Luoyang01: 4 Days Luoyang - Shaolin Temple - Zhengzhou

On your first day, visit the White Horse Temple, about 12km (7 miles) east of Luoyang. It is the first temple built by the government when Buddhism was introduced to China. You can take bus No. 56 or 58 to the temple. The Longmen Grottoes are about 12km (7 miles) south of Luoyang. You can take bus No. 81, 53 or 60 to the Grottoes. The park of the Longmen Grottoes is a short distance from the Gate of the scenic area and the sights in it. You can walk into the scenic area, or you can take the electric car in the scenic area. The charge for the electric car is about CNY10.00 per person. It takes at least 4 hours to visit the whole scenic area of the Longmen Grottoes.

On the second day, drive to Dengfeng to visit the Shaolin Temple. The Shaolin Temple is about 15km (9 miles) away under the Shaoshi Mountain of the Songshan Mountain in northwest Dengfeng. From the Luoyang Bus Station near the railway station, you can take the sightseeing bus for about 2 hours to the Shaolin Temple, the cradle of Shaolin Kungfu. Also, you can enjoy a Shaolin Kungfu performance in the temple theatre. The performance is available at 15:00, 16:00 and 17:00 and lasts about 30 minutes. The charge for the performance is already included in the temple entrance fee. 

After walking for about 400 meters to the west of the Shaolin Temple, you will find the Forest of Pagodas, the tombs of generations of eminent temple monks. The entrance fee of the Shaolin Temple includes this site. You can take the sightseeing bus for about 1.5 hours to Zhengzhou and stay overnight there. Or you can find a local hostel near the Shaolin Temple to stay overnight.

On the third day, you can take bus No. 16 for about 1 hour from Zhengzhou railway station to the Yellow River Scenery Spot. It is about 30km (19 miles) from the Zhengzhou downtown area. It is the best place to enjoy the scenery of the Yellow River. You can walk in the scenery spot to visit its three scenic zones, which are the Five Dragons Peak Scenic Zone, the Yueshan Temple Scenic Zone and the Camel Mountain Scenic Zone. Then after you go back to the downtown area, you can walk to the Zijingshan Park (Address: No. 108, Jinshui Road, Zhengzhou). As a big and famous park in Zhengzhou, it is located on the road intersection of the Jinshui Road, the Jijingshan Road, the Garden Road and the Renmin Road. You can enjoy the city scenery in the park.

On the last day, leave Zhengzhou according to your schedule.

Jiaozuo01 : 6 Days Jiaozuo - Yuntai Mountain Scenic Area - Qingtian River Scenic Area - Qinglong Gorge - Shennong Mountain Scenic Area - Jiaozuo

On the first day, arrive in Jiaozuo and get prepared for hiking next day.

On the second day, take a sightseeing bus from Tongma Bus Station in Jiaozuo to Yuntai Mountain. There is a bus to the mountain every 30 minutes in high season. The distance is 30 kilometers and the drive takes about 30 minutes. Yuntain Mountain is a holy place of Buddhism and Taoism. At the same time, it is a good place for hiking. You can start hiking from the memorial archway of Yuntain Mountain.

Turn right to enter the mountain from the Cherry Bay, follow the itinerary including the Paiyun Pass, the Bison Cave, the Panteng Path, the Liangfeng Cave, the Yindou Pavilion, the Gem Garden, the Iron Bridge, the Tiger's Back, the Lao Pagoda, the Drip Kwan-yin, the Duyun Bridge, the Zhougong Palace, the Huixian Bridge, the Yingxian Cave, the Bell and Drum Cave, the Sandaoling Pass, the Yitianhuayu Gate and the Xugong Palace. When you return, you can start from the Jinxiang Ancient Trail on the mountainside opposite the main peak of Yuntai Mountain. Then hike to the Zhougong Palace, the Duyun Bridge, the Drip Kwan-yin, the Erdaoling Pass, and finally arrive at the memorial archway of Yuntain Mountain. The whole journey is about 12km (7.5 miles) and takes about 8 hours. Stay overnight at a hostel at Yuntai Mountain.

On the third day, drive for about 40 minutes to the Lejialing Scenic Area. Walking along the concrete road, you can reach Lejialing Village. Pass through the village, you will walk on the flagged path. The scenery along the way is very beautiful and the travelers are few until you arrive at the Qingtian River Village. Continue to walk along the

concrete road again. You will reach the dam of the reservoir about half an hour later. Qingtian River Scenic Area is called "Little Three Gorges" in the north. You can choose to take a yacht for a few minutes or take a boat for about 30 to 40 minutes at the port near the dam to return to Lejialing cable car station. The whole trip at this scenic area takes about 5 hours hiking at most.

On the fourth day, charter a car to arrive at the Pei Village. Hike down to the Qinglong gorge which is the biggest gorge in the central plain area along the steps. You can hike in the gorge to visit the Qinglong Cave, the waterfall and the Sanguan Cave. Finally return to Pei Village.

On the fifth day, charter a car to arrive at the Shennong Mountain Scenic Area which is said to be the place where Yandi Emperor Shennong tasted various kinds of herbal medicines, distinguished corns and offered sacrifice to the Heaven. You can follow the hiking route of the entrance of Shennong Mountain, the Nantian Gate, the Baisong Ridge, the Yixiantian and back to the entrance.

On the last day, drive back to Jiaozuo. Leave Jiaozuo according to your schedule. 

Hiking in Other Destinations of Henan: Zhengzhou Hiking Routes