Yuntai Mountain

​​Geological & Natural Wonders​​

Designated a ​​UNESCO Global Geopark in 2004​​, Yuntai Mountain showcases ​​1.4 billion years of geological evolution​​. Key features:

• ​​Red Stone Gorge​​: A 2-km canyon of ​​quartz sandstone​​ with wave-like patterns, formed by ancient crustal shifts.
• ​​Yuntai Heavenly Waterfall​​: A 314-meter cascade, dubbed "Asia’s Highest," plunges into the ​​Black Dragon Pool​​.
• ​​Zhuyu Peak​​: The summit (1,308m) offers panoramic views of the Taihang Mountains and Yellow River.

​​Biodiversity & Ecosystems​​

• ​​Flora​​: Over ​​1,200 plant species​​, including rare herbs harvested by Tang Dynasty physician ​​Sun Simiao​​.
• ​​Fauna​​: Protected ​​Taihang macaques​​ and freshwater jellyfish in ​​Zifang Lake​​.

​​Cultural Heritage​​

• ​​Historical Figures​​: Poet ​​Wang Wei​​ penned "Thinking of My Brothers on Mountain-Climbing Day" here.
• ​​Religious Sites​​: ​​Wanshan Temple​​ (Ming Dynasty) and Taoist ​​Zhenqing Palace​​.

​​Visitor Experience​​

• ​​Must-See Attractions​​:

  1. ​​Tanpu Gorge​​: "Three-Step Spring, Five-Step Waterfall" landscapes.
  2. ​​Subai Lake​​: Named after Han strategist ​​Zhang Liang​​.
  3. ​​Macaque Valley​​: Interactive wildlife encounters.

• ​​Practical Info​​:

  • ​​Hours​​: 8:00–18:00 (seasonal adjustments).
  • ​​Tickets​​: ¥120 (peak season); includes shuttle buses.
  • ​​Best Time​​: April–October for waterfalls; autumn for red leaves.

​​Why Feature Yuntai Mountain?​​

• ​​UNESCO Dual Honors​​: World Geopark and Global Geopark Network member.
• ​​Accessibility​​: 2-hour drive from Zhengzhou; multilingual AR guides.