Luanchuan, a Pearl in the Heart of the Central Plains
People are sometimes strange: the closer a scenic spot is to home, the more they take it for granted. Having lived in Henan all along, I've been to several popular places, but in my mind they're all mixed up like a pot of paste, unable to tell one from another. In July, my husband was on a business trip to Luanchuan and asked me, who was idle at home, to go along. On such a hot summer day, the offer was like a bucket of cold water poured over my head—refreshing. Driving from Zhengzhou to Luanchuan, it's all highway and takes three hours. Chatting with locals, I learned that in the 1990s, going from Luanchuan to Zhengzhou required a detour through Luoyang, leaving at six in the morning and arriving at six in the evening. Haha, if low-altitude aircraft develop in the future, it might take just half an hour. Looking forward to it! I was very surprised when I saw Luanchuan County—it should really be called Luanchuan City! It has an old district and a new district. I didn't get to the old city, but the new district's streets were clean and wide, with very few people. Surrounded by mountains on all sides, towering skyscrapers stood quietly gazing at the peaks. Fashionable commercial blocks had already been completed, waiting for those who would appreciate them. A river runs through the entire county, and along it stretches a long scenic promenade with willows swaying, green grass, and a cool breeze—truly a wonderful place for leisure. A map of Luanchuan's scenic spots gave me a general understanding of several attractions. Laojun Mountain, Chongdu Valley, Yangzi Valley, Longyu Bay, Butterfly Valley, Cockscomb Cave, Daohui Valley, and Zhai Valley are all within Luanchuan County. Among them, Laojun Mountain and Butterfly Valley are right next to the new urban area, within walking distance. Of course, walking might be a bit tiring. On the first day of this trip, we went to Longyu Bay, a half-hour drive from the county seat. I've been to many places, but Longyu Bay is my favorite. The scenery is by no means inferior. Large areas of tall trees shield the summer heat and produce rare negative ions—over ten thousand! Even Bama is only like this. Self-driving is the best way to visit here. A single road connects all the attractions. You park by the roadside at one spot, get off, and start exploring. When you're done, you go back to the car and head to the next spot—no fatigue at all. One question remains unanswered: such a beautiful place, with tickets not expensive at 65 yuan each, and a hassle-free visit—why is it not popular, lagging behind neighboring scenic areas? In my opinion, those places are not as comfortable as here, and their negative ion content is less than half of this. Alas, such beauty goes unrecognized! On the second day, we visited Laojun Mountain on the edge of the county seat. Due to time constraints, we only explored Dream-Chasing Valley. At the sound of the name, it doesn't feel ancient (perhaps due to my ignorance). Compared to Longyu Bay the day before, this place required physical climbing. At the entrance, it was bustling with people, but the higher we went, the fewer people there were. Many women complained, panting heavily, discussing whether to turn back. From that perspective, I guess I'm not so bad, haha. The guide map at the entrance showed the end point as Mazong Temple, but there were hardly any signs along the way. We walked blindly, not knowing where we were, and could only make our best guesses. After asking a few people, I realized that with my physical strength, I could only reach Laojun Waterfall, which was also the destination for most people. Above that, there were almost no one. The only thing that struck me as more beautiful than Longyu Bay was Laojun Waterfall: a neat row of water curtains hanging on the cliff, with a pool of clear water below, icy cold. When I stepped in, it was bone-chilling, and with bare feet on sharp gravel, I was momentarily unable to move—cold and painful, yet very happy. This is probably the joy of travel. In the scorching summer, Luanchuan is truly a summer resort. Many older people rent a farmhouse here for five or six yuan per person per day, including meals and lodging, living carefree. However, I don't really like the simple conditions of ordinary farmhouses. If circumstances permit, I would buy a commercial apartment not far from Longyu Bay, decorate it to my liking, and run a small family inn, serving people from all over the world so that I wouldn't feel lonely in the deep mountains, and also ease the pressure of mortgage payments. Every day, I'd practice yoga in the air filled with the fragrance of grass and trees, enjoy delicious food, and... ah, I must stop. I'm already intoxicated by my own daydream.
