Yunbing Mountain Scenic Area is located in Suocheng Town, Lanshan County, Yongzhou City, Hunan Province. It sits on the northern side of the middle section of the Nanling Mountains, at the junction of Hunan, Guangdong, and Guangxi provinces. It is approximately 35 kilometers away from Lanshan County seat and 180 kilometers away from Yongzhou urban area. Covering a total area of 120 square kilometers, it is a national 4A-level tourist attraction, featuring "sea of clouds, ice pendants, bamboo forests, and strange rocks" as its main highlights, with an average altitude of 1,200 meters. Facilities such as a tourist service center and Yunbing Homestays have been built within the scenic area.
History and Culture
The Nanling Mountains, where Yunbing Mountain is situated, served as a migration route for the ancestors of the Yao people. The scenic area preserves the ruins of a thousand-year-old Yao Village, with more than 20 existing stone house foundations. Research has confirmed that this was a Yao settlement during the Tang and Song dynasties. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was an important post station on the Hunan-Guangdong trade ancient road. A 3-kilometer-long bluestone slab road remains to this day, with hoof prints left by mule and horse transportation in those years. The scenic area gets its name from the year-round lingering clouds and mist, as well as the striking ice pendant landscape in winter. It was officially developed into a tourist attraction in 2017 and is now a key destination for ecological tourism and folk culture experiences in southern Hunan.
Main Attractions
Sea of Clouds Wonder
Yunbing Mountain is the lowest pass in the Nanling Mountains. The convergence of air currents from the north and south creates a unique sea of clouds landscape.
Thousand-Year-Old Moss
It is the largest known alpine moss colony in southern Hunan and also a national protected plant.
Ice Pendants and Snow Scenery
Formed due to low temperatures and rainy weather in winter (December to February of the following year), it is mainly distributed in areas above 1,000 meters above sea level. The longest ice pendants can reach 3 meters, crystal clear, making it a rare natural landscape in southern Hunan.
Bamboo Forest and Stream Valley
Covering an area of 1,500 mu (about 100 hectares), it is dominated by moso bamboo, with occasional varieties such as mottled bamboo and square bamboo. The negative ion concentration in the bamboo forest reaches 80,000 per cm³. A 1.5-kilometer-long bamboo plank road has been built here. The average temperature in summer is 5-8℃ lower than that outside the mountains, making it an ideal summer resort.
Alpine Rhododendrons
Approximately 600 mu (about 40 hectares) of alpine rhododendrons have been planted in the scenic area. In spring, rhododendrons bloom all over the mountains, with bright colors—red, pink, and white flowers adorn the mountains in a colorful array, attracting numerous tourists to come and take photos.
One Step Across Two Provinces
It is a famous Internet-famous spot in Yunbing Mountain. Standing here, tourists can have one foot in Lianzhou, Qingyuan City, Guangdong Province, and the other in Lanshan County, Yongzhou City, Hunan Province, experiencing the unique geographical location at the junction of two provinces.
360° Café
Visitors can enjoy coffee while overlooking the vast sea of clouds.
Tour Routes
One-Day Tour: Arrive in the morning, take a shuttle bus to the Bamboo Forest and Stream Valley, and hike along the bamboo plank road for 1 hour; have lunch at the scenic area restaurant, tasting Lanshan Braised Duck with Blood and Smoked Pork Stir-Fried with Moso Bamboo Shoots; in the afternoon, visit the Thousand-Year-Old Yao Village and the Hunan-Guangdong Ancient Road, and purchase specialties such as Yao homemade rice wine at the tourist service center before returning. Two-Day Tour: Follow the one-day tour itinerary on the first day. On the second day, go to the "Sea of Clouds Platform" to watch the sunrise early in the morning (5:30-6:00 in summer, 6:30-7:00 in winter). After that, hike to explore the ice pendant landscape (in winter) or visit the surrounding streams and waterfalls, and return in the afternoon.
Travel Tips
- The best travel seasons are April-May (when bamboo forests turn green), October-November (clear and crisp autumn weather), and December-February (ice pendant landscape). Take sun protection measures in summer, and prepare down jackets and non-slip shoes in winter.
- Respect local customs when visiting the Yao Village, and do not touch cultural relics and ruins randomly.
- Follow the official WeChat public account "Yunbing Mountain Tourist Area" in advance to get real-time weather and plank road opening information.
Notes
- Open flames are prohibited in the scenic area. Smoking is only allowed in designated areas, and do not carry kindling when hiking.
- Some roads may be icy in winter. Follow the guidance of staff and do not go to unopened areas alone.
- There are many mosquitoes in the bamboo forest area; bring mosquito repellent in summer. The plank road is slippery on rainy days, so it is recommended to wear waterproof shoes.
- Mobile phone signals are weak above 1,500 meters above sea level. It is recommended to travel in groups and inform family members of your itinerary in advance.
Transportation
- Self-Driving: Starting from Yongzhou urban area, drive along the Erguang Expressway → Xiarong Expressway, exit at Lanshan, then switch to Provincial Highway S322 to the scenic area. The whole journey is about 180 kilometers, taking 2.5 hours. Starting from Guangzhou, drive along the Qinglian Expressway → Erguang Expressway, with a total distance of about 350 kilometers, taking 4 hours.
- Shuttle Bus: There are direct shuttle buses from Lanshan County seat to the scenic area at 09:00 and 13:00 every day, with a fare of 15 yuan and a travel time of 50 minutes. The return times are 11:30 and 16:00.
- Tourist Chartered Car: The one-day round-trip charter fee from Yongzhou urban area is about 600-800 yuan per car, including the driver and fuel costs.
Opening Hours
Open all year round, with daily opening hours from 08:30 to 17:00 (admission stops at 16:00). During the winter ice pendant period (December to February of the following year), the glass plank road may be temporarily closed in case of rain or snow. For specific information, please refer to the scenic area announcement.
Tickets
The ticket price is 80 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "云冰山" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Online Booking
Click here to jump to the Trip.com ticketing platform for ticket purchase.
