Yun Tai Mountain Self-Driving Tour Strategy: Best Self-Driving Routes

Yun Tai Mountain is located in Henan Province and boasts a rich history. It is an important Buddhist cultural center, with both natural scenery and cultural landscapes of the highest quality, satisfying tourists’ desire to both appreciate nature and cleanse their souls. Here is a guide to self-driving trips to Yun Tai Mountain.

Introduction to Yun Tai Mountain

This is a famous mountain in the Central Plains region, located in Henan Province. It is a high-level scenic area. As early as three billion years ago, the mountain had already begun to take shape. Two hundred and thirty million years ago, due to continuous tectonic activities in the area, the Yun Tai Mountain we see today was formed. The scenic area covers a vast area, almost 300 square kilometers. Its elevation is also the highest among the hills in the region.

The scenic area within this mountain has many different types of attractions, the most famous being the various canyons.

The formation of these canyons is mainly due to the continuous upward uplift of the rocks within the mountain body, coupled with the continuous erosion of the rocks by flowing water. It may sound unbelievable.

But that’s the fact. In addition, there are many famous mountain springs and waterfalls on the mountain, especially the waterfalls, which have a large drop.

Best Self-Driving Routes for Yun Tai Mountain:

Recommendation 1: Classic One-Day Tour

Tan Pu Gorge – Quan Pu Gorge – Red Stone Gorge – Wan Shan Temple – Ju Yu Peak

This route covers the exquisite attractions of Yun Tai Mountain in one day, providing a feast for the eyes and ears while having an enjoyable experience. Walk through the “shrunken mountain world, expanded artistic bonsai” of Red Stone Gorge and climb Ju Yu Peak to enjoy the grandeur of the magnificent rivers and mountains.

Recommendation 2: Leisurely Two-Day Tour

D1、Yun Tai Mountain – Tan Pu Gorge – Quan Pu Gorge – Red Stone Gorge – Wan Shan Temple

D2、Ju Yu Peak – Die Cai Cave

Based on the one-day tour, visit the Ming Dynasty ancient temple and explore the 18-curve Die Cai Cave, Xi Ying View, Dan Feng Chao Yang, Buddha Niche Peak and other attractions.

Recommendation 3: In-depth Three-Day Tour

D1、Quan Pu Gorge – Tan Pu Gorge – Red Stone Gorge

D2、Ju Yu Peak – Wan Shan Temple

D3、Qing Long Gorge – Feng Lin Gorge

Self-Driving Tour Strategy for Yun Tai Mountain:

Climb to the peak, visit the ancient temple, and finally head to “Central Plains First Gorge” Qing Long Gorge to admire the beautiful mountains and waters. The Qing Long Gorge Scenic Area is composed of seven major sightseeing areas: Qing Long Gorge, Jing Ying Gorge, Ying Si Basin, Shuang Miao Temple, etc. The scenery here is unique, with fantastic geological landscapes such as peaks, cliffs, waterfalls, pools, rivers, and caves everywhere. Photography enthusiasts shouldn’t miss it.

Feng Lin Gorge is known as “a lake of water in the sky and on earth, with thousands of scenes within it”. It takes the emerald lake as the main body, blending the beauty of mountains and the charm of water, combining the characteristics of both northern and southern landscapes. Tourists who have visited here always linger.

Yun Tai Mountain has the 314-meter Yun Tai Tian Pu Waterfall, located at the end of Quan Pu Gorge, one of the largest waterfalls discovered in China. Tian Men Waterfall, Bai Long Pool, Huang Long Waterfall, and Ya Zi Waterfall form a unique waterfall landscape in Yun Tai Mountain. Duo Kong Spring, Pearl Spring, Wang Lie Spring, and Ming Yue Spring are all crystal clear and sweet.

I had heard from others that Yun Tai Mountain was a fairyland, and this trip made me deeply feel that perhaps everyone may have many opportunities to travel in their life, but a trip to Yun Tai Mountain in Henan is definitely an unforgettable experience.

Taihang Mountain is vast and rugged, Red Stone Gorge is unique

Arriving at Yun Tai Mountain Scenic Area, we happened to catch the middle rain, but unexpectedly, there were still so many tourists in the scenic area. Looking at the misty mountains, we couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation.

We boarded the green bus of the scenic area from Baijia Yan Welcome Avenue, driving slowly along the mountain road. The scenic views outside the window were like a feast for the eyes, and before we could fully appreciate them, we had already arrived at the first wonder of China – Red Stone Gorge.

In 2007, Red Stone Gorge in Yun Tai Mountain, Henan Province, became a sister park to Grand Canyon National Park in the United States, further enriching the aesthetic value and historical and cultural significance of Red Stone Gorge.

To reach Red Stone Gorge, you have to cross a sky bridge. Looking at the gorge from the bridge, due to recent rain, the red of Red Stone Gorge is even more vibrant, a dazzling red that makes people marvel. Tourists all took out their cameras to take pictures to commemorate this moment.

I saw the narrow road crowded with tourists, and I suddenly remembered a sentence our tour guide said on the bus: “The mountain road of Red Stone Gorge is very narrow, you can only go forward, no turning back…”

This beauty I had never seen before deeply shocked me. I don’t know what words to use to describe it.

Only when I got here did I truly understand what it meant to have “beauty, seclusion, grandeur, and danger all in one”, “springs, waterfalls, streams, and pools all in one valley”. On both sides of the cliffs, man-made paths meander through the beautiful rocks and unique scenery hidden in a wonderland.

Seeing this magnificent giant bonsai, sculpted as if by divine hands, suddenly made my heart feel more open.

Xu Yi Zhen, the prefect of Huaiqing during the Ming Dynasty, once wrote the famous piece “When did the ghostly axe cleave the layered cliffs, A bird’s wing flew in to open a path”.

When you walk into it, you truly feel the artistic conception of this poem. Here, every few steps you can see waterfalls cascading, springs flowing, deep pools, and clear streams, forming a picturesque landscape. The endless beauty is truly like a dream, leaving an endless aftertaste.

After Red Stone Gorge, we came to Zi Fang Lake. Zi Fang Lake is named after Zhang Liang (courtesy name Zi Fang), who practiced his troops here during the Han Dynasty and retired here after achieving great success.

Zi Fang Lake is famous not only for its connection to historical figures but also because it is home to “Peach Blossom Jellyfish”, a national endangered wildlife species that is as rare as giant pandas.

This beautiful creature, resembling peach petals, originated 550 million years ago and requires extremely high water quality. If it weren’t for the beautiful environment of Zi Fang Lake, we might not be able to see Peach Blossom Jellyfish today.

Standing on the bank, I saw the green mountains towering on both sides, with a stretch of green water in between, a picturesque scene that intoxicates the hearts of tourists.

The dark green water, the verdant mountains, embracing each other, presenting a beautiful scene of graceful mountains and secluded waters. Even though it was cloudy, I didn’t see the shimmering waves, but the graceful lake water, like a flawless emerald, still made me feel refreshed.

Waterfalls rush down, Tan Pu’s water flows fragrant

Located in the northwest of Yun Tai Mountain, the Macaque Valley, Quan Pu Gorge, and Tan Pu Gorge are close to each other, each with its own unique characteristics. As soon as we got off the sightseeing bus, I rushed to Macaque Valley with my classmates because we wanted to see the amazing monkey show we had heard so much about.

We climbed the steps, and soon saw an iron cage by the roadside with five monkeys inside. We bought food and threw it in, and found that they didn’t fight over it. The small monkeys ate first, and the big monkeys ate the leftovers. This loving behavior filled us with admiration.

The monkey show here has a dedicated performance area and a fixed performance time. The tour guide said there would be a monkey show at 3:30 pm, so we continued climbing the mountain path towards the performance area at the top of the mountain. As we approached, we heard the monkeys’ cries, which made us hurry our pace.

Further up was a straw shed, surrounded by people, three layers deep. Through the gaps between the people, I saw two strong monkeys and a clever little monkey.

The big monkeys had sunken faces and pointed mouths, while the little monkey was very cute. Under the instructions of an artist, they performed various actions. When the old man who was performing the monkey show said in his not-so-standard Mandarin, “Attention!”, the three monkeys suddenly stood up straight, standing and scratching their ears, making the crowd laugh out loud.

Then the old man said again, “Turn left, turn right!” The three monkeys quickly changed directions. One monkey didn’t understand which side was left and turned around, bumping into another monkey. This comical scene made the audience burst into laughter again.

During the monkey show, sometimes the monkeys were disobedient, often snatching the performer’s whip when he wasn’t looking or unexpectedly grabbing his clothes and face. At times like this, the monkey performer would always pick up his whip and whip the disobedient monkey.

After watching the monkey show, we went to find Quan Pu Gorge, said to have a 314-meter drop. Walking along the bottom of the valley, looking up at the towering mountains in the distance and the lush trees and clear, delicate water nearby, breathing in the fresh air.

That feeling, even after many days, still makes me feel intoxicated whenever I think about it. When we got there, we were a little disappointed. Quan Pu Gorge had very little water this time of year, but the towering cliffs still made us marvel at the wonders of nature.

The last attraction of the day was Tan Pu Gorge. As we stepped on the stairs and walked upstream, we found that beautiful scenery emerged one after another, each step captivating us. First, we came to Du Xian Pool, with water as green as jade, so tranquil that it makes people forget their troubles.

Next was the Lover’s Waterfall. Three waterfalls cascade down from high to low, gracefully descending the steps, performing a breathtaking and wonderful show on the tiers of steps. Further ahead is Ya Pu Gorge. Two tributaries rush down from two mountain steps and converge at the bottom into a large confluence, shaped like the Chinese character “Ya”.

Through the turbulent stream that sings and dances, we saw a wonderland in the distance. A rock shaped like an umbrella was covered in water plants, with various bead curtains hanging from the eaves, and even the crystal clear water drops were clearly visible. Under the rock was a dark cave. Locals call this place the Water Curtain Cave.

Further on, there is the blue and refreshing Bu Lao Spring. People say that drinking water from Bu Lao Spring has the effect of prolonging life, and tourists eagerly take out their cups to catch the spring water that bursts from the spring, wanting to take it back for their loved ones to drink.

Tan Pu Gorge has many attractions, including Du Xian Pool, Qing Yi Pool, and Shi Jian Stone, each leaving tourists wanting more. Tan Pu Gorge is a representative of Yun Tai Mountain’s unique waterfall gorge scenery.

Magnificent Die Cai Cave, towering Ju Yu Peak

I had long heard of the poem “Alone in a foreign land, a stranger I am; Every festive season, my longing deepens. I know my brothers climb high places, With sprigs of fragrant wormwood, one less.”

We took a bus from the Wujia Tai Service Area to the Zi Fang Lake parking lot to transfer. The driver after the transfer was very strict about the number of passengers. He required that there be no over-occupancy, even by one person. I was very confused at the time, but later I understood that the road to Ju Yu Peak was very dangerous. If there was over-occupancy, it could easily lead to danger.

As the car drove onto the winding mountain road on the edge of the cliff, I understood what it meant to have “many curves, steep slopes, and narrow roads”. At every place with a cluster of boulders, there were signs that read “Beware of falling rocks, cherish life”. Through the windows, I saw a patch of lake water like a dark pearl embedded among the towering mountains. Looking down, it was so beautiful.

As the road stretched further, I saw the unique cliffs of Yun Tai Mountain. Those cliffs were so vertical that it felt impossible to climb them.

Because it was a rainy day, the clouds in Yun Tai Mountain were particularly dense. As the car drove along the mountainside, we could see clouds both at the top and at the bottom of the mountain. Being in it felt like a fairyland. The mountains were high, the clouds were low, and through the windows I watched the sea of clouds rise and fall among the mountains. I felt as if I had reached another realm in life.

Die Cai Cave is a must-see on the way to Ju Yu Peak. It is actually a series of tunnels leading to the top of the mountain. This attraction is enjoyed from the bus, taking about half an hour to explore. I counted 17 tunnels, each with different shapes and lengths.

Ordinary tunnels are straight, but Die Cai Cave’s tunnels are not only curved but also sloped. Many of the tunnels are “U”-shaped, meaning you need to turn 180 degrees. The tunnels are pitch black inside. Without headlights, it’s dark enough to make you shiver. It may be because the tunnels haven’t seen sunlight for a long time, so they are very cold inside. The light from the headlights shines on the walls of the tunnels, and many places are wet, like beautiful paintings. Passing through short tunnels takes only a few seconds, but passing through long tunnels takes a few minutes.

Thinking about these unique landscapes, head-to-tail, all man-made, I couldn’t help but marvel. It took so much time to build such a grand project, so much effort and sacrifice. I was deeply moved by the spirit of the people of Xiucheng who moved mountains.

After passing through Die Cai Cave, Ju Yu Peak is right in front of us. Ju Yu Peak is the main peak of Yun Tai Mountain. It is graceful, towering, and majestic, shaped like a giant cauldron overturned over the mountain range. This is where Sun Si Miao, the Medicine King, collected herbs and refined elixirs, and there is a Medicine King Cave for tourists to burn incense and pray for blessings.

When I climbed to the middle of the mountain, I had already experienced the characteristics of Ju Yu Peak, where towering ancient trees and lush vegetation grow. The path up the mountain is very steep, so there are many places with iron-framed stairs. Next to the stairs are several plants full of life but unknown names, stretching through the gaps in the stairs, as if welcoming tourists from afar.

The most noteworthy thing about Yun Tai Mountain is Yun Tai View. Only those who have been here know how far and how dangerous the road is. It is not easy to build such a large-scale project with such a high level of difficulty. However, seeing such a magnificent building, I couldn’t help but admire the hard work and wisdom of the local people here.

On this trip to Yun Tai Mountain, I not only saw the beauty of nature, but also saw a more beautiful landscape. On the way up the mountain, someone found a mobile phone between two seats on the bus and handed it to the tour guide. On the stairs leading up Ju Yu Peak, a child was separated from his parents in the crowd and started crying. A group of tourists gathered around him, comforting him and carefully asking about his parents’ contact information. Finally, they helped him find his parents. There was also that group of Guangdong people who took good care of us, urging us to eat more to save energy and telling us what to do when it rained while climbing.

On the way back, we passed a place called “Return Mountain”, and the tour guide said to us: “The road we are driving on now was built by the people of Yun Tai Mountain with their own hands. Whenever a daughter from here married, she would always turn back here to look at her hometown that had raised her for so many years. So the locals called this place ‘Return Mountain’. Now, very few daughters marry out of Yun Tai Mountain, because almost every village here has a net income of nearly 10 million yuan… I hope this trip, despite the rain, will allow you to remember this place.”

Yes, I will definitely remember this extraordinary trip to Yun Tai Mountain, and I will tell more people about it.

The Scenery of Yun Tai Mountain

As mentioned above, this mountain has a relatively high altitude, with some areas reaching over 1,300 meters.

Because of the mountain’s high altitude, it has a wide variety of plants, and the shape and size of the plants vary depending on the altitude. It is definitely worth a visit.

This mountain is famous not only for its mountains, but also for its waters. There are many canyons on the mountain, and at the bottom of these canyons flow large and small streams. In places where the slope is steeper and the drop is greater, the streams turn into mighty waterfalls, their sound deafening.