Hiking Spots in Zhengzhou

Now is a great time to go hiking and enjoy the fresh air in Zhengzhou. If you don’t want to visit the crowded popular attractions, you can go to the following places. Let’s take a look at what are recommended!

1、Nanyang·Tongbai Mountain

Deep mountain hidden ancient temple

The Shui Lian Chan Temple in Tongbai Mountain, Nanyang, is so low-key that it is jaw-dropping. Although this place was originally the 41st place among the “72 Blessed Lands” of Taoism. The Shui Lian Temple, whose full name is Shui Lian Chan Temple, is located in the mountain gorge six kilometers west of Tongbai County. Behind the hall, there is a 100-meter-high cliff, and a stream of mountain spring pours down from the top of the cliff, looking like a crystal curtain hanging in the air, covering a natural stone cave on the upper part of the cliff, called the Shui Lian Cave. The temple is named after it.

Shui Lian Temple is an important place for Chinese Linji Zen Buddhism. It is also the center of Buddhist activities in southern Henan and northern Hubei. Waterfalls dance to the right of the temple, chanting and singing to the left of the temple. Surrounded by towering mountains, the cave is locked with smoke and clouds, the palace is majestic, and the holy images are solemn.

Shui Lian Temple houses precious Buddhist relics, including ancient palm leaf scriptures, Northern Wei gilded Buddha statues, Ming Dynasty Dong Qichang’s handwritten copy of the Diamond Sutra, Qing Dynasty Yongzheng’s woodblock edition of the Dragon Zang, etc., all of which are invaluable treasures.

Surrounded by mountains, pine and cypress trees are verdant, which is one of the famous scenic spots in Tongbai Mountain. Shui Lian Cave is about 20 meters high from the ground. There is a clay sculpture of a monkey in the cave. Spring water gushes out from the monkey’s body. The entrance of the cave is covered by a waterfall pouring down from the top of the mountain, which looks like a bead curtain hanging down.

2、Pingdingshan Zhuan Yun Valley

Beautiful scenery and good luck

Located in Yaoshan Town, western part of Lushan County, Pingdingshan City, one kilometer north of National Highway 311 at the northern foot of Yaoshan Mountain, there is a valley running from northwest to southeast. Legend has it that in ancient times, there was a man named Li Qiao, who was unlucky. After falling into the lake while collecting Dendrobium candidum, he got a precious pearl and turned his luck around. Therefore, the valley was named Zhuan Yun Valley (also known as Good Luck Valley).

Within two kilometers of the lower part of Zhuan Yun Valley, there are more than 10 waterfalls with a drop of 10 to 70 meters. Fei Lian Waterfall, Feng Ming Waterfall, Fei Long Waterfall, Guihua Waterfall, the waterfalls are like curtains, rolling clouds and spraying mist; below the waterfalls are pools, formed by stone depressions, Lian Tan, Ban Yue Tan, Shen Gui Tan, Jiu Nü Tan, Xi Xin Tan, the pools are connected to each other, jade-like and clear. In the stream, schools of fish chase and play.

The riverbed bedrock is smooth like a dragon bed jade paved, the clear stream twists and turns like a song of the strings. The strange rocks and beautiful water, created by nature, are like a miniature landscape of waterfalls and pools.

3、Zhengzhou Wanshan

The first mountain in the Central Plains, the tail of Songshan Mountain

Wanshan, located about 20 kilometers west of Zhengzhou City, is known as “the first mountain in the Central Plains, the tail of Songshan Mountain”, with an altitude of 497 meters. It is located five kilometers southwest of the urban area of Xingyang City, and is an extension of Mount Song, the central peak. The vegetation here is lush, verdant, and beautiful legends are endless. Ancient and modern literati and scholars often visit this place, leaving behind many praiseworthy verses.

The main peak of Wanshan is 497.1 meters above sea level. It is backed by Mount Song to the south, faces the Yellow River to the north, borders the vast Huang-Huai Plain to the east, and leans against Hulao Pass, known as the throat of the east and west, to the west. The mountain body is composed of Triassic red sandstone, the rock is hard, Wanshan is green, and it is one of the ten scenic spots of Xingyang.

There are no traces of artificial carving here. Every mountain and stone, every grass and tree, every stream and stream is naturally interesting. The majestic rocks, the graceful gingko trees, the changing clouds and mist, and the misty mountain springs are known as the “Four Wonders” of Wanshan. There are also beautiful legends such as “Liu Xiu’s chair stone hides itself”, “Zhao Kuangyin sent Jing Niang”, “Fan Lihua stationed troops”, and “Dragon King’s migration”, which add a magical touch to the “Wanshan Stacked Emerald”.

At the top of Wanshan, there are remains of the Zheng-Han Great Wall from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. The “Wanshan Fort”, which was expanded by Xingyi during the Xianfeng period of the Qing Dynasty, still exists. The 60,000 square meter inner city wall is now hidden and visible, and the west and north gates are still intact. There is also a “wartime cave” built in the 1970s.

4、Sanmenxia Quanjia Yu

An undeveloped “corner of Mount Hua”

Quanjia Yu is located in Lingbao County, Sanmenxia City. The granite in Quanjia Yu is called “Lingbao white hemp”. The granite here has a good texture and unique characteristics. As you enter the depths of the valley, everything is in its most primitive state. The small waterfalls and small green pools in the rainy season, everything is so vast, quiet, and beautiful.

This summer, if you are tired of city life, come to Quanjia Yu to relax and have a close encounter with the unspoiled nature!