for photos. Visit Shili Huaxi, the Hobbit House, and the Deer Park nearby. This section is the easiest if you have kids—wading in the shallows, seeing sika deer, and walking the wooden paths are easy on the legs.
In summer, it is recommended to do the water route in the morning; the afternoon sun and climbing stairs will tire you out. In spring and autumn, you can go anytime; it is a few degrees cooler in the mountains than in the county town. Some stone slabs in the flower stream are slippery when wet, so seniors and children should wear non-slip sneakers, not flip-flops.
2. Going up the mountain: Sightseeing bus + cable car/colorful ladder, or hike the Hero's Slope
If you don't want to get too tired, take the sightseeing bus from the visitor center to the lower cable car station, then the cable car up, followed by the colorful ladder to the platform near the summit. If you are fit, you can take the trails or stone steps like the Hero's Slope, but Qifeng Mountain has many stairs, and hiking the whole way to the summit is hard on the knees.
Once at the summit platform, head to the Chu Great Wall ruins first. This section of the Chu Great Wall in Qifeng Mountain is known as the "ancestor of the Great Wall." Stone walls and beacon towers follow the mountain ridge. Standing on the ruins and looking out at the peaks, the lines of the Dabie/Funiu mountain ranges are striking. The sense of history and the mountain shape are what make this place unique. If you like photography, visit the Han Painting Gallery and the viewing platform. If you like exploring, go to the Immortal Cave and the cliffside plank road. Fushou Pool and Yunv Lake echo each other from top to bottom.
3. High-altitude attractions: Buyun Glass Bridge + Heart of the Cloud Top
The two most photogenic spots near the summit are the glass suspension bridge (like the Buyun Bridge) and the Heart of the Cloud Top skywalk. The former spans the valley, with deep ravines visible below; the latter extends out from the cliff, a circular glass platform that is very "Instagrammable" for mountain views on sunny days, sunsets in the evening, and when lit up at night. Don't force it if you are afraid of heights; there are trails around the summit. If you have small children, don't let them run or jump on the bridge, and follow the scenic area's requirements for shoe covers/crowd control.
Our route was: Chu Great Wall → Viewing Platform → Glass Bridge → Heart of the Cloud Top → return to the platform the same way, without doing all the high-altitude attractions. Prices for package tickets and individual attractions change with the season. Check the on-site or online prices for the day, and don't trust scalpers.
4. Descent and dinner: Slide/rafting, trails, and back to Fangcheng for Huimian noodles
There are three easy ways to descend: jungle/glass slide, dry slide, or cable car, then take the sightseeing bus back to the gate. If you want to walk, loop down along the Immortal Cave, Fushou Pool, and Yunv Lake, which takes about 1–2 hours and lets you see more of the mountain than just taking the rides.
Leave the scenic area and return to Fangcheng county town for a proper meal. Fangcheng Huimian (braised noodles) is a must—the lamb soup is rich, and the noodles are thin. Add wild mountain vegetables, acorn jelly, and earthen pot chicken; farmhouses at the foot of Qifeng Mountain also serve these. Whether playing in the water in summer or seeing ice formations/nighttime iron flower performances in winter, finish with a bowl of Huimian.
5. Practical information
· Location: Dahekou Village, Yangji Town, Fangcheng County, Nanyang City. About 2.5 hours by car from Zhengzhou, 1–1.5 hours from Nanyang, and 20–30 minutes from Fangcheng county town
· Tickets: Third-party pages reference about CNY 65 for adults/valid for 3 days. Day session is 8:00 AM–6:30 PM, with last entry at 5:30 PM. Seniors, children under 1.4 meters, military personnel, and people with disabilities often have free/discounted entry; check at the ticket window
· Internal expenses: Sightseeing bus, cable car, colorful ladder, glass bridge, Heart of the Cloud Top, and slides are mostly charged separately. Package tickets aren't necessarily cheaper than buying individually; pick two or three based on your stamina
· Route suggestions: Family/leisure route = Visitor Center → Yunv Lake → Flower Stream/Deer Park → Sightseeing bus/cable car → Chu Great Wall → Glass Bridge → Slide down. Youth hiking route = Flower Stream → Hero's Slope/Trail → Chu Great Wall → Heart of the Cloud Top → Immortal Cave → Walk down
· Gear: Non-slip shoes, water, thin jacket (windy at the summit), mosquito repellent/sunscreen for summer, raincoat. No fire allowed in the forest area. Seniors and children must be accompanied at all times
Impressions: Qifeng Mountain isn't the type of "grueling mountain climb." The lower section has water and deer, the upper section has the Great Wall and valley views, and the summit adds a bit of glass-bridge excitement. It is not tiring for family trips, and it is not boring for young people. It is better to arrange it separately from Fangcheng's 72 Pools—Qifeng Mountain focuses on ridges, the Great Wall, and high-altitude attractions, while 72 Pools focuses on rocky stream trekking. Don't try to cram both into one day.