Henan Travel Diary: Laojun Mountain

It is said that the best time to visit Laojun Mountain is on a sunny day after snowfall, so during this trip to Henan, I kept a close eye on the weather forecast from the day of departure. Haha, November 18th really was a sunny day after snow. On the afternoon of the 17th, I quickly booked a Laojun Mountain one-day tour for the mid-shift on November 18th (the cost included round-trip transportation, entrance ticket, first segment cable car ticket, and insurance; departure at 10:00 AM and return at 8:00 PM. This schedule doesn’t require an early start and allows time to see the sunset and light show). According to the weather forecast, the temperature at Laojun Mountain on November 18th was below minus 5 degrees Celsius. When I woke up in the morning, I put on all the warm clothes I had brought for this trip. At 9:40 AM, I took a bus near Longmen High-Speed Railway Station, and around noon, the bus arrived directly at the Yun Jing Cable Car lower station near the Laojun Mountain Scenic Area. After getting off, I headed straight to the Yun Jing Cable Car station. There were many tourists eager to enjoy the sunny day after the snow, and I waited in line for half an hour before boarding the cable car. After getting off the first segment of the cable car, I could already feel the cold on the mountain. Considering the icy road conditions, I decided to take the second segment, the Peak Forest Cable Car, to a higher point. After getting off the Peak Forest Cable Car, the wind felt stronger and the cold more intense. Passing through a tunnel entrance, I entered the essence of Laojun Mountain—the Ten-Mile Painted Screen. This is a suspended plank road with a relatively flat path, but due to ice and snow on the surface, walking required great caution. Along the way, I passed scenic spots such as Old Taoist Temple Sea View, Bajie Peeking at the Sky, and Phoenixes Singing in Harmony. Every step offered a new view, and with the added snow, the scenery was absolutely stunning. At the end of the Ten-Mile Painted Screen is the main peak of the Funiu Mountains and the foot of the South Heavenly Gate. From here, I first climbed the main peak at an altitude of 2,217 meters, then returned to climb the South Heavenly Gate, followed by a visit to Laojun Temple, then the Jade Emperor Peak, down to the Golden Hall, and finally up to the Bright Treasure Terrace on the other side. Stepping up and down the snow-covered stairs was difficult with every step, but when you see the view from the top, you realize it was all worth it. Reaching the Bright Treasure Terrace, there was still an hour before sunset. The biting wind howled in my ears, and my hands trembled while holding the phone for photos, soon becoming numb from the cold. At this point, could I miss the sunset? Standing on the Bright Treasure Terrace, braving the cold wind, I finally watched the sun slowly set between the main peak of the Funiu Mountains and the Bright Summit, and a victorious feeling rose in my heart. A few minutes after sunset, the lights of the Taoist temple complex lit up, creating a spectacular and dreamlike scene. At 6:00 PM, the light show at the Golden Hall was about to begin. I hurried down from the Bright Treasure Terrace to the Dao De Fu in front of the Golden Hall, the best spot to watch the light show. The area was packed with tourists, and after finally finding a small gap, the show started. But according to the guide’s reminder, time did not allow me to linger here, so it was time to descend the mountain. Starting the descent at 6:05 PM, I queued for two segments of cable cars and finally boarded the bus back to Luoyang city five minutes before the 8:00 PM return time. The unparalleled charm of Laojun Mountain remains in my memory.