Laojun Mountain Tour in Luanchuan, Luoyang

Travel Notes of Laojun Mountain in Luoyang

Seeing the tourism news about Laojun Mountain in Luanchuan, Luoyang, many people say it's a very good place. I'll join the fun and talk about my trip to Laojun Mountain.

On the morning of July 24, 2011, I drove with Yang Changjun and Zhai Xiaojun (a couple) from Luoyang to Luanchuan to climb Laojun Mountain. We initially intended to have a hearty breakfast so we wouldn't have to worry about poor food on the mountain. For some reason—perhaps we planned to eat in the scenic area—we ended up not having a full breakfast before starting the Laojun Mountain tour.

At 10:30 we began our ascent. Assuming there would be shops along the way selling drinks and snacks, we traveled light.

We walked and chatted as a group of four, taking photos whenever we saw a nice view. Around 1:00 PM, we reached Laojun Waterfall. Old Yang and Old Zhai decided to head back down; many climbers turned back here. I was still reluctant to give up and decided to push forward.

Unexpectedly, there were no shops or vendors selling food or drinks. Around 2:00 PM, I met two gentlemen coming down. I asked if there were any shops nearby selling food and drinks. Guessing I was hungry and thirsty, they said they had a pack of cookies and a just-opened bottle of mineral water, and offered them to me if I didn't mind. I thanked them profusely and accepted.

Along the way, I met many descending climbers. Whenever I asked how much longer it would take to reach the summit, most of them said, "Are you climbing alone? You'll definitely have to stay overnight on the mountain." I kept going, thinking that if it got too late, I could stay overnight—I couldn't give up halfway.

Honestly, I was really struggling. By 3:00 PM, I felt exhausted. The weather was gloomy, with a chilly mountain wind blowing. At that point, descending tourists became scarce. It felt like I was in the middle of nowhere; sometimes I wouldn't see another person for long stretches. I imagined that if a wild beast or a demon suddenly appeared, I wouldn't have the strength to fight. I gritted my teeth and kept moving as fast as I could.

When I reached Guofengya, I finally saw people—a father and son selling some snacks by the rocks. I bought a pack of instant noodles for 8 yuan and a can of Red Bull for 10 yuan. After wolfing them down, I really didn't want to move; I just wanted to lie down. But there was no choice; I gritted my teeth and pushed on. The surrounding mountains were steep, shrouded in mist. I took quick photos and moved on, hoping to catch the cable car before its last run at 5:00 PM.

I made it—I caught the last cable car. The cable car had two sections: one costing 30 yuan and the other 45 yuan. On the cable car, I felt completely drained. When transferring between sections, my legs felt weak from exhaustion.

After descending, I contacted Old Yang and the others. We drove to Luanchuan county town and had dinner at a restaurant called "Old Luoyang Noodle House."

The Laojun Mountain trip ended there. My only feeling was exhaustion. I decided I would never casually visit newly developed scenic areas again, especially mountains.

The next day, recalling the tiring journey, I was struck by inspiration and jotted down a palindrome poem. The format is such that reading from the first character to the last is exactly the same as reading from the last to the first—word for word. Perhaps because I was no longer physically tired, I exerted my mind instead.

A Palindrome Poem: Wandering at Laojun Mountain (by the author, Dasong Wanjun, compiled on November 19, 2020)

Cai Feng Xian Shu You Lao Jun Shan

Cliffs steep and perilous, entwined with mist and clouds.

Pools clear, waterfalls splash, streams flow; visitors come and go, drunk on jade orchid.

Ravines deep, paths far; beautiful peaks adorned with fresh leaves.

High mountains, clear water, joyous roaming; fatigue vanishes into the clouds.

Fatigue vanishes into the clouds; high mountains, clear water, joyous roaming.

Beautiful peaks adorned with fresh leaves; ravines deep, paths far.

Visitors come and go, drunk on jade orchid; pools clear, waterfalls splash, streams flow.

Entwined with mist and clouds; cliffs steep and perilous.

Perilous and steep cliffs, clouds and mist entwined; streams flow, waterfalls splash in clear pools; jade orchid intoxicates people wandering back and forth.

Far paths, deep ravines; fresh leaves adorn beautiful steep peaks.

Joyous roaming over clear water and high mountains; ridge clouds vanish from weary thoughts.

Ridge clouds vanish from weary thoughts; joyous roaming over clear water and high mountains.

Fresh leaves adorn beautiful steep peaks; far paths, deep ravines.

Jade orchid intoxicates people wandering back and forth; streams flow, waterfalls splash in clear pools.

Clouds and mist entwine; perilous and steep cliffs.

Photos attached for appreciation.

(Compiled by the author, Dasong Wanjun, on November 19, 2020)