Baiyun Mountain: A Heavenly Retreat for a Lung-Cleansing Trip, with Negative Oxygen Ions 3,000 Times the Urban Level

In modern society, people live fast-paced lives, especially those in cities, who endure smog, traffic jams, and exhaust fumes day after day. So whenever holidays or free time come around, they always want to find a place far from the urban hustle to relax, breathe fresh air, feel the birdsong and fragrance of nature, and enjoy a few days free from work worries.

Places far from cities with fresh air are not rare, but those that are both enjoyable and well-known are few. Of course, you can occasionally experience life in an ordinary countryside, but sometimes you want to go somewhere famous and fun, preferably not too crowded—otherwise, the joy of travel is lost. Finding such a place is tricky: Zhangjiajie, Jiuzhaigou, and the like are famous, far from cities, and beautiful, but during holidays they are packed with people, clearly not meeting the criteria.

Here, I (Yu Fan) recommend a place that is both remote and famous, yet with fewer tourists: Baiyun Mountain in Luoyang, Henan. Though not as dazzling as the Three Mountains and Five Sacred Peaks, it was rated a National AAAAA Tourist Attraction as early as 2011—back when such ratings were few, making this honor extremely hard to earn, akin to a highly authoritative certification.

And its accolades go far beyond: it has also been named a World Geopark, National Forest Park, National Nature Reserve, one of China’s Top 10 Leisure Destinations… and was selected by authoritative bodies as “China’s Most Beautiful Place.” Each of these is a national or even international honor, all dazzling. Many might ask: what qualifies it for all this?

Why? Because it lies on China’s north-south climate divide. South of Baiyun Mountain is the refined landscape of southern China; north of it is typical northern climate. Though northern mountains are majestic, their high-altitude vegetation is sparse, often appearing bare and bleak in winter. Baiyun Mountain is different: it combines the elegance of southern waterscapes with the towering grandeur of northern mountains. Its forests are lush, hosting over 200 animal species and nearly 2,000 plant species, with a forest coverage rate above 95%. Many experts and scholars call it a “natural museum.”

There are many mountains named Baiyun across China—at least 30—but in terms of scale, reputation, and national honors, Luoyang’s Baiyun Mountain is undoubtedly the top. It has 37 peaks over 1,500 meters above sea level, with Yuhuangding (Jade Emperor Summit) at 2,216 meters, the highest peak in the Central Plains. It features spectacular peaks and rock formations such as Baiyun Peak, Yuhuangding, Xiao Huangshan, Jijiao Peak, Qianchi Cliff; forest landscapes including ten-thousand-acre primeval forest, Tang Dynasty ginkgo forest, wild peony garden, alpine rhododendron garden, red birch forest, white birch forest, arrow bamboo forest; waterfall and pool landscapes like Black Dragon Pool, Yellow Dragon Well, Pearl Pool, Qinglong Waterfall, Bailong Waterfall, Jiulong Waterfall; and cultural sites like Wuman Temple, Yunyan Temple, and Yuhuang Pavilion.

Baiyun Mountain is densely forested with towering ancient trees. Wherever you look, forests are everywhere—it feels like being in an oxygen bar. According to a local friend accompanying us, the 80,000-square-meter forest oxygen bar of Huashan pine and larch is the highest-altitude and largest natural oxygen bar in the Central Plains. One mu of pine forest produces 49 kilograms of oxygen daily, and the air contains 73,000 negative oxygen ions per cubic centimeter—3,650 times that of ordinary urban public places and 1,450 times that of average indoor spaces.

Inhaling these rich negative oxygen ions greatly benefits health: it improves lung ventilation, increases oxygen intake and carbon dioxide output, refreshes the spirit, and boosts energy. Strolling through the forest is truly a lung-cleansing journey. To facilitate visitors’ leisure walks, the scenic area has built numerous forest trails and benches; when tired, you can sit and rest, or read, play cards, chat, or play chess—all very pleasant pastimes.

The forest oxygen bar, with its moss-covered ground, is an ideal place for vacations, summer escapes, and relaxation. It is also adorned with over 60 stone inscriptions by China’s top literary masters, calligraphers, and world Chinese linguists praising Baiyun Mountain—including Mo Yan, Jia Pingwa, Liang Xiaosheng, Yu Hua, Ge Fei, Fang Fang, Su Tong, Chi Zijian, and others, all leaving their calligraphy to recommend the mountain’s beauty.

Besides unanimous praise from famous figures, many visitors have written excellent travel notes and poems after visiting. Here is a seven-character poem about Baiyun Mountain’s forest oxygen bar found online, written by a teacher named Sun Zengyong. Let’s take a look:

Natural oxygen bar, air so fresh, Larch forest supplies the source; Eyes roam to enjoy the scenery, Stroll on sandy paths in leisurely peace;

Literati left their traces, Strange rocks by the road bear wise sayings; Wanderers from afar savor the taste, Wisdom and insight enter the heart;

Cloud paths on steep cliffs, Connect to all corners of the world; Canyon waterfalls paint wondrous pictures, As if entering Tao Yuanming’s Peach Blossom Spring;

Chasing immortals for eternal life, Where are Qin Shi Huang and Han Wu Di today? In my remaining years, let travel abound, Unfold a scroll wherever my footprints fall;

Heavenly realm Baiyun Mountain, a great place for a lung-cleansing trip! Here, trees reach the sky, leaves are luxuriant, blocking out the sun. The forest is intact, with thick undergrowth, wildflowers everywhere, and rare and precious animals and plants are common. Best of all, there aren’t too many tourists. You can stay in the mountains, play freely, take photos slowly, and quietly feel nature’s gifts—it will surely make you feel it’s a journey well worth taking.