Ziyun Mountain Scenic Area is located in Beiye Township, Pingshan County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction that integrates natural and cultural landscapes. The scenic area is characterized by unique Danxia landforms, strange peaks and rocks, karst cave landscapes, and dense forest vegetation, and functions as an adventure, leisure, and sightseeing destination.
The scenic area covers an area of approximately 16 square kilometers. The highest peak in the area is about 1,200 meters above sea level. The mountains are mainly composed of red sandstone, forming many geological landscapes such as steep cliffs and pictographic rocks. Most of the buildings in the scenic area are antique-style structures built along the mountains, harmonizing with the natural landscape. They mainly include tourist service centers, viewing platforms, and plank roads. The total length of the trails in the core tourist area is about 8 kilometers, connecting major scenic spots and providing convenient tourist routes for visitors.
Historical Culture
The area around Ziyun Mountain has a long history. According to local historical records, there have been traces of human activities as early as the Warring States Period. Cave sites where ancient ancestors lived and a small number of pottery shards have been found in the scenic area, witnessing the survival and development of early humans here.
It is said that during the Ming Dynasty, a Taoist priest was attracted by the beautiful and spiritual energy of Ziyun Mountain and built a Taoist temple here for cultivation. Although the temple no longer exists, it has left behind legendary attractions such as the "Alchemy Cave" and "Immortal Bed", adding a mysterious Taoist cultural color to the scenic area. In addition, villages around the scenic area have preserved many folk cultures from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, such as traditional paper-cutting and yangko dances, which together with the natural landscape form a unique regional cultural system.
Main Attractions
Ziyun Cave
Ziyun Cave is one of the core attractions of Ziyun Mountain Scenic Area. It is a natural limestone cave with an area of about 1,500 square meters. The cave is rich in various landscapes such as stalactites, stalagmites, and stone pillars, each with different shapes. The cave is divided into upper, middle, and lower layers. The highest point in the cave is about 20 meters, the widest point is about 30 meters, and the tour route is about 500 meters long. The temperature in the cave is constant at around 18°C all year round. Under the light, the stalactites present various colors such as purple, red, and yellow, echoing the name "Ziyun" (Purple Clouds). Among them, landscapes such as "Ziyun Canopy" and "Jade Pillar Supporting the Sky" are particularly famous and are must-visit spots for tourists.
Motian Ridge
Motian Ridge is the highest peak in the scenic area, with an altitude of about 1,200 meters. It gets its name because the mountain is steep and rises straight into the sky. The trail to the top of the mountain is about 2.5 kilometers long, with 5 viewing platforms along the way, where tourists can enjoy the surrounding rolling mountains and dense forest landscapes. There is a viewing platform of about 100 square meters at the top of the mountain, with a wide view, allowing visitors to overlook the entire scenic area and distant villages and fields. At sunrise, the sea of clouds surges, presenting a particularly spectacular scene, making it an ideal location for photographers.
Red Stone Valley
Red Stone Valley is famous for its unique Danxia landform. The valley is about 3 kilometers long, and the widest part of the valley bottom is about 50 meters. The mountains on both sides are composed of red sandstone, which has formed steep cliffs and rugged rocks after long-term weathering and erosion. There is a gurgling stream in the valley. When the water volume is abundant in summer, small waterfalls can be formed. The stream water is clear to the bottom, and there are occasionally fish and shrimp swimming in the water. There is a wooden plank road in the valley. Walking along the plank road, visitors can watch characteristic landforms such as "One-Line Sky" and "Red Stones Reflecting the Sun" at close range, and feel the uncanny craftsmanship of nature.
Pear Blossom Slope
Pear Blossom Slope is located in the northwest of the scenic area, covering an area of about 500 mu. It has planted tens of thousands of pear trees, mainly snow pears and duck pears. Every year from early to mid-April, pear blossoms bloom, covering the mountains in white. When the breeze blows, the petals fall like a fairyland, thus attracting a large number of tourists to enjoy the flowers. There are flower-viewing trails and rest pavilions in the slope. Tourists can walk among them to enjoy the beautiful sea of flowers, or rest in the pavilions to feel the breath of spring. In autumn, the branches are full of fruits, and tourists can also experience the fun of picking.
Food
Pingshan Braised Pork Noodles
Pingshan Braised Pork Noodles is a very distinctive local traditional pasta, which is common in farmhouses around Ziyun Mountain Scenic Area. Its method is to cut locally marinated bacon into thin slices, stir-fry with potatoes, beans and other vegetables, then add broth to boil, and then put in hand-rolled noodles to cook. The finished noodles are chewy, the braised pork is salty and fragrant, and the soup is rich. With local spicy pickles, the taste is very unique. A bowl of noodles is full in portion, priced at about 15 yuan, which is an excellent choice for tourists to replenish energy.
Braised Free-Range Chicken with Mushrooms
Braised Free-Range Chicken with Mushrooms uses free-range chickens from farmers around the scenic area and wild mushrooms picked from the mountains (such as shiitake mushrooms and oyster mushrooms) as raw materials, and is made by traditional iron pot slow braising for no less than 1.5 hours. The braised chicken meat is firm and tender with juicy, and the mushrooms absorb the soup of the chicken, tasting delicious. The soup can be used to soak rice, which is rich in nutrition. A serving of Braised Free-Range Chicken with Mushrooms in the restaurant in the scenic area is priced at about 80 yuan, suitable for 2-3 people to share, and is a must-order dish to experience local flavors.
Wild Vegetable Platter
Farmhouses around the scenic area often provide wild vegetable platters. The ingredients are all from local mountains, including shepherd's purse, purslane, bitter herbs, toon, etc., which vary according to the season. Wild vegetables are mostly cold or stir-fried, retaining their original flavor and nutritional content to the greatest extent. They taste refreshing with a slight bitterness and have the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying. A platter is priced at about 30 yuan, which can be eaten with staple food to relieve greasiness and is deeply loved by tourists.
Tickets
The ticket price is 60 yuan per person. As of August 5, 2025, no official WeChat public account has been found.
Opening Hours
The opening hours are 8:00-18:00 from April 1 to October 31 (peak season) and 8:30-17:00 from November 1 to March 31 of the next year (off-season). Some attractions (such as Pear Blossom Slope and parts of Red Stone Valley) may be closed in the off-season, and the specific information is subject to the notice of the scenic area on that day. It is recommended that tourists visit in the peak season to enjoy more abundant landscapes, and at the same time, arrange their visiting time reasonably to avoid missing the closing time.
Tour Route
Recommended one-day tour route: Arrive at the scenic area's tourist center at 8:30 am, go through the admission procedures, and then go to Ziyun Cave first (visiting time is about 1.5 hours) to enjoy the strange stalactite landscapes in the cave; at 10:00 am, set off from Ziyun Cave, go to Red Stone Valley along the trail, walk among the Danxia landforms, watch the strange rocks and streams along the way, and the visiting time is about 2 hours; at 12:00 pm, have lunch at the farmhouse near Red Stone Valley and taste local characteristic foods; at 1:30 pm, go to Motian Ridge, hike up the mountain, rest and view the scenery at the viewing platform along the way, and enjoy the panoramic view after reaching the top, which takes about 3 hours; at 4:30 pm, go to Pear Blossom Slope after going down the mountain (if it is the flowering period in April or the picking period in autumn, the visiting time can be appropriately extended), and visit for about 1 hour; return to the tourist center at 5:30 pm to end the day's trip.
If you have limited physical strength, you can adjust the route by abandoning the hiking part of Motian Ridge and instead go to the leisure trail in the east of the scenic area after visiting Pear Blossom Slope to enjoy the tranquility in the mountains, with a total visiting time of about 6 hours.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Starting from downtown Shijiazhuang, drive along Xibaipo Expressway to Pingshan Exit, transfer to National Highway 207, then drive about 30 kilometers along the scenic area's signposts to reach the destination. The whole journey is about 90 kilometers, and the driving time is about 2 hours. The scenic area's parking lot can accommodate 200 motor vehicles, and the parking fee is 5 yuan per day.
- Public transportation: Take the bus from Shijiazhuang Passenger North Station to Beiye Township, Pingshan County. There is one bus at 7:30 am and 10:00 am every day. The journey is about 2.5 hours, and the ticket price is 30 yuan per person. After arriving in Beiye Township, you can take a local motorcycle taxi or taxi to the scenic area, which takes about 10 minutes and costs about 15 yuan.
- Tourist chartered car: You can contact a travel agency to charter a car from downtown Shijiazhuang. The round-trip cost is about 400-500 yuan (for 5-7 people), which is more suitable for families or small groups. It can directly reach the entrance of the scenic area, saving time.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Ziyun Cave: With an area of about 1,500 square meters, the cave is rich in landscapes with colorful stalactites. The tour route is about 500 meters long. It is a landmark attraction of the scenic area, showing unique karst cave geological wonders.
- Motian Ridge: With an altitude of about 1,200 meters, you can overlook the entire scenic area after reaching the top. The sunrise and sea of clouds are spectacular. The hiking trail has beautiful scenery along the way, suitable for tourists who like hiking and sightseeing.
- Red Stone Valley: A 3-kilometer-long canyon with Danxia landform, featuring unique red sandstone landscapes. Streams and waterfalls in the valley complement each other, and the wooden plank road is reasonably designed, allowing you to feel the beauty of natural landforms at close range.
- Pear Blossom Slope (seasonal must-visit): When pear blossoms are in full bloom in April, the 500-mu sea of flowers is extremely beautiful, making it an excellent place for flower appreciation in spring. You can also experience picking in autumn.
Travel Suggestions
- It is recommended to visit for 1 day. If you want to have an in-depth experience, you can stay in farmhouses around the scenic area to feel the tranquility of the countryside at night.
- The best seasons to visit are April-May (for flower appreciation and spring outings) and September-October (with clear autumn weather, suitable for mountain climbing and sightseeing). Pay attention to sun protection in summer. Some attractions are closed in winter, so it is not recommended to visit.
- Wear comfortable sports shoes when climbing mountains, and bring enough drinking water and a small amount of snacks, as there are few supply points in the scenic area.
- Ziyun Cave is relatively humid, and the ground is slippery. It is recommended to wear non-slip shoes. The temperature in the cave is low, so you can bring a thin coat even in summer.
- You can check the real-time weather on the scenic area's official website or travel platforms in advance, and avoid going on rainy days to prevent dangers caused by slippery mountain roads.
Matters Needing Attention
- The mountain roads in the scenic area are steep, and some sections have no guardrails. Pay attention to safety when visiting. Do not leave the designated trails without permission, and avoid entering undeveloped areas.
- Take good care of the scenic area's environment. Do not litter, pick plants, or damage rock landscapes. Abide by the scenic area's ecological protection regulations.
- There may be thunderstorms in mountainous areas in summer. When encountering thunderstorms, stop climbing immediately and take shelter in the nearest rain shelter. Do not stay on the top of the mountain or under big trees.
- Tourists with children must keep an eye on their children at all times to prevent them from playing on steep places or by the water to avoid accidents.
- Mobile phone signals in the scenic area are weak. It is recommended to keep in touch with companions to avoid getting separated. You can agree on the meeting time and place before departure.
- When eating local farm food, if you have dietary taboos or allergies, inform the store in advance to ensure food safety.