4-Day Tour in Jiaozuo | Classic Combination of Yuntai Mountain and Qingtian River・Suitable for All Groups
Jiaozuo is a hidden mountain and water paradise gifted by the Taihang Mountains, featuring the red stones and clear waters of Yuntai Mountain, the canyon streams of Qingtian River, and the royal temples of Jiaying Temple. Take the elderly to climb Zhuyu Peak for blessings, accompany children to play with cute monkeys in Monkey Valley, and here, every day you can encounter the magnificent resonance of nature and culture.
🗓️Itinerary Overview
D1: Arrive in Jiaozuo → Yuntai Mountain (Red Stone Gorge + Zifang Lake)
D2: Yuntai Mountain (Zhuyu Peak + Monkey Valley + Tanpu Gorge)
D3: Qingtian River → Yueshan Temple
D4: Jiaying Temple → Jiaozuo Film City → Return
⛰️Day 1: Red Stone Exploration · First Encounter with Lake Light
📍Yuntai Mountain (5A, ticket 120 RMB + sightseeing bus 60 RMB, valid for 3 days)
Highlights: A world geopark, Red Stone Gorge is famous for its red canyon and waterfalls with emerald pools. The rock walls look like they were carved by knives and axes, and it is cool and pleasant in summer. Elderly can take the sightseeing bus directly to the gorge entrance (less walking), children can watch sunlight through the “One Line Sky” gap, and play in the shallow water of “Yellow Dragon Pool” (bring spare shoes).
🕙Opening Hours: 6:30-18:30 (April to October), recommended 9:00-13:00 (avoid crowds)
💰Cost: Adults 180 RMB (includes ticket + sightseeing bus), seniors over 60 free admission (only pay 60 RMB for bus), children under 1.4m free
📸Photo Spot: Red Stone Gorge plank road (capture red rock walls and emerald water reflections, stand at the plank road corner)
💡Tips: The gorge has many steps and is slippery, hold children’s hands; bring a folding stool for elderly to rest.
📍Zifang Lake (included in Yuntai Mountain ticket)
Highlights: The largest lake in Yuntai Mountain, named after Zhang Liang (courtesy name Zifang) who once lived here in seclusion. You can take a boat (50 RMB/person) to enjoy the lake view. Elderly can rest at the lakeside pavilions, children can watch small fish in the lake, and at sunset, the lake surface shines like scattered gold.
🕙Recommended Visit Time: 14:30-16:00
🍜Recommended Dining: Yuntai Mountain service area “Farmhouse Restaurant,” must-try Nao Tang donkey meat (40 RMB/portion, Jiaozuo specialty), stir-fried mountain chives with eggs (20 RMB/portion), average 35 RMB per person.
🏨Recommended Accommodation: Yuntai Mountain “Shore Service Area Homestay” (2 km from Red Stone Gorge, family rooms available, includes breakfast), priced 200-300 RMB/night, within walking distance to the scenic area.
🌊Day 2: Yuntai Scenic Tour · Monkey Interaction
📍Zhuyu Peak (included in Yuntai Mountain ticket)
Highlights: The main peak of Yuntai Mountain, culturally rich with the saying “everyone is missing one when all wear zhuyu.” You can take a cable car (one way 70 RMB) up the mountain (suitable for elderly). From the top, you can overlook the Taihang sea of clouds. Children can challenge their courage on the “Phoenix Ridge” glass plank road (20 RMB/person), elderly can pray at “Xuandi Palace.”
🕙Recommended Visit Time: 8:00-12:00
📸Photo Spot: Zhuyu Peak viewing platform (take photos of people on the mountain peak with the sea of clouds in the background)
📍Monkey Valley (included in Yuntai Mountain ticket)
Highlights: Taihang Monkey Nature Reserve, home to over 2,000 wild monkeys, with scheduled monkey king battles (10:00/15:00). Children can buy monkey food (5 RMB/portion) to feed them, elderly can watch the monkeys play. Be careful not to let children approach alone (monkeys may snatch food).
🕙Recommended Visit Time: 13:30-15:00
📍Tanpu Gorge (included in Yuntai Mountain ticket)
Highlights: “A spring every three steps, a waterfall every five steps, a pool every ten steps,” featuring “Yazi Waterfall” and “Immortal Spring.” The water volume is spectacular in summer. Elderly can stroll along gentle trails, children can touch spring water at “Water Curtain Cave,” and the natural patterns on “Dragon and Phoenix Wall” are amazing.
🕙Recommended Visit Time: 15:30-17:30
💡Tips: Tanpu Gorge is 2 km long, about 2 hours round trip; bring mosquito repellent (lots of vegetation).
🛶Day 3: Boating on the Heavenly River · Listening to Zen at Ancient Temple
📍Qingtian River (5A, ticket 60 RMB + boat ticket 80 RMB)
Highlights: Known as the “Northern Three Gorges,” take a boat to admire the steep cliffs on both sides of “Great Spring Lake.” Autumn is best for red leaves covering the mountains (October). There are tributary gorges like “Buddha Ear Gorge” and “Guanyin Gorge.” Elderly can enjoy the scenery on the boat (effort-saving), children can see the huge spring at “Sangu Spring,” and the U-shaped canyon at “Whale Bay” is very photogenic.
🕙Opening Hours: 7:00-18:00, recommended 9:00-14:00
📸Photo Spot: Boat deck (take photos of people in the middle of the lake with red cliffs in the background)
💡Tips: Choose the second floor of the boat for better views; Buddha Ear Gorge has a cable car (one way 40 RMB), suitable for elderly.
📍Yueshan Temple (4A, ticket 40 RMB)
Highlights: One of the “Four Famous Temples of Central China,” alongside Shaolin Temple and White Horse Temple. Known as the birthplace of Baji Quan martial arts, the temple has ancient cypresses and pagodas. Elderly can listen to sutras in the Great Hero Hall, children can watch martial monks practice (performance at 15:00), and the “Linked Wells” (one well pumps water to five wells) is very interesting.
🕙Recommended Visit Time: 15:30-17:30
🏯Day 4: Royal Temples · Film City Adventure
📍Jiaying Temple (4A, ticket 50 RMB)
Highlights: Known as the “Yellow River Forbidden City,” a Qing Dynasty royal temple for Yellow River worship, featuring the Kangxi Emperor’s calligraphy “Huang Yun An Lan” stele. The hall’s dragon throne and murals show royal grandeur. Elderly can listen to “Yellow River management stories,” children can see the Yellow River model in “Yu King Hall” and learn about Yellow River culture.
🕙Opening Hours: 8:00-18:00, recommended 9:00-11:00
📸Photo Spot: Jiaying Temple archway (capture the full view of ancient architecture, stand on the central steps)
📍Jiaozuo Film City (4A, ticket 40 RMB)
Highlights: A film base themed on Qin, Han, and Three Kingdoms culture. “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” and “Water Margin” were filmed here, with scenes like “Bronze Sparrow Terrace” and “Han Street.” Elderly can watch the ancient costume parade (10:30), children can wear Hanfu for photos (50 RMB/set), and the “Siege Performance” (14:00) is spectacular.
🕙Recommended Visit Time: 14:00-16:00
🍜Recommended Dining: City “Jiaozuo Old Restaurant,” must-try iron stick yam stewed ribs (50 RMB/portion, soft and sweet), Nao Tang donkey meat fire bake (10 RMB each), average 40 RMB per person.
✨Jiaozuo Survival Guide
1️⃣Transportation: From city to Yuntai Mountain take the tourist shuttle (10 RMB/person, 1 hour), taxi about 80 RMB; from Yuntai Mountain to Qingtian River charter car about 60 RMB (30 minutes); sightseeing buses/boats inside scenic areas are a must to save energy.
2️⃣Clothing: Wear windproof jackets in spring and autumn (Taihang Mountains are windy), short sleeves + quick-dry pants in summer (convenient for water play), down jackets + anti-slip shoes in winter (some paths icy), bring hiking shoes (many steps at Yuntai Mountain and Qingtian River).
3️⃣Taboos: Do not feed monkeys with your own food in Monkey Valley (risk of monkey bites); no loud noises or photography inside temples; no climbing ancient buildings in Film City.
4️⃣Accommodation: Stay near Yuntai Mountain service area for the first 2 days (close to scenic spots), then city center for the last 2 days (convenient for return). Choose homestays with electric kettles for children, and well-heated rooms for elderly (winter).
🛍️Must-Buy Souvenirs
① Jiaozuo Iron Stick Yam (vacuum packed 30 RMB/bag, soft and sticky without fibers, suitable for elderly and children)
② Nao Tang Donkey Meat (vacuum packed 50 RMB/jin, rich marinade flavor, great with drinks or meals)
③ Yuntai Mountain Red Stone Ornaments (40-80 RMB each, natural red rock, meaningful souvenirs)
④ Taiji Cultural Products (Taiji martial arts dolls 30 RMB each, bookmarks 20 RMB each)
The red of Jiaozuo is the passion of Yuntai Mountain’s rock walls; the green is the coolness of Qingtian River’s pools. Whether you are watching your hometown from Zhuyu Peak with your parents, laughing with children in Monkey Valley, or taking ancient costume photos with friends in Film City, here you will find mountain and water stories that stir your heart. If you come to Jiaozuo, would you first go to Red Stone Gorge to see the emerald water, or take a boat on Qingtian River?