Kaifeng 6-Day Tour: Laojun Mountain & Baiyun Mountain

Today’s in-depth tour: after taking the cable car up the mountain, focus on the Golden Summit, the Ten-Mile Painted Screen, and the Glass Viewing Platform. Follow the guide to learn about Taoist culture and the geology of Funiu Mountain; in the afternoon, descend the mountain to rest and conserve energy for the next day.

Attraction Introduction: One of the highlights of the itinerary is the Golden Summit, located in Luanchuan County, which is the main peak of Funiu Mountain and a famous Taoist mountain. It is said to be the place where the founder of Taoism, Laozi, retired to cultivate. The group of Taoist temples on the Golden Summit stands atop a peak over 2,000 meters above sea level. With golden tiled roofs, red walls, and rolling clouds, it is praised as "a stunning feast of appearances in the human world that must be witnessed." The Ten-Mile Painted Screen is the essence of the whole journey—a high-altitude plank road suspended on a cliff, offering ever-changing views of peak forests, sea of clouds, and sunrise. You can take a two-stage cable car up the mountain. On clear days, you can view the sunrise over the sea of clouds from the summit, while in winter it is a popular place in central China for snow viewing. My understanding is that you must get up early to take the cable car up the mountain to secure the best light for the Golden Summit and Ten-Mile Painted Screen; the summit is windy and cold, so a windproof jacket and thermos are essential, and for those afraid of heights, the Glass Viewing Platform is not recommended.

Tips: The mountain area has a large temperature difference between morning and evening, and the summit is windy, so a windproof outer layer and warm inner layers are necessary. Visitors widely agree that the Golden Summit, sea of clouds, and sunrise are the main highlights, with many staying at the summit overnight for the dawn. Note that the summit has a big temperature difference and long cable car queues, so during peak season, it is crucial to start early. Depending on your actual situation, reserve some energy: handle the main highlights in the morning when energy is high, slow down in the afternoon, and don’t overexert on the first day, otherwise you’ll be exhausted for the following days.

In the morning, take a vehicle to Baiyun Mountain, climb Yuhuang Peak to view the sea of clouds; have a simple meal at the mountaintop at noon, and in the afternoon visit Jiulong Waterfall and the Highland Peony Garden, breathing in the forest's oxygen-rich air, then descend in the evening to check in.

Attraction Introduction: On this stop, we come to Baiyun Mountain. Baiyun Mountain is located in the heart of Funiu Mountains in Song County. Yuhuang Peak offers a view of the sunrise over the sea of clouds. The area has a high forest coverage and abundant negative oxygen ions, making it a natural oxygen bar. Jiulong Waterfall and the Highland Peony Garden each have their own characteristics. It is a rare high-altitude resort area for summer cooling and autumn leaf viewing. Cable cars or scenic shuttle buses can connect the various points. The mountaintop has wide views, with mist swirling around, like a fairyland. In my opinion, visiting in summer for cooling is most worthwhile, as the cool mountain air contrasts sharply with the city heat; getting up early to climb Yuhuang Peak to see the sunrise over the sea of clouds requires a bit of luck, but even if the sunrise isn’t visible, the scenery of the mountains in the morning mist is beautiful enough.

Tips: Many places on the mountain path are slippery. Pay extra attention to shifting your center of gravity backward and slowing down when going downhill; it is advisable to have a pair of knee pads. Most visitors generally believe that Baiyun Mountain is worth a special trip. It is recommended to slow your pace, listen to the guide’s explanations, and save your time for the details that move you most and the best photo spots. In practice, respect local customs; wear appropriate clothing when entering religious sites and do not point casually. A simple greeting can be met with goodwill.

Early in the morning, enter Chongdugou, take advantage of the cool weather to walk through the bamboo forest trail and view the waterfalls, which is suitable for a relaxed family outing; in the afternoon, enjoy free activities, you can take additional photos or rest, and return in the evening.

Warm tips: The biggest worry during free activities is going unprepared, so it is recommended to store your documents and cash separately and confirm the meeting time and place with the tour guide in advance. Visitors generally report that most tourists use their free activity day to sleep in, then go sightseeing, eating, and taking photos at a leisurely pace. Considering the actual situation, make sure to allocate your energy with some reserves: do the main activities in the morning when you are energetic, slow down in the afternoon, and avoid exhausting yourself on the first day so that you still have energy for the following days.