Laojun Mountain: The Highest Peak of Funiu Mountains, the Most Beautiful Mountain in Henan Province

Winter has begun, and autumn scenery is fading. On November 11, 2017, amid the global shopping狂欢, we decided to go to Laojun Mountain to watch the sunrise and sea of clouds. People say: Laojun Mountain is the highest peak of the Funiu Mountains, and it is the most beautiful mountain in Henan Province.

In the afternoon, we arrived at the foot of Laojun Mountain. The forecasted cloudy weather unexpectedly turned into a chilly, drizzly rain. Tourists coming down from the mountain said that snow had been falling on the summit since morning. Cold! Suddenly, our high spirits were nearly dampened. Taking the Zhongling Cable Car up to the Mid-Heaven Gate at an altitude of 1866 meters, a light rain was falling freely, completely indifferent to the visitors' feelings. At that moment, it was no longer suitable for leisurely sightseeing, so we simply checked into a hotel, praying in our hearts that the next morning would present a poetic and picturesque scene.

Fortunately, the hotel was much more comfortable than expected. We slept soundly until 5 a.m., when the rain stopped and the wind calmed. Getting up, we went to the rooftop terrace and looked around. A bright, crescent moon shone dazzlingly, and countless stars glittered across the sky, stretching to the horizon. I haven't seen such a clear and serene sky in 30 years.

The innkeeper said it would take an hour and a half to hike from the Mid-Heaven Gate to the best viewing spot, the main peak of Mazong Ridge. Sunrise today was at 7:01 a.m., but the uphill cable car wouldn't run until 8 a.m. Hurry, hurry! We prepared our gear, grabbed flashlights, and plunged into the silent darkness, moving along the path, searching forward and climbing upward.

Walking quickly, panting heavily, we suddenly noticed a red glow lighting up the other side of the mountain. In the dark, we were so eager to embrace the dawn that we didn't pay attention to the signs and went the wrong way. We should have taken the Cloud-Walking Plank Road from the end of the Peak Forest Cable Car to Mazong Ridge, but instead we continued straight onto the Through-Cloud Plank Road heading towards the Ten-Mile Painting Gallery of the circular trail. Halfway there, we realized our mistake, but it was too late; going back would make it impossible to catch the sunrise at the summit. We had no choice but to push forward and enjoy whatever we could see.

Winding back and forth on the suspended plank road along the mountainside, time seemed to fly by. We could see the sun about to burst out from the opposite mountaintop, but we couldn't find an ideal spot to watch. In our anxiety, we were drenched in sweat, unaware of the cold in the mountains. After many twists and turns, suddenly, as we rounded a protruding spur, we saw a rest area with a spacious viewing platform—perfect!

At that moment, looking up, the pitch-black sky had turned azure, the countless stars had vanished, leaving only that bright crescent moon showing its beautiful silhouette. The temples on the Southern Heavenly Gate shone with resplendent grandeur under the glow of the dawn.

It's coming out! It's coming out! The sun finally rose. Being able to see the sunrise accounted for sixty percent of the significance of this trip to Laojun Mountain. From yesterday's gloomy rain to this bright and clear sky—it was an unexpected and delightful surprise.

Bathed in the magnificent glow of the dawn, the scenic peak forest of Laojun Mountain's Ten-Mile Painting Gallery was draped in golden radiance, presenting itself to people's eyes with the most elegant posture and conquering their hearts with the most graceful charm.

Good flowers do not bloom forever; good scenes do not last forever—this is the most fitting description of the ever-changing weather on the mountain. Today's enchanting dawn glow on Laojun Mountain lasted only a dozen minutes. Soon, the proud sun was mercilessly swallowed by thick clouds. Could it be that yesterday's chilly rain was about to repeat? We felt very uneasy. By the time we climbed to the highest peak of Mazong Ridge, the main peak of the Funiu Mountains at 2217 meters, even the words "Main Peak of Funiu Mountains" inscribed by Mr. Jia Pingwa had become almost dim and lackluster.

Looking north from the main peak towards the Golden Summit of Laojun Mountain, the golden roofs of the temple complex on the summit stubbornly displayed their mystery and nobility under the light filtering through the clouds.

Descending from Mazong Ridge, we crossed a saddle-shaped col, and the precipitous Southern Heavenly Gate loomed overhead. Passing through the Southern Heavenly Gate, the view opened up, and the Golden Summit of Laojun Mountain lay at our feet. The legendary high-altitude temple complex stood majestically, a magnificent sight. At that moment, the rare sea of clouds at Laojun Mountain had quietly arrived, imbuing these mysterious buildings with an immortal aura.

In this place where Laozi, the founder of Taoism, retired, if you come in spring, you can also enjoy the lush sea of redbud flowers; if you come in autumn, you can appreciate the brilliant red leaves covering the mountains; if you are lucky enough, you might even see the even more mysterious halo of Buddha light. I was not so fortunate; I only briefly saw the sunrise and the sea of clouds. Perhaps Lao Dan is silently blessing you—will you come to enjoy that mysterious blessing?

Laojun Mountain: National AAAAA-level scenic area, the fifth scenic spot in Henan Province with annual revenue exceeding 100 million yuan, after Shaolin Temple, Longmen Grottoes, Yuntai Mountain, and Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden. Location: Luanchuan County, Luoyang City, Henan Province, 3 km from Luanchuan County seat, 150 km from Luoyang city center, accessible via the Luoluan Expressway from Luoyang.