Ascending Guangming Peak symbolizes a bright future; leaning on the railing, one gazes far at the lesser mountains, a view no less than Yuhuang Peak

Henan is one of the cradles of Chinese civilization. Not only does it have ancient capitals such as Luoyang and Kaifeng, which boast long histories and rich cultures, but it also boasts countless majestic and beautiful mountains and rivers, including Baiyun Mountain, Yuntai Mountain, Laojun Mountain, and Songshan Mountain. With abundant tourism resources, it is a wonderful place worth visiting again and again.

Beautiful Henan—I, Yufan, have visited seven times. Among the places, my favorite is Luoyang. It is not only a famous ancient capital of thirteen dynasties but also one of the cities with the richest tourism resources in China. Within Luoyang's jurisdiction, there are five AAAAA-level scenic spots, ranking fourth nationwide, only after Chongqing (the largest municipality directly under the central government), Beijing (the capital with many Ming and Qing structures), and Suzhou (gardens and ancient towns). It surpasses popular tourist cities like Xi'an, Chengdu, Shanghai, and Guangzhou by a large margin.

I have visited Luoyang twice, and both times I went to the long-established AAAAA scenic area, Baiyun Mountain, once rated as 'China's Most Beautiful Place.' Although its fame may not rival that of the Three Mountains and Five Sacred Peaks, it sits at the boundary between northern and southern climates in China. Therefore, it possesses both the ruggedness of northern mountains and the elegance of southern peaks. Moreover, it is the source of three rivers—the Yi River, Ru River, and Bai River—which flow respectively into the Yellow River, Huai River, and Yangtze River, China's three major rivers. Thus, Baiyun Mountain is a truly magical place.

Baiyun Mountain has three 'many.' First, there are many waterfalls. In the Bailong Grand Canyon alone, from top to bottom, there are eighteen waterfalls. Some are magnificent and powerful, others as delicate as silver curtains. From top to bottom, splashing pearls and scattering jade; with luck, you can even see rainbows beneath the falls.

Second, there are many cable cars. In the entire Baiyun Mountain, three cable cars of varying sizes have already been built, two in the Bailong Grand Canyon and one at Yuhuang Peak. There are plans for another one. This is no small feat, as most scenic areas are lucky to have even one cable car. Yet Baiyun Mountain has built so many. And they are truly worthwhile—not only as time- and effort-saving transports but also as excellent viewing platforms. Especially in autumn when the forests are painted in layers, riding the cable car overlooking the scenery from above offers a uniquely charming experience.

The third aspect is the many peaks. Baiyun Mountain is the main peak of the Funiu Mountain Range, with peaks standing in clusters. Baiyun Peak, Yuhuang Peak, Little Huangshan, Jijiao Peak, Qianchi Cliff, and Guangming Peak are all worth visiting. Among them, Yuhuang Peak is not only the main peak of the Funiu Mountains but also the highest peak in the Central Plains, with an altitude of 2,216 meters. While Baiyun Peak and Guangming Peak are slightly lower, each has its own unique features.

During our trip to Baiyun Mountain, we climbed to the summits of two peaks. One was Yuhuang Peak, which I mentioned earlier as the 'Ultimate Peak of the Central Plains.' That day, we got up at 3:30 a.m., drove to the foot of Yuhuang Peak, and started climbing around 4 a.m. Over 3,400 steps, we climbed for more than two hours and managed to reach Yuhuang Peak just before sunrise. It left a deep impression on me.

The other peak is Guangming Peak, which I want to introduce in this article. Like Baiyun Mountain, there are many peaks named Guangming Peak across the country—for instance, the famous Huangshan also has one. In Mr. Jin Yong's novels, the Ming Cult's headquarters is Guangming Peak (supposedly in the Kunlun Mountains). But this Guangming Peak is different. Baiyun Mountain's Guangming Peak stands at an altitude of 1,918 meters, symbolizing that ascending this peak leads to a bright future.

Climbing Guangming Peak is not as strenuous as Yuhuang Peak. You can take the Yuhuang Peak cable car up (actually, the Yuhuang Peak cable car does not reach Yuhuang Peak; it only goes to Guangming Peak. If you want to go to Yuhuang Peak, you still need to walk another 40 minutes to an hour). Then, after a few minutes' walk, you arrive at Guangming Peak's viewing platform. In my opinion, it would be more appropriate to rename the Yuhuang Peak cable car the Guangming Peak cable car.

Standing on the viewing platform of Guangming Peak, leaning on the railing and looking into the distance, you can overlook the entire Baiyun Mountain, taking in the strange peaks and sea of forests. Gazing far into the distance, the lush green mountains stretch in overlapping ranges, cliffs rise steeply for thousands of feet, each with its own character. To the northeast, a peak shaped like a rooster's comb has oddly shaped pines standing tall—that is Little Huangshan's Jijiao Peak. To the east, the mountain range winds and undulates like a soaring dragon, called Qinglong Spine. To the west is Luanchuan's Jijiao Peak, and to the north is Baiyun Mountain's main peak, Baiyun Peak.

Although the elevation here is not as high as Yuhuang Peak, it is still one of the main peaks of Baiyun Mountain. Looking into the distance, you also get a feeling of 'looking down upon all other mountains.' It is also suitable for shooting sunrise. If friends find it too demanding to go to Yuhuang Peak, they can still capture excellent sunrise and sunset photos here. With good luck, you might even capture a sea of clouds.

When Su Dongpo toured Lushan, he wrote a poem titled 'Written on the Wall at West Forest Temple,' with the first two lines: 'Viewed from the side, it forms a ridge; from the end, a peak; near and far, high and low, each is different.' I think these lines are very fitting here as well. Moreover, the Little Huangshan in front not only matches the poem's description but also clearly differs from the surrounding large mountains. Coupled with the autumn mountains painted in layers, whether you use a telephoto or a wide-angle lens, every shot is beautiful. It would be even more stunning if you happen to encounter a sea of clouds.