Yuntai Mountain
When people mention Yuntai Mountain, many different places north and south of the Yangtze may come to mind, but the one meant here is the Yuntai Mountain of the line 'Everyone has a sprig of cornel i…
Yuntai Mountain, Henan Province
Key facts
- Admission
- ¥120; sightseeing shuttle ¥60
- Time needed
- 1–3 days
- Guidebook rating
- 4 / 5
From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 2109. Open in Google Maps
About Yuntai Mountain
When people mention Yuntai Mountain, many different places north and south of the Yangtze may come to mind, but the one meant here is the Yuntai Mountain of the line 'Everyone has a sprig of cornel in their hair but one', and the main production area of the famous 'Yuntai landform'.
Tips from the guidebook
- Historical and cultural heritage: The 'Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove' of the Wei and Jin dynasties lived in seclusion here, and Sun Simiao, the Tang-dynasty master of medicine, also gathered herbs and made elixirs here. Natural and cultural splendour have come together on Yuntai Mountain.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Yuntai Mountain cost?
Admission to Yuntai Mountain is ¥120; sightseeing shuttle ¥60, as listed in the 2025 guidebook. Prices can change; check the official channel before you go.
How long should I spend at Yuntai Mountain?
Plan on 1–3 days for Yuntai Mountain.
Where is Yuntai Mountain?
Yuntai Mountain is in Yuntai Mountain, Henan Province, in the Central China of China.
More places in Yuntai Mountain
Qingtian River
Daquan Lake is the highlight of Qingtian River. Here you can see northern pastoral scenery and feel the charm of southern waterside villages at the same time. Its middle section closely resembles the Wu Gorge, earning it the nickname 'Three Gorges of the North'. Inside the scenic area, Jinjialing Ridge turns a sea of red every autumn, arguably the finest autumn foliage in the Central Plains, and the thousand-year-old Yueshan Temple holds plaques and couplets bestowed by Emperor Qianlong, which are well worth seeing.
¥70; boat ticket ¥90 (full route); cable car ¥80 (full route) · 0.5–1 day
Shennong Mountain Scenic Area
To find out just how beautiful the 'Beauty Pine' is, you must visit Shennong Mountain. Nearly 16,000 white crane pines grow on sheer cliff tops, forming a 'Dragon Ridge Great Wall' that is quite spectacular from afar. This is where Emperor Yan, Shennong, is said to have distinguished the hundred grains and tasted the hundred herbs, so the mountain holds many precious medicinal herbs. A saying still circulates: 'One trip through Shennong Valley, and even illness cures itself.'
¥65; cable car ¥70 (full route) · 1 day
Zhuyu Peak
Speaking of Zhuyu Peak, you may recall the poet Wang Wei's line 'Everyone has a sprig of cornel in their hair but one'? Although the peak takes its name from this, Wang Wei was not a travel writer, and the claim that he wrote 'Thinking of My Brothers in Shandong on the Double Ninth' here is not accurate. Climb the ladder-and-plank walkway to the peak, 1,308 metres above sea level, and the view over the rolling mountain ranges will not disappoint you.
Tanpu Gorge
Tanpu Gorge is a beautiful scene without any 'celebrity connection'. It is the essence of the Yuntai Mountain gorges, and 'a spring every three steps, a waterfall every five, a pool every ten' is a true description of it. Tanpu Gorge
Zifang Lake
The name sounds elegant, and the scenery has an artistic flair. The lake is half shaded and half sunlit: one side glitters with golden light while the other is clear and emerald green. At midday the lake surface acts like a giant mirror, reflecting the direct sunlight back out and dazzling the eye.
Macaque Valley
Large numbers of wild macaques live in groups throughout the scenic area.