Yuntai Mountain: Red Stone Gorge, Tanpu Gorge, Quanpu Gorge, and Monkey Valley

Start your day by purchasing tickets at the Yuntai Mountain service area (entrance fee ¥120, scenic area bus ¥60, valid for three days). Then, take the scenic area bus to Red Stone Gorge, the most iconic attraction of Yuntai Mountain, named after its red rocks. The gorge stretches about 2 kilometers, featuring deep valleys, stunning cliffs, and clear streams. Every turn offers picturesque views perfect for photography. Next, take the scenic bus to Xiaozhai Valley to explore Tanpu Gorge, Quanpu Gorge, and Monkey Valley. Compared to other 5A-rated scenic areas, Yuntai Mountain's management and planning are notably superior to places like Taihang Grand Canyon. Clear signage, multiple buses ready at each stop, and drivers announcing station names make the experience smooth and organized, even with a large number of visitors. Tanpu Gorge, also known as Xiaozhai Valley, spans about 2 kilometers. It is famous for its "three steps to a spring, five steps to a waterfall, and ten steps to a pool." The crystal-clear streams and cool breezes make for a delightful journey. Quanpu Gorge is approximately 3 kilometers long. While the scenery along the way is average, the highlight is the "Yuntai Heavenly Waterfall" at the end, with a drop of 314 meters. Although it wasn't the wet season and the water flow was modest, the waterfall was still quite impressive. With time to spare, I visited Monkey Valley. The park seems to have scheduled animal performances to promote the slide attraction, but there wasn't much to see in the mountains. Fortunately, I did spot a Taihang monkey.