Who understands! Midweek rush to Laojun Mountain is exhilarating! Few people, beautiful scenery, plus 6 unconventional tips hidden inside

Babes! Just got back from a “special forces style” check-in at Laojun Mountain, and I have to tell you: going to Laojun Mountain now is like finding treasure! Imagine—no need to queue for an hour at the cable car entrance, no crowded backgrounds in your trendy photos, the golden summit wrapped in mist after the rain feels like walking on a sea of clouds, and at dusk when the lights come on, even the wind carries a “fairyland filter.” The key is that midweek visitors are only about 12,000, so you can basically “have” every scenic spot to yourself. This kind of experience is unimaginable during holidays! First, here’s today’s fresh update for you to plan your trip right away: - Weather and temperature: At the foot of the mountain, it’s 13°-23°C, perfect for long sleeves plus a light jacket, and you might even sweat a little walking; at the summit, it suddenly drops to about 10°C, and the wind chills you to the bone. I saw someone shivering in short sleeves at the golden summit—don’t be lazy, bring a thick jacket! Today it’s showers turning to cloudy, with fog all over the mountain after rain. Walking along the Ten-Mile Painted Screen feels like stepping into a fantasy drama set. Visibility at the summit is excellent, so no need to “shoot blindly” for photos. - Night climb & lighting: Night climbing is now open (closed if it rains, so check the weather before you go!). If you want to experience “youth has no price,” go for it, but definitely wear a thick jacket. Lighting times are fixed—6:20 PM to 7:20 PM and 3:00 AM to 6:30 AM. Group tours can reliably see the lights; during busy times, the schedule may shift slightly, so ask staff when you arrive. - Recommendation rating: a full 6 stars! Beautiful scenery, few people, smooth experience—no complaints for recent visits. Now, the key part you care about most—90% of people’s common mistakes + unconventional tips, all tested by me. Follow these to save time, money, and avoid trouble! 1. Don’t randomly choose cable cars! Take the first-level cable car, skip the second-level, save 5 hours for sightseeing Many hesitate about “whether to hike.” Listen to me: you must buy the first-level cable car ticket! If you don’t, you’ll hike 5 extra hours. By the time you reach Zhongtian Gate, your legs will be noodles. Forget about walking the Ten-Mile Painted Screen, you won’t even have the strength to climb the golden summit. My friends didn’t believe me and insisted on hiking, but halfway up they regretted it and ended up buying the cable car ticket anyway—wasting money and energy. But the second-level cable car is really unnecessary! From Zhongtian Gate to the summit, the difficulty is very low. You can slowly hike up in an hour, enjoying wildflowers and strange rocks along the way. It’s much more interesting than “rushing through” on the cable car. I hiked up myself, taking breaks every few steps, enjoying the mountain breeze—it wasn’t tiring at all. 2. Food tips! Bringing instant noodles is a “big mistake,” and avoid corn at all costs Don’t listen to people saying “bringing instant noodles saves money.” There’s no hot water on the mountain! If you want to make noodles, you have to pay 5 yuan for hot water, which is more expensive than buying instant noodles on the mountain for 12 yuan—they come with hot water included, so you can eat right away without carrying noodles around looking for hot water. Also, don’t try the corn on the mountain! It’s 10 yuan a cob, hard and tasteless, biting it hurts your teeth. Better buy extra water instead—when hiking and sweating, hydration is the most important. 3. Don’t buy wish plaques or Hanfu randomly! Here’s how to save money If you want to buy wish plaques, don’t buy them at the summit! They sell for 30-50 yuan each up there, but at the scenic area entrance at the foot of the mountain, they’re only 15-20 yuan, and even cheaper in small shops outside—10 yuan with more styles. I bought mine at the foot of the mountain, half the price of the summit, and it looked just as good hanging at the golden summit. If you want to wear Hanfu for photos, either bring your own or rent at the foot of the mountain! Renting Hanfu on the mountain is expensive (100 yuan per hour) and has fewer styles. Many shops at the foot rent for 50 yuan for 2 hours, with capes and hair accessories included, making your photos look more trendy. But if you bring your own, don’t bring anything too heavy, or carrying it while hiking will tire you out and spoil your mood. 4. Avoid accommodation and restroom pitfalls! These details will save you trouble Don’t stay at the summit! Summit accommodations are all large dormitories, 10 people crammed in one room, no private bathrooms, very cold at night, and cost over 200 yuan per night—terrible value. If you want to see the sunrise, either do a night climb (start around 2 AM, arrive at the summit just in time for sunrise around 5 AM) or stay at a guesthouse halfway up the mountain. Mid-mountain guesthouses have private rooms, cost just over 100 yuan, and you can take the early cable car up in the morning—much more comfortable than staying at the summit. Also, for restrooms, especially for girls, make sure to use the bathroom before you start climbing! The restrooms in the scenic area are dirty, smelly, often crowded, and some don’t even have sinks. It’s very uncomfortable. I used the restroom at a convenience store at the foot of the mountain before climbing and didn’t have to suffer at all during the trip—this is really important! 5. Don’t wander randomly when sightseeing or watching the sunrise! These spots are the “best” The essence of Laojun Mountain is the Ten-Mile Painted Screen and the golden summit—definitely go! Walking the Ten-Mile Painted Screen takes about 2 hours. Walking on the cliffside plank road with bizarre peaks on both sides and clouds swirling around feels like walking in the sky. All the trendy photos come from here, so don’t miss it. If you don’t want to walk too long, taking the tunnel saves half an hour but misses some scenery. If you have time, I recommend walking the whole route. For sunrise viewing, don’t crowd the golden summit! The best spots are Mazongling, Liangbaotai, Xiyilang, and Daodefu viewing platform. Fewer people, wider views, and you can see the sun rising from the mountain peak. I watched the sunrise at Mazongling with few people blocking the view, and my photos were stunning with no crowds. 6. Don’t take the wrong path from Zhongtian Gate to the golden summit! The wooden ladder is 10 times easier than the stone stairs There are two routes from Zhongtian Gate to the summit: the stone stairs straight ahead and the wooden ladder beside it. Don’t choose the stone stairs! They are steep and narrow, and you have to hold the railing and walk slowly, with a risk of slipping. The wooden ladder is gentler, has anti-slip mats, and is much easier to climb. It takes 15 minutes to reach the summit and you can enjoy the scenery along the way. I took the wooden ladder and was 10 minutes faster than my friends on the stone stairs, and not tired at all. To sum up: going to Laojun Mountain midweek recently is truly the “golden period”—few people, beautiful scenery, comfortable temperature, and you avoid the holiday crowds. Follow my guide to save time, money, avoid pitfalls, and fully enjoy the essence of Laojun Mountain. Don’t hesitate, pack your bags and go! Missing this period means it will be hard to have such a comfortable experience again!