[2025 Luanchuan Attraction] Travel Guide for Laojunmiao (Updated Jul)

Laozi and Mount Laojun: The Spiritual Totem of a Sacred Mountain In Luanchuan County, Luoyang, Henan Province, a remarkable peak resembling an alchemical furnace pierces through the sea of clouds. When mist rolls through the mountains, seventy-two temples and Taoist shrines appear and disappear from view. This is Mount Laojun, revered as the "Ancestral Court of Taoism." Standing at 2,217 meters, this mountain became a spiritual landmark of Chinese civilization due to legends of Laozi's seclusion here, with the secrets of the "Tao Te Ching" hidden within its thousand years of incense offerings. I. The Mystery of the Purple Qi Coming from the East In 516 BCE, when the royal house of Zhou was shaken by Prince Zhao's rebellion, Laozi, then keeper of the royal archives, resigned and journeyed westward. While Sima Qian's "Records of the Grand Historian" states that "no one knows where he ended up," local folk epics in western Henan vividly describe his retreat to a cave atop Mount Laojun. Local county records note that after passing through Hangu Pass on his blue ox, Laozi didn't continue directly to Tongguan, but traveled south along the Funiu Mountain range, ultimately drawn to this extraordinary peak "shaped like a granary, gathering wind and energy." Local villagers have passed down the story for generations: Laozi secluded himself in this cave for nine years, carving his lifetime of wisdom onto the cave walls before transforming into a rainbow and departing, leaving behind the 5,000 words of the "Tao Te Ching" arranged like constellations in the stone chamber. II. The Philosophy of Heaven and Earth in the Alchemical Furnace The massive granite columns behind the Taiqing Temple at Mount Laojun's Golden Summit are known as the "Natural Taiji Eight Trigrams Formation." Most remarkable is the Alchemical Furnace Peak, with its concave top perpetually shrouded in swirling mist, perfectly embodying the concept of "the Tao is empty yet inexhaustible in use" from the "Tao Te Ching." The Ming Dynasty's "Funiu Mountain Records" document that Tang Dynasty Taoist priests built eighty-one furnaces here corresponding to the principle of "returning to the origin through nine times nine," creating a spectacular sight of furnace fires illuminating the mountain mist for over three hundred years. The iron chains and blackened cliff faces that remain today still speak of the ancient wisdom of "refining external elixirs to cultivate internal ones"—wasn't the rising furnace fire itself a practical demonstration of "all things carry yin and embrace yang"? III. The Natural Way on Mane Ridge At Mane Ridge, 2,000 meters above sea level, jagged rock formations stand like thousands of blue oxen raising their heads. Legend has it that Laozi enlightened the rocks here, saying: "You are primordial chaos—why not follow the natural way?" Instantly, the stubborn stones split open, sprouting lingzhi mushrooms and sacred herbs, with rock patterns forming natural taiji symbols. Even more miraculous is the "Enlightenment Stone" below the South Heaven Gate, which, after thunderstorms, reveals natural patterns resembling oracle bone script. In 2016, geologists discovered that the interlacing patterns of granite and biotite schist in the rocks mysteriously align with the spiral structure of "reversal is the movement of the Tao" from the "Tao Te Ching"—a remarkable resonance between geological wonder and philosophical thought across time and space. IV. Thousand Years of Incense in the Spirit Official Hall The Laojun Temple, originally built during the Northern Wei Dynasty, still preserves Tang Dynasty colored paintings of the "True Forms of the Five Sacred Mountains" on its pillars. Most precious is the cast iron statue of Laozi in the Three Pure Ones Hall, holding not the traditional ruyi scepter in his left hand but a miniature model of Mount Funiu—this sacred image, cast during the Jin Dynasty's Mingchang era, confirms the local blending of Taoism and Buddhism in the legend of "Laozi traveling west to convert the barbarians." Every year on the fifteenth day of the second lunar month, Laozi's birthday, tens of thousands of pilgrims wind their way up the cliff-side plank roads, creating a spectacular "unity of heaven and human" pilgrimage scene at 2,000 meters above sea level—a vivid illustration of the "Tao Te Ching" passage "the multitude are joyous, as though celebrating a great sacrifice." V. Contemporary Insights from the Sea of Clouds In 2010, while organizing ancient texts, the Laozi Culture Research Institute of Mount Laojun discovered fragments of Han Dynasty silk manuscripts deep in the Seclusion Cave, with the inscription "the highest good is like water; water benefits all things without contention" perfectly matching the flow direction of the waterfall group at Mane Ridge. This mysterious correspondence between geography and text has amazed contemporary scholars: perhaps Laozi encoded universal principles into the mountain's natural features. Today, climbers often witness the "Divine Manifestation of Laozi" phenomenon at dawn—when the first rays of sunlight pierce through the sea of clouds, the entire mountain transforms into a golden scroll of the "Tao Te Ching" through the Tyndall effect, resembling the eternal gaze of that sage upon the mortal world from 2,500 years ago. From the blue ox's hoofprints of the Spring and Autumn Period to today's AR guided tours, Mount Laojun remains a spiritual contour line of Chinese civilization. Here, every rock is an undeciphered annotation of the "Tao Te Ching," every sea of clouds a flowing taiji diagram, and Laozi has merged with the mountain itself—he is both recluse and guardian, using five thousand years of silence to protect the most profound wisdom genes of Chinese civilization.

The description "Mount Laojun: a fairyland on earth, a palace in heaven" perfectly captures the breathtaking scenery and Taoist ambiance of Mount Laojun in Luoyang, Henan. As a sacred Taoist site, its rolling sea of clouds and towering peaks create a mystical landscape where the golden-roofed temples appear and disappear in the mist, resembling celestial palaces descended to the mortal world, making visitors feel as if they've stepped into a mythical realm. Here's an unfolding poetic scroll of Mount Laojun: **🌄 Fairyland Scenery** - **Cloud Sea Wonderland**: After rain clears, the ten-mile scenic screen transforms into an ink painting amid rolling clouds, with Majiong Ridge offering the best viewpoint for this "mirage on the sea." - **Glorious Golden Summit**: The three golden temples—Jade Emperor Peak, Liangbao Platform, and Laojun Temple—stand majestically in the sky, their glazed golden tiles shimmering with the sunrise glow, and when illuminated at night, resembling a heavenly palace. - **Four-Season Spectacles**: Spring brings mountainsides covered in azaleas, summer offers cool pine breezes, autumn displays forests dyed in red leaves, and winter covers the golden summit in rime frost—each season creating its own magical paradise. **⛩ Thousand Years of Taoist Charm** - **Laozi's Retreat**: Legend says Laozi once practiced cultivation here. A 51-meter bronze statue in the Laozi Cultural Park on the mountainside silently observes the mortal world, while the "Purple Qi Coming from the East" stone witnesses thousands of years of Taoist heritage. - **Suspended Walkways**: Cliffside paths wind like flying dragons, allowing visitors to experience the carefree feeling of "riding the wind through the void," echoing the stone inscriptions of the Tao Te Ching on the rock face. - **Taoist Rituals**: Daily morning bells and evening drums accompany Taoist priests chanting scriptures and burning incense in front of Laojun Temple, creating an atmosphere that seems to transport visitors back to the Tang Dynasty's Zhenguan era. **📜 Poetry and Art in the Human World** - **Literary Imprints**: Li Bai once praised "Mount Jun's beauty is unmatched under heaven," Xu Xiake wrote of its "towering peaks piercing the blue sky," and modern photographers have made it a birthplace for Chinese-style cinematography. - **Night Tour Wonder**: Under starry skies, the illuminated corridors of the golden summit come alive as visitors in Hanfu clothing carry lanterns, creating the illusion of crossing a thousand years to admire the stars with immortals. - **Xianxia Secret Realm**: TV dramas like "Noble Aspirations" and "The Legend of White Snake" were filmed here, blurring the boundaries between reality and fantasy. **✨ Travel Tips** - **Path to Heaven**: Cable cars (Zhongling/Yunjing) take you directly to the entrance of this fairyland. Hiking enthusiasts can choose to ascend through Zhuimeng Valley along streams accompanied by waterfalls. - **Magical Moments**: The 5:30 AM sunrise at the golden summit and the 7:00 PM blue hour night views are most captivating. Consider staying overnight at the summit (youth hostel or tent) to capture these fleeting moments of light and shadow. - **Immortal Experiences**: Taste the Luanchuan tofu feast at the foot of the mountain, drink a cup of Laojun Taiji tea, and don't forget to get a Laozi safety charm as a souvenir before descending. This "famous mountain under heaven," honored by emperors throughout dynasties, adorns itself with clouds and stands firm with its peaks, quietly waiting for visitors to unveil its thousand-year-old fairyland veil. Whether you're seeking the Taoist way of nature or immersing yourself in poetic landscapes, Mount Laojun can fulfill all your imaginings of a place that exists "between earth and heaven."

Laojun Mountain (The Laojun Mountain) is known as the "Unparalleled Sacred Land, the World's Number One Immortal Mountain." Located 3,000 meters southeast of Luanchuan County, in the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties, Luoyang, it is the main peak of the 800-li Funiu Mountain, a branch of the Qinling Mountains, with an elevation of 2,200 meters. Originally named Jingshi Mountain, it boasts over 2,000 years of human history and is the oldest mountain range in Taoism. Laojun Mountain has six scenic areas and 179 attractions, including 16 temples such as Taiqing Palace, Shifang Courtyard, Lingguan Hall, Lincu Hall, Mu Yang Quan, Jiuku Hall, Chuanjing Tower, Guanyin Hall, Sanqing Hall, and Laojun Temple. Along the ten-mile cliffside plank road, bizarre peaks and rocks resemble giant beasts and eagles, complemented by ancient trees, medicinal herbs, and occasional sightings of rare animals, showcasing the wonders of nature. Climbing the mountain offers a changing vista with every step, and walking the plank road feels like traversing a painted scroll. Taking the cable car provides a bird's-eye view of the red leaves and snowy landscapes, creating a sensation of flying through the air.

This is not Laojun Mountain, but a palace in the sky! The preference for thousands of years is our Triangle Mountain. Located in Luoyang, Laojun Mountain is said to be the place where Laozi lived in seclusion and practiced. It has also become a filming location for many TV dramas and movies. Especially in winter, when it snows, the snow and the sea of clouds are as beautiful as a painting. Walking in it, you feel like you are in a fairyland. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is a paradise on earth. Here are some great places to enjoy the view: - Sunrise: Ma Zongling, Yuhuangding, and Shilihua Screen are all great places. - Sea of clouds: Taibaipo, Yuhuangding, Huixian Bridge, Shilihua Screen, and Taiji Maze will make you linger. - Starry sky: Huixian Bridge, Funiu Jiding, and Daodefu Square are beautiful at night. - Waterfalls: Located on both sides of the scenic area, Zhaigou on the east side and Zhumeng Valley on the west side have their own characteristics. - Golden Summit Taoist Temple Complex: Bell and Drum Tower, Laojun Temple, Yuhuangding, Ma Zongling, and Daodefu Square are rich in Taoist culture. The location is in Laojun Mountain Scenic Area, Luanchuan County, Luoyang City, Henan Province. When to go? It snowed on October 12 last year, and this year, the best time to enjoy the snow is expected to be from November to February next year. The scenic area is open from 8 am to 6 pm, and the ticket is CNY 100, which can be used for two days. You can buy tickets on the official account, on-site, or on third-party websites. There are three types of cable cars with different prices, so choose according to your needs. There are many ways to get there, including train, high-speed rail, self-driving, and bus. In terms of accommodation, there are homestays in the scenic area, ranging from CNY 100 to 300. There is also accommodation on the Golden Summit, which is simple but convenient for watching the sunrise, and a bed costs CNY 200. Finally, here are some tips for you: 1. The weather changes quickly, so bring warm clothes. Wear warm jackets and down jackets for climbing, and wear non-slip shoes. 2. Remember to book tickets in advance on holidays or weekends, so you don't miss out. 3. If you climb at night, pay attention to the weather and official notices. You can't climb at night on rainy days. 4. Luggage can be stored at the foot of the mountain, and there are lockers at the visitor center, ticket gate, and cable car station. Remember these tips when you go to Laojun Mountain to make your trip more comfortable!