A Two-Day One-Night Hiking Reverse Traverse of the Southern Taihang Mountains (1)

The Taihang Mountains serve as the dividing line between the North China Plain and the Loess Plateau, where geography and fault lines have created unique geological wonders. The mountains boast the grandeur of the north and the elegance of the south, and have been shortlisted as one of China's top ten most beautiful canyons. Spanning Beijing, Hebei, Shanxi, and Henan, the uplift and subsidence of the earth's crust have caused significant fault dislocations, resulting in a majestic landscape of high mountains and deep valleys, with the section at the border of Henan and Shanxi known as the Southern Taihang. Route: The total distance is about 25 kilometers, with the highest altitude at about 1300 meters. 🌟 Highlights: Day1 Bailigou — Laolongkou — Baoducun Starting from the Bailigou scenic area in Huixian, Henan, take the sightseeing elevator to the mountaintop at two in the afternoon to begin the journey. Traverse dense forests and proceed along the canyon from south to north. In the evening, enter the border of Lingchuan, Shanxi, and soon reach the Laolongkou Waterfall. During the dry season, the upstream river of Laolongkou dries up, and although the spectacular waterfall is not in sight, the scenery here can certainly be described as majestic. Standing on the edge of the cliff and looking down at the canyon, the sheer drop of hundreds of meters is like a knife cut, with the abyss below and the hard rocks forming layers of ravines, one can only marvel at the natural wonder. Continue along the reddish-brown rocky riverbed for less than a kilometer to reach Baoducun. Baoducun is the only village in Shanxi that is not accessible by road, located at an altitude of 1000 meters deep in the Taihang Mountains, surrounded by mountains on three sides and a cliff on one, with only a narrow path connecting it to the outside world. The road is treacherous. 'Carry a calf in, and when the calf grows, plow the fields,' hence the name. The houses in the village are mostly built of stone tiles, and the pear blossoms are in full bloom in spring. The setting sun shines through the trees, and the secluded village is cut off from the world. Overnight stay in Baoducun. Day2 Baoducun — Yixiantian — Mawuzhai Depart from Baoducun around nine in the morning towards Mawuzhai, passing through canyons and jungles. Many sections of this route are dangerous and steep, with rugged paths carved along the cliff walls. The vertical drop formed by the river erosion in the canyon, the steel chisels driven into the rocks, and the carved stone steps require climbing with hands and feet. Pass by Qixingtan and Yixiantian, which are dry during the dry season. After the final 8-kilometer uphill section, arrive at the destination Mawuzhai at noon, completing this hiking traverse.