I want to loudly declare: This hidden summer retreat city is absolutely stunning!
by EMELY MALDONADO
Jul 21, 2025
September winds have dyed the mountains yellow🍁, and the sea of clouds at Laojun Mountain☁️ surges poetically in the morning light. This is the place in Central China closest to a fairyland, where red leaves and the golden rooftops of Taoist temples weave a millennium-long romance—are you ready to fall into this golden dream?✨
📍Detailed Address:
Laojun Mountain Scenic Area, Qiliping Village, Luanchuan County, Luoyang City, Henan Province
(At the junction of Luoyang and Nanyang, in the heart of the Funiu Mountains🗺️)
🚗Transportation Guide:
▪️Plane✈️: Direct to Luoyang Beijiao Airport → transfer to scenic area shuttle bus (about 2 hours)
▪️High-speed Rail🚄: To Luoyang Longmen Station → transfer to tourist shuttle bus (departures daily 8:00-15:00)
▪️Self-driving🛻: Navigate to "Laojun Mountain Yun Jing Cableway," the mountain road autumn scenery is stunning (remember to check your brakes!)
▪️Group Tours🚌: Multi-day tour packages available from Zhengzhou/Luoyang, including pick-up and drop-off for convenience~
🕙Opening Hours:
▪️Peak Season (September-October): 6:00-19:00 (Cableway stops at 17:30⏰)
▪️Golden Summit Lighting Time: 18:00-18:30 (A must-see! The palace complex looks like a heavenly palace at dusk✨)
💰Ticket Prices:
▪️Admission: 100 RMB/person
▪️Zhongling/Yunjing Cableway: Round trip 130 RMB (Highly recommend the Yunjing Cableway! The view of red leaves and sea of clouds is amazing🚡)
▪️Fenglin Cableway: Round trip 80 RMB (Secondary cableway, essential for reaching the summit)
🌟Highlights:
→【Sea of Clouds Spectacle】☁️
80% chance to see the sea of clouds after rain clears in September-October! Recommended viewing spots: Yuhuang Peak, Ten-Mile Painted Screen, Golden Temple Taoist Complex (waiting at 5 AM for sunrise and sea of clouds is worth the ticket!)
→【Colorful Forest Feast】🍁
Maple, maple, and birch trees at over 2000 meters altitude paint the forest in layers of color! Best photo spots: Taibai Slope → along the glass viewing platform (wear Hanfu or red and white long skirts for stunning photos📸)
→【Taoist Wonders】🧧
• The world's tallest bronze statue of Laozi (59 meters!)
• The golden gilding craftsmanship of the Golden Temple complex is breathtaking
• You can draw lots and seek Taoist guidance (fortune tellers finish work at 4 PM~)
→【Extreme Experiences】😱
• Via Ferrata climbing (ballet on the cliff! Reservation required)
• Glass viewing platform (1200 meters suspended, not for the faint-hearted)
• Dream Chasing Valley Waterfall Group (water flow remains abundant in autumn💦)
🍜Food and Accommodation Recommendations:
【Mountain Flavor Explosion】
▪️Luanchuan tofu soup + baked flatbread wrapped with wild mountain vegetables (authentic small stall halfway up the mountain)
▪️Chicken soup stewed with Luanchuan hubaos (a healthful combo of glutinous rice and jujube paste🍲)
▪️Taoist vegetarian meals (near the Golden Summit, 20 RMB for a filling meal, worth trying)
【Accommodation Guide】🏡
→ For convenience: "1866 Yun Jing Star Lodge" inside the scenic area (glass rooms for stargazing at night🌌)
→ Best value: Zhaigou Village homestay ("Meet Laojun Mountain" homestay with breakfast for just over 200 RMB)
→ Luxury option: Luanchuan County Grand Hyatt Hotel (15-minute drive, hot springs to relax♨️)
📌Tips:
1️⃣ Must-bring items: windproof jacket (top of the mountain is 10℃ cooler than the base!), power bank, cash (signal is unstable)
2️⃣ Easy route: Yunjing Cableway → Fenglin Cableway → Ten-Mile Painted Screen → Golden Summit → walk down (about 5 hours total)
3️⃣ Hidden fun: Scan the QR code on the "Tao Te Ching" wall at the cableway exit for AR interaction, summon a virtual Laozi guide!
4️⃣ Avoid risks: Don’t hike in the rain! Thick fog obscures everything, prioritize cableway sightseeing
5️⃣ Easter egg task: Look for red blessing ribbons tied to branches along the way, they hold many heartwarming stories❤️
Autumn at Laojun Mountain is a love letter from immortals to humanity💌 Between the rolling clouds, it feels like you can reach out and touch the essence of the heavenly way~ Quickly your travel buddy and fall into this golden fantasy together!✨
Post by SilverLining^42 | Sep 18, 2025























