Yaoshan Scenic Area is located in the west of Lushan County, Pingdingshan City, Henan Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction and a national geological park. Situated in the eastern section of the Funiu Mountains, the scenic area covers a total area of about 268 square kilometers, with a core area of 57 square kilometers. The main peak, Yuhuangding (Jade Emperor Peak), stands at an altitude of 2,153.3 meters, making it the second highest peak in the Funiu Mountains. Yaoshan is renowned for its unique features: grotesque peaks and rocks, hot springs and sea of clouds, and primeval forest. It boasts over 240 scenic spots, including 10 super-grade spots and 30 first-grade spots. With a forest coverage rate of over 95% and a negative ion concentration exceeding 100,000 per cubic centimeter, it serves as a natural forest oxygen bar. The scenic area has a height difference of 1,600 meters, creating a unique climate where "one mountain has four seasons, and ten li (5 km) have different weather." It is a comprehensive mountainous scenic area integrating landscape sightseeing, hot spring wellness, and leisure vacation.
History and Culture
Yaoshan got its name from the Yao Temple established by Liu Lei, a descendant of Emperor Yao, for ancestor worship, with a history dating back to the Xia Dynasty. According to the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Liu Lei once tamed dragons here, and the existing "Liu Lei Dragon Taming Site" stone tablet remains. The scenic area preserves cultural relics such as the Qingyun Temple from the Tang Dynasty and the Yingfeng Palace from the Ming Dynasty. Qingyun Temple, founded during the Wude period of the Tang Dynasty, was once a Buddhist holy land in the Central Plains. The existing buildings were rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty, housing cultural relics like Ming Dynasty bronze Buddha statues and Qing Dynasty stone inscriptions.
Yaoshan is also the hometown of Mozi. According to research, "Luyang," the birthplace of Mozi, is today's Lushan County. The scenic area retains relics such as Mozi's lecture site and Mozi's Cave. Additionally, Yaoshan served as a military fortress during the Northern Song Dynasty, where Niu Gao, a famous general of the Southern Song Dynasty, resisted the Jin army, and the "Niu Gao Ridge" site remains. In modern times, Yaoshan was an important part of the Western Henan Revolutionary Base, with multiple red cultural sites preserved.
Geologically, Yaoshan was formed in the Archean era 2.5 billion years ago. Shaped by the Yanshan and Himalayan movements, it features unique granite peak forest landforms. Landscape landforms like Shiren Peak (Stone Man Peak) and Dajiangjun Peak (Great General Peak) are typical collapse accumulation landscapes, known as a "natural geological museum" by geologists.
Main Attractions
Shiren Peak (Stone Man Peak)
A landmark landscape beside Yuhuangding, the main peak of Yaoshan, it is named for a huge rock resembling an ancient warrior standing. About 70 meters high and 20 meters in diameter, it is a natural stone pillar formed by weathering and erosion of granite. Shiren Peak has steep cliffs on three sides, with only a path accessible from the northwest. Climbing to the top offers a panoramic view, making it the most representative geological wonder of the scenic area, listed as one of "Henan's Most Beautiful Geological Landscapes."
Qinglongbei (Green Dragon Ridge)
A ridge about 400 meters long and only 2-3 meters wide, with cliffs dropping hundreds of meters on both sides, resembling a coiling green dragon. The ridge has exposed rocks and sparse vegetation, with the narrowest part allowing only one person to pass, making it the most thrilling hiking route in Yaoshan. Along the way, you can admire pictographic rock landscapes like "Crocodile Emerging from the Sea" and "Tortoise Gazing at the Moon," with an observation deck at the end for distant views of Yuhuangding.
Jiuqu Waterfall (Nine-Bend Waterfall)
The largest waterfall in Yaoshan, over 70 meters high and about 10 meters wide, named for its nine bends. The waterfall drops in three stages. In summer, when water is abundant, it pours down like a silver river, thundering through the valley. In winter, it forms an ice waterfall wonder, with ice pillars up to 30 meters long, a rare winter landscape in the Central Plains. A waterfall viewing pavilion and wooden boardwalk are built beside it for visitors to enjoy close-up views.
Yaoshan Hot Springs
Located at the northern foot of the scenic area, it is a famous hot spring group in the Central Plains. The water temperature remains at 60-65°C year-round, rich in over 20 minerals like fluorine, silicon, and strontium, with significant effects on skin diseases and rheumatism. The existing hot spring resort covers 150 mu (10 hectares), with over 50 outdoor hot spring pools and hot spring hotels, capable of receiving 5,000 visitors daily. It is the core leisure and vacation project of Yaoshan.
Primeval Forest
An area above 1,600 meters altitude in Yaoshan, covering about 100,000 mu (6,667 hectares), is one of the best-preserved primeval forests in Henan Province. The forest is filled with towering ancient trees, including thousands of trees with a chest diameter of over 1 meter, and more than 50 rare tree species like ginkgo and oak over a thousand years old. It is inhabited by national protected animals such as the clouded leopard and golden pheasant. The negative ion concentration reaches up to 1.2 million per cubic centimeter, making it a natural forest bathing ground.
Gourmet Food
Lushan Languo Cuisine
A traditional famous dish in Lushan County with a history of over 400 years. Main ingredients include pork, tofu, vermicelli, and cabbage, stewed with more than 20 spices, featuring a fragrant yet non-greasy, mellow taste. It is recommended to visit the "Old-Fashioned Languo Cuisine" restaurants around the scenic area, with an average consumption of 25-35 yuan per person. The classic combination is Languo Cuisine with steamed buns.
Mutton Hutang Noodles
A characteristic noodle dish around Yaoshan, using local mountain mutton and hand-made noodles. The mutton is cooked until the bones are tender, with a milky white soup, seasoned with pepper, coriander, etc. The noodles are chewy, and the mutton is fresh and tender. Eating it in winter can dispel cold and warm the body. It is available in nearby restaurants, with an average cost of 15-20 yuan per person.
Yaoshan Braised Free-Range Chicken
Braised with free-range chickens from mountainous areas, paired with wild mushrooms and yam, the chicken is firm, and the soup is rich, high in protein and amino acids. It is recommended to visit the farmhouse restaurant "Shanweifang," with an average consumption of 50-60 yuan per person. Chickens are slaughtered on the same day and require a 1-hour advance reservation.
Lushan Kiwi
A special product of Lushan County with a planting history of over 30 years, mainly varieties "Hayward" and "Xuxiang." The fruits are plump, with vitamin C content over 10 times that of apples. Special product stalls are set up at the scenic area entrance, with fresh kiwis priced at 5-8 yuan per jin (0.5 kg), kiwi dried at 20-25 yuan per jin, and gift boxes at 50 yuan per box.
Tickets
The ticket price for Yaoshan Scenic Area is 65 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "云上尧山" to get the latest updates or purchase tickets online.
Opening Hours
Yaoshan Scenic Area is open year-round from 7:00 to 18:00 (last entry at 17:00). During summer (June-August), due to increased visitors seeking summer retreat, opening hours are extended to 18:30 (last entry at 17:30); in winter (November-February of the following year), it closes at 17:30. Opening hours remain unchanged on legal holidays. Theme activities are held during the Azalea Festival in April and the Red Leaf Festival in October each year, with specific times subject to announcements by the scenic area.
Tour Routes
Recommended one-day tour route: Mountain Gate → Yaoshan Cable Car → Qinglongbei (Green Dragon Ridge) → Shiren Peak (Stone Man Peak) → Yuhuangding (Jade Emperor Peak) → Jiuqu Waterfall (Nine-Bend Waterfall) → Tongtianmen (Heaven-Reaching Gate) → Scenic Area Exit, totaling about 6 hours and 8 kilometers of walking, suitable for visitors with good physical fitness. If time is limited, take the Yuhuangding Cable Car directly to the main peak and return after visiting core attractions, totaling about 4 hours. For a two-day tour, it is recommended to visit mountain attractions on the first day and experience hot springs on the second day. Accommodation options include the Fuquan Grand Hotel within the scenic area or surrounding homestays.
Transportation
- High-Speed Railway: Take the Zhengzhou-Chongqing High-Speed Railway to Lushan Station, then transfer to the scenic area tourist shuttle bus. Buses depart daily from 8:00 to 16:00, every hour, at 20 yuan per person, with a journey of about 1.5 hours.
- Long-Distance Bus: Direct long-distance buses to Yaoshan are available from Zhengzhou and Pingdingshan. Zhengzhou West Station departs at 7:30, 9:30, and 11:30, at 65 yuan per person, with a 3-hour journey. Pingdingshan Bus Station departs from 6:30 to 17:00, every 30 minutes, at 35 yuan per person, with a 1.5-hour journey.
- Self-Driving: From Zhengzhou, take the Zhengzhou-Yaoshan Expressway directly to Yaoshan Station, covering 180 kilometers in 2.5 hours. From Luoyang, take the Erguang Expressway to Zhengzhou-Yaoshan Expressway, covering 160 kilometers in 2 hours. From Pingdingshan, take the Zhengzhou-Yaoshan Expressway, covering 70 kilometers in 1 hour. The scenic area parking lot covers 30,000 square meters, accommodating over 2,000 vehicles, with a charge of 10 yuan per vehicle.
Must-See Attractions
- Shiren Peak (Stone Man Peak): A 70-meter-high natural stone pillar, the iconic landscape of Yaoshan. Climbing to the top offers a panoramic view of the Funiu Mountains, with the best viewing time during sunrise and sunset.
- Jiuqu Waterfall (Nine-Bend Waterfall): A 70-meter-high three-stage waterfall, majestic in summer and spectacular as an ice waterfall in winter, a must-visit for photography enthusiasts.
- Qinglongbei (Green Dragon Ridge): A 400-meter-long thrilling ridge, only 2 meters wide at its narrowest, with 100-meter cliffs on both sides, suitable for hiking adventures. Anti-slip shoes are recommended.
- Yaoshan Hot Springs: 60°C fluorine-rich hot springs with over 50 characteristic pools, receiving 5,000 visitors daily. It is recommended to experience them after sightseeing to relieve fatigue.
Tour Tips
- Best visiting times: April-May (azaleas in full bloom), October-November (mountains covered in red leaves), summer for escaping the heat (mountain temperature 5-8℃ lower than urban areas), and winter for admiring ice waterfalls.
- Wear comfortable hiking shoes as the scenic area has many steps, with daily walking distances up to 10 kilometers. Bring sunscreen in summer and a down jacket in winter (low temperatures at the peak).
- Purchase combo tickets (admission + cable car) in advance on the official website, 10-20 yuan cheaper than on-site purchases. There are few dining spots in the scenic area, so carry convenient food.
- Bring your own swimsuit for the hot spring area, as on-site purchases are more expensive. Do not soak in hot springs for more than 1 hour, and avoid soaking on an empty stomach or after drinking.
Precautions
- Smoking and open fires are prohibited in the scenic area. Carrying fire sources is strictly forbidden during the mountain fire prevention period (November-March of the following year), with fines of 200-500 yuan for violations.
- Attractions like Qinglongbei and Shiren Peak have steep roads; pay attention to safety. Climbing non-tour areas is prohibited, and children must be accompanied by adults.
- The hot spring area has slippery floors; wear non-slip slippers. People with hypertension or heart disease should follow medical advice when soaking in hot springs, for no more than 30 minutes.
- Mobile phone signals are weak in the scenic area; it is recommended to visit in groups and inform family members of your itinerary in advance.
- Some farmhouse restaurants accept cash payments; prepare a small amount of cash. You can bargain when purchasing special products, and pay attention to the shelf life of fresh fruits like kiwis.