Spanning Luoyang, Nanyang, and Pingdingshan cities in Henan Province, with its main part located in Luanchuan County, Luoyang City, Funiu Mountain Scenic Area is a national-level nature reserve and a 5A-rated tourist attraction. Covering an area of approximately 5,000 square kilometers, it consists of multiple sections including Laojun Mountain, Chicken Crown Cave, Baiyun Mountain, and Baotianman. As a branch of the eastern extension of the Qinling Mountains, its main peak, Laojun Mountain, stands at 2,217 meters. The scenic area is renowned for its unique granite peak forest landforms, rich flora and fauna, and profound Taoist culture. With a forest coverage rate exceeding 92%, it is hailed as a "natural oxygen bar" and the "lungs of Central China," offering a comprehensive experience integrating mountain and water sightseeing, geological exploration, and cultural immersion.
History and Culture
Funiu Mountain serves as a transitional zone between northern and southern climates in China and a watershed for the Yellow River and Yangtze River basins. Historically, it was a significant cradle of Taoist culture. Legend has it that Laozi once retreated here for spiritual cultivation, giving Laojun Mountain its name. Existing structures such as Laojun Temple and Taiqing Temple date back to the Northern Wei Dynasty, were renovated during the Tang Dynasty's Zhenguan period, and were officially named "Laojun Mountain" by Emperor Wanli of the Ming Dynasty, solidifying its status as a Taoist holy land in Central China.
Chicken Crown Cave, formed 800 million years ago, features abundant karst landscapes. Since the Tang Dynasty, literati and scholars have left inscriptions here, with the earliest dating back to the Northern Song Dynasty. Funiu Mountain is also a revolutionary base area. During the Anti-Japanese War, it was an important part of the Western Henan Anti-Japanese Base, leaving numerous red relics.
Main Attractions
Laojun Mountain
Located in Luanchuan County, it is the main peak of Funiu Mountain, rising to 2,217 meters. The scenic area boasts over 200 granite peaks, forming a unique "detachment peak forest" landform. The Ten-Mile Gallery, approximately 3 kilometers long, consists of countless stone pillars and peaks, earning it the reputation of "Zhangjiajie of the North." The Taoist architectural complex on the mountain covers about 15,000 square meters, including Laojun Temple, Yuhuang Summit, and South Heaven Gate. The Golden Top Taoist Complex, built on mountain tops over 2,000 meters, comprises Ming and Qing-style buildings such as the Five Mothers Golden Hall and the Moral Mansion, making it the highest-altitude Taoist complex in Central China.
Chicken Crown Cave
Situated 3 kilometers west of Luanchuan County, it is a large limestone cave with a depth of 5,600 meters. The developed section spans 1,800 meters, with a viewing area of 23,000 square meters. Inside, there are eight major scenic zones and over 180 attractions, featuring fully developed karst landscapes such as stalactites, stalagmites, and stone pillars. Notable formations include the "Immortals Welcoming Guests" and the "Golden Turtle Ferrying the Immortal." The cave maintains a constant temperature of 15-18°C year-round, earning it the title of "natural air conditioner" and representing a typical karst landform in northern China.
Baiyun Mountain
Located in the southern part of Song County, the scenic area covers 168 square kilometers, with its main peak, Yuhuang Summit, reaching 2,216 meters, known as the "roof of Central China." It includes attractions such as Yuhuang Summit, Baiyun Mountain, and Little Huangshan. With a forest coverage rate of 98.5%, it is home to 1,991 plant species and 204 animal species. Baiyun Lake covers an area of 11,000 square meters with a storage capacity of 120,000 cubic meters, serving as the main water feature. Jiulong Waterfall, with a drop of 123 meters and a width of over 10 meters, is one of the highest waterfalls in Central China.
Baotianman
Located in Neixiang County, it is a national-level nature reserve covering 5,400 hectares, with its main peak, Muhu Peak, rising to 1,830 meters. The scenic area focuses on pristine forests and canyon landscapes, featuring dense deciduous pine forests with over 100 ancient trees over a thousand years old. Qixing Pool consists of seven connected deep pools with clear water and a cumulative drop of 400 meters. Fossil Peak, named for its abundant paleontological fossils, is an important site for studying the geological evolution of the Qinling orogenic belt.
Chongdugou
Located in Tantou Town, Luanchuan County, covering 20 square kilometers, it is named after Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Liu Xiu, who crossed the Yishui River here twice. The scenic area features dense bamboo forests covering over 1,000 mu, the largest bamboo viewing area in Central China. The Jinji River Waterfall Group spans about 3 kilometers, with over 30 waterfalls of various sizes. The Xiefenya Waterfall, with a drop of over 60 meters, is the iconic landscape of the area.
Local Cuisine
Luanchuan Tofu
A specialty of Luanchuan County, it is made from local high-quality soybeans and mountain spring water. The tofu is light yellow in color, with a delicate and elastic texture, rich in protein and amino acids. Common dishes include tofu mixed with scallions, home-style tofu, etc., priced at about 20-30 yuan per plate, which can be tasted in various restaurants in Luanchuan County.
Acorn Jelly
A characteristic snack in the Funiu Mountain area, made from ground acorn fruits. The jelly is grayish-brown, with a smooth and refreshing taste, rich in tannins and dietary fiber. It is served with seasonings such as mashed garlic and aged vinegar, and has the effect of clearing heat and relieving summer heat when eaten in summer. The price is about 10-15 yuan per bowl.
Mountain Wild Vegetable Feast
Featuring wild vegetables such as shepherd's purse, dandelion, and Chinese toon from Funiu Mountain, prepared in various ways including stir-frying, cold salads, and dumplings. A classic combination is Chinese toon stir-fried with free-range chicken eggs, priced at around 30-40 yuan per plate, while wild vegetable dumplings cost 15-20 yuan per serving.
Languo Cuisine
A traditional dish from Lushan County, stewed with pork belly, tofu, and vermicelli. The meat is tender, and the soup is rich, high in protein and fat, making it ideal for winter. A portion costs around 30-50 yuan, served with steamed buns or rice.
Funiu Mountain Mushrooms
Funiu Mountain is one of China's major mushroom-producing areas. The mushrooms are thick, flavorful, and rich in mushroom polysaccharides and amino acids. Dried mushrooms can be purchased around the scenic area for about 50-80 yuan per jin, or enjoyed in restaurants as stewed mushrooms with free-range chicken, priced at around 80-120 yuan per serving.
Admission Tickets
Tickets for each section of Funiu Mountain are sold separately:
Laojun Mountain: 100 yuan per person. Search for the official WeChat public account "老君山风景名胜区" to get updates or purchase tickets online.
Chicken Crown Cave: 80 yuan per person. Search for the official WeChat public account "鸡冠洞风景名胜区" to get updates or purchase tickets online.
Baiyun Mountain: 75 yuan per person. Search for the official WeChat public account "洛阳白云山" to get updates or purchase tickets online.
Baotianman: 70 yuan per person. Search for the official WeChat public account "内乡宝天曼景区" to get updates or purchase tickets online. As of June 30, 2025, the online ticketing function of this official WeChat account is not available.
Chongdugou: 120 yuan per person. Search for the official WeChat public account "重渡沟景区" to get updates or purchase tickets online. The annual pass is valid for two years with unlimited entries.
Opening Hours
The opening hours of each scenic area vary slightly:
Laojun Mountain: Open year-round from 8:00 to 18:00 (until 19:00 in summer)
Chicken Crown Cave: 8:30 to 17:30 (9:00 to 17:00 in winter)
Baiyun Mountain: 8:00 to 18:00, with some attractions closed in winter
Baotianman: 8:00 to 17:30, with some mountain paths possibly closed during the rainy season (July-August)
Chongdugou: 7:30 to 18:30, with evening light shows in summer
Open as usual on legal holidays. Check each scenic area's announcements for specific details.
Itineraries
Classic One-Day Tour of Laojun Mountain:
Mountain Gate → Zhongling Cable Car → Dream Valley → Glass Observation Deck → Ten-Mile Gallery → Golden Top Taoist Complex → Yunjing Cable Car down the mountain (approx. 6 hours, recommended to take cable cars to save energy)
Three-Day In-Depth Tour of Funiu Mountain:
Day 1: Chicken Crown Cave → Laojun Mountain (climb in the afternoon to watch sunset and night view of the Golden Top)
Day 2: Ten-Mile Gallery of Laojun Mountain → Baiyun Mountain (visit Baiyun Lake and Jiulong Waterfall)
Day 3: Yuhuang Summit of Baiyun Mountain → Chongdugou (experience bamboo forests and waterfall groups)
Eco-Scientific Exploration Route:
Baotianman Nature Reserve → Fossil Peak Geological Section → Qixing Pool Canyon → Neixiang County Yamen (learn about geological evolution and cultural history, approx. 2 days)
Transportation
- High-Speed Railway:
Luoyang Longmen Station → Luanchuan County. Take the high-speed railway to Luoyang, then transfer to a long-distance bus. The bus ride from Luoyang to Luanchuan takes about 2 hours, costing 50 yuan. - Self-Driving:
1. Zhengzhou → Zhengshao Expressway → Luoluan Expressway → Luanchuan County (Laojun Mountain, Chicken Crown Cave), approx. 3.5 hours
2. Xi'an → Lianhuo Expressway → Luoluan Expressway → Luanchuan County, approx. 5 hours
3. Wuhan → Jinggang'ao Expressway → Zhengshao Expressway → Song County (Baiyun Mountain), approx. 6 hours - Scenic Area Transportation:
Each scenic area has shuttle buses. Cable cars are required to climb Laojun Mountain and Baiyun Mountain. The one-way trip on the Zhongling Cable Car takes about 8 minutes.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Ten-Mile Gallery of Laojun Mountain: A 3-kilometer granite peak forest over 2,000 meters above sea level, formed 140 million years ago during mountain-building movements, a geological wonder of Funiu Mountain.
- Chicken Crown Cave: A karst cave formed 800 million years ago, with stalagmites growing at an average annual rate of 0.13 mm. The "Pillar of the Sea" formation, 18.7 meters tall, is the treasure of the cave.
- Jiulong Waterfall of Baiyun Mountain: With a drop of 123 meters and a width of 10 meters, the water cascades like a galaxy during the rainy season. The negative oxygen ion concentration nearby reaches 85,000 per cubic centimeter.
- Primitive Forest of Baotianman: A 5,400-hectare natural secondary forest home to rare plants such as dove trees and Chinese yews, representing a typical warm-temperate forest ecosystem in China.
Travel Tips
- Recommended duration: 3-5 days, choose core areas like Laojun Mountain and Baiyun Mountain based on interests.
- Laojun Mountain is at a high altitude. The temperature at the summit is 8-10°C lower than at the foot. Bring a jacket in summer and warm clothing in winter.
- The Chicken Crown Cave is damp with slippery floors. Wear non-slip shoes. Flash photography is prohibited inside.
- Baiyun Mountain is large. Take the shuttle bus (70 yuan per person). It takes 1.5 hours to hike to Yuhuang Summit.
- April-May: Rhododendrons bloom on Laojun Mountain; October-November: Red leaves cover Baiyun Mountain, ideal for sightseeing.
- Many farmhouses offer accommodation at around 100-200 yuan per night, providing a taste of Western Henan folk culture.
Precautions
- Funiu Mountain has many mountainous areas. Wear comfortable hiking shoes and carry water and snacks.
- The Golden Top Taoist Complex is a religious site. Maintain silence and respect Taoist customs.
- Smoking, littering, and picking wild plants are prohibited in Baotianman Nature Reserve.
- Bring rain gear in summer due to frequent mountain rains. Be cautious of floods and landslides.
- Tickets are sold separately for each scenic area. Book in advance on official websites or platforms to avoid queues during peak seasons.
- There are folk performances at night in Chongdugou. Check the schedule in advance.