Trip Overview
When: April (spring, pleasant weather)
Duration: 1 day
Travelers: With friends
Budget: ~100 RMB (~$14 USD)
Transportation: Self-drive to Cao Village, Xinan County
Essential Foreigner Info
Getting There: Take Lianhuo Expressway (连霍高速) and exit at Xinan Station (新安站). Follow the signs to Cao Village Township (曹村乡). The scenic area is about 40km northwest of Xinan County in Luoyang (洛阳), Henan Province.
Money Matters: Bring cash for tickets and local vendors. Mobile payment may not work in remote areas.
Language: English is limited. Learn to show the Chinese name 青要山 (Qingyao Mountain) to taxi drivers or save the location on your phone map.
Timing: Arrive early—the park is huge and requires physical stamina. Seniors and children should stick to the canyon areas rather than climbing to the summit.
Day 1: Qingyao Mountain - Three Names, One Amazing Place
If I told you there's a World Geopark hidden in the mountains of western Henan, you'd believe me. If I said it's also called the "Northern Guilin," you'd have questions. But if I claimed it's also the Emperor's Secret Capital where three legendary founders of Chinese civilization—Yellow Emperor (黄帝), Yan Emperor (炎帝), and Chiyou (蚩尤)—met to forge an alliance? You'd think I was crazy.
Welcome to Qingyao Mountain (青要山).
Entering the mountain gate, I step into a small basin surrounded by green peaks, with distant mountain peaks towering above. The Zhen Lake (畛湖) in the center reflects the surrounding scenery like a mirror—it's not Guilin, but it might as well be.
The Emperor's Secret Capital
This secluded spot was chosen by the Yellow Emperor as his hidden capital—and it's not just legend. The ancient text "Classic of Mountains and Seas" (《山海经》) explicitly states: "Qingyao Mountain is indeed the Emperor's Secret Capital."
According to legend, after the great battle between the Yellow Emperor, Yan Emperor, and Chiyou, these three founding fathers realized they needed peace. They came to this secret capital to form an alliance—the first major unification in Chinese history. The summit of Qingyao Mountain, called Hehe Yuan (和合塬), is supposedly where the three leaders swore their oath. Originally, there was a Hehe Palace (和合宫) dedicated to these three as gods. Today, only a vast stone array and a later-built temple remain.
A Real World Geopark
Forget the legends—Qingyao's status as a World Geopark is the real deal. Since Earth's formation, tectonic movements have shaped this landscape into steep peaks, towering cliffs, and deep valleys. The mountain is also called Qingyao Mountain (青腰山) because the unique geological features create bands of lush vegetation wrapping around the steep mountain waist like a green belt.
After crustal movements, eons of weathering, erosion, and水流切割 created the dramatic landscape we see today. The entire area is covered with natural secondary forest, home to trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, and fungi—a natural botanical garden.
What to See
The scenic area combines mountains, rocks, water, caves, forests, grass, and flowers. Each valley and peak has its own character: Lianzhu Gorge (联珠峡), Shuanglong Gorge (双龙峡), Qingnu Peak (青女峰), Moon Bay (月亮湾), Yuanren Pool (猿人潭), Huaxiang Lake (画廊湖), Zijing Pool (紫荆潭), and the Original Forest area.
The Experience
Walking through Qingyao, you experience constant transformation—deep silence, sudden danger, claustrophobic cliff walls that make your heart race, then sudden openness as the path clears. One moment you're in a hidden仙境 (immortal realm), the next you're back in the mortal world. It's disorienting in the best possible way.
Practical Tips
Route: Take Lianhuo Expressway, exit at Xinan Station, follow signs to Cao Village. The scenic area is well-marked.
Warning: The park is large. Full exploration takes significant time and energy. Senior alert: Elderly visitors and children should probably skip the mountain climb and stick to the canyon trails—it's still breathtaking and much more manageable.
Pro hack: Bring comfortable hiking shoes, water, and snacks. Facilities are limited inside the park.