One of the must-visit attractions for Spring Festival travel in Henan: free admission, beautiful scenery, located in Xin'an County, Luoyang

With less than three weeks to go, the Spring Festival is approaching, and many people have already started planning their holiday trips.

In Xin'an County, Luoyang City, Henan Province, there is a mountain that has stood for thousands of years with stunning scenery. It is a national 4A-level scenic area (free admission until March 1st). The entire scenic area consists of five major sections: Lianzhu Gorge, Shuanglong Gorge, Hehe Plain, Qingnv Peak, and Chengya Di. With excellent air quality year-round and rich negative oxygen ions, it is a natural oxygen bar, making it a perfect Spring Festival travel destination. Below, the editor presents a travel guide for Qingyao Mountain in Xin'an County!

1. A Maiden's Heart: Qingnv Peak

At the top of the peak stands a stone pillar, 13 meters high, gracefully overlooking like a young girl—this is Qingnv Stone. Beside it are two pavilions named 'Sishuang' and 'Yiyue'. To climb the mountain and pay homage to Qingnv, one must ascend over 3,000 stone steps to reach the Qingnv Stone at the summit, a journey filled with a sense of sanctity. Along the way, there are rock barriers, tangled vines, and countless hanging cliffs, strange rocks, and exotic flowers.

Since it is winter, if you are lucky, you will see the entire mountain covered in white, reminiscent of the scene described in the poem: 'Suddenly, like a spring breeze overnight, thousands of pear trees bloom.'

In addition, at the foot of Qingnv Peak, there is a glass suspension bridge nearly 300 meters long and 188 meters high. Standing on the bridge, with the blue sky above and a deep valley and pool below, you gain a broader perspective and a unique view. It is a popular check-in spot for internet celebrities, and adventurous visitors should not miss it!

2. Red Rock Gorge: Shuanglong Gorge

Legend has it that it got its name because two imperial dragons of the Yellow Emperor once dwelled here. The scenic area is composed of purplish-red sandstone, with steep cliffs and scattered pools and waterfalls, typical of a red rock gorge landform. Attractions include Yixiantian (A Thread of Sky), Moon Bay, Star Gorge, and Xuanyuan Pool.

Among them, Yixiantian lives up to its name: as you enter the gorge and step onto the plank road, looking up, you see two sheer cliffs on both sides that rise obliquely into the sky, over 200 meters high, as if a giant mountain was split in two by a sharp axe. Through sparse vines and dense leaves, a thread of blue sky appears. Looking up from the valley floor, you see only a single ray of light—hence the name 'Yixiantian'.

Another well-known attraction is Moon Bay. The erosion of the convex bank by the flowing water caused the cliff corridor to develop in a '⌒' shape, and the development of the cliff corridor led to the collapse of the upper cliff face in a '⌒' arc, thus forming a crescent moon shape. As the poem goes, 'The moon rises above the willow treetops, people meet after dusk.' It is truly ideal for a few friends to visit together!

3. City Encircled by Mountains: Chengya Di

Legend has it that this was the capital where the goddess Wuluo managed the affairs of the secret capital. Here, deep valleys intertwine, streams flow endlessly, ridges connect with peaks, and mountains encircle the area like a city, giving it the beautiful name that is neither city nor mountain. Attractions include Zhen Lake and the Millennium Gleditsia Sinensis Love and Culture Square.

Zhen Lake is named after its location as the source of the Zhen River. The lake is clear as a mirror, reflecting the surrounding mountains like a painting, creating a rare waterscape.

After snowfall in winter, the mountain lake seems to be in a fairyland, truly breathtaking!

4. Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns: Lianzhu Gorge

The combination of temperate continental climate and maritime climate adds a touch of mildness to Lianzhu Gorge in winter, providing a comfortable experience for visitors.

Lianzhu Gorge is about 3 kilometers long, with dense forests and abundant water sources. Pools within the gorge are strung together like beads, resembling large and small calabashes connected along a winding vine, repeating nine bends and eighteen turns—hence the local name 'Calabash Set'. Attractions include Gallery Lake, Wuluo Three Pools, Biyu Lake, and Bauhinia Pool.

Among them, Biyu Lake is said to be where the goddess Wuluo once rowed a boat. Delighted by the beautiful scenery, she danced and accidentally dropped the green jade cabbage pendant from her fan handle into the water. In an instant, the lake water churned and turned jade-green, giving the lake its name.

The Wuluo Three Pools are the main attractions in Lianzhu Gorge. There is a beautiful legend about the goddess Wuluo teaching the captive soldiers of Chiyou. Locals call it 'Man-Cooking Pot'. Visitors can follow the winding mountain path and feel the rushing water.

5. Unity of Ethnic Groups: Hehe Plain

After years of wars, the three ancestors—Yan Emperor, Yellow Emperor, and Chiyou—finally made peace at Qingyao Mountain, bringing about the first great unity and integration in Chinese history. The light of the culture of harmony (Hehe) was ignited here, making Hehe Plain a sacred place symbolizing the unity of the Chinese nation. The most famous attraction here is, of course, the Hehe Plain megalithic array, which symbolizes unity.

After reading this, you must be charmed by the beauty of Qingyao Mountain. Follow the Qingyao Mountain travel guide in Xin'an County, pack your bags, and set off!