Trip Overview
When: July 24, 2011 (Summer)
Duration: 1 day
Travelers: Me and two friends (Yang Changjun & Zhai Xiaojun couple)
Budget: ~30 RMB (~$4.70 USD) - extremely budget!
Transportation: Self-driving from Luoyang
Essential Foreigner Info
Getting There: Laojun Mountain (老君山) is in Luanchuan County (栾川), about 150km from Luoyang. Self-drive or take a bus from Luoyang long-distance bus station. The mountain is part of the 800-meter-long scenic area.
Money Matters: Bring cash! In 2011, there were NO shops or food vendors on the mountain trail - bring everything you need. Some vendors appear near the summit area.
Hiking Reality: This is NOT an easy hike. The trail is long, steep, and lacks services until you reach near the top. Cable cars available (30 RMB + 45 RMB for two stages). Don't attempt without proper preparation!
Best Time: Morning start recommended to catch the cable car (last one around 5 PM).
The Adventure Begins
When I heard that Laojun Mountain (老君山) in Luoyang (洛阳), Luanchuan County (栾川) was getting buzz as a must-visit spot, I figured why not? Three of us - me, Yang Changjun, and Zhai Xiaojun (a couple) - piled into the car and set off from Luoyang on the morning of July 24, 2011.
We thought we'd grab a good breakfast so we wouldn't go hungry hiking. But for some reason - probably because we planned to eat at the mountain - we didn't eat much before leaving. Big mistake.
By 10:30 AM, we started climbing. Being optimists, we assumed there'd be shops along the way selling water and snacks. How naive.
The Hike: No Shops, No Mercy
The four of us walked and talked, stopping to photograph scenic views. Around 1 PM, we reached Laojun Waterfall (老君瀑). By this point, Yang and Zhai decided to head back down - they had enough. But I? I was stubborn. I was going to the top.
Here's the reality check: There was NOT A SINGLE shop or food vendor on the entire trail. Nothing. Zip. By around 2 PM, I ran into two guys coming down. When I asked about food, they could tell I was starving and thirsty. They handed me a partially opened packet of crackers and a bottle of water they'd just started. I thanked them profusely and accepted.
Every hiker I passed told me the same thing: "You're hiking alone? You'll definitely be staying on the mountain overnight!" Did I listen? Nope. I pressed on. If it got too late, I'd camp - whatever it took, I wasn't giving up.
Reality Hits Hard
Honestly? I was exhausted. By 3 PM, I was dragging. The weather was gloomy, wind howling through the mountain passes, a chilling bite in the air. By now, fewer and fewer hikers passed me. Sometimes I'd walk long stretches without seeing a single soul. I kept thinking: if some wild animal or monster appeared, I honestly didn't have the energy to fight it off. I just kept pushing forward at whatever speed I could manage.
Then I reached Guofeng Ya (到过风垭). Finally - people! A father and son selling small snacks. I bought instant noodles for 8 RMB and a Red Bull for 10 RMB (~$2.80 total). Inhaled it all. I didn't want to move. I wanted to collapse right there.
But no choice - I had to keep going. The cliff faces were steep, clouds swirling around dramatically. I snapped some photos and kept walking, pushing to catch the 5 PM cable car down.
The Descent
I made it! Caught the last cable car of the day. Two stages - 30 RMB then 45 RMB. Sitting in the cable car, I felt completely drained. When transferring between stages, my legs were shaking. So. Very. Tired.
At the bottom, I connected with Yang and the others. We drove to Luanchuan town and had dinner at Old Luoyang Noodles (老洛阳面馆).
The Verdict
My Laojun Mountain adventure ended there. My takeaway? Pure exhaustion. I decided then: no more randomly visiting newly developed scenic areas, especially mountains.
Funny thing - the next day, while recovering from the physical toll, I got bored and wrote a palindromic poem. Read forward or backward, it matches perfectly. Maybe my brain wasn't as tired as my legs.
The poem: "彩凤衔书游老君山"
崖悬陡险，缠绕云烟。潭清飞瀑流水泉，返往游人醉玉兰。
涧深路远，峦山峻美秀叶鲜。山高水清游欢，倦意逍遁云端。
倦意逍遁云端，山高水清游欢。峦山峻美秀叶鲜，涧深路远。
返往游人醉玉兰，潭清飞瀑流水泉。绕缠云烟，崖悬陡险。
险陡悬崖，烟云缠绕，泉水流瀑飞清潭，兰玉醉人游往返。
远路深涧，鲜叶秀美峻山峦。欢游清水高山，端云遁逍意倦。
端云遁逍意倦，欢游清水高山。鲜叶秀美峻山峦，远路深涧。
兰玉醉人游往返，泉水流瀑飞清潭。烟云绕缠，险陡崖悬。