The weather is getting cooler, so you must come to Laojun Mountain to see the snow scenery and climb to the Golden Summit to watch the sunrise—it has to be as beautiful as a fairyland!

Laojun Mountain suddenly became a sensation overnight! I went three times before I dared to write this guide! Avoid the crowds, enjoy the night view at the Golden Summit, and discover all the popular check-in spots… plus 5 hidden local secrets that even locals don’t know! I’m Danqing, a seasoned travel blogger specializing in off-the-beaten-path destinations, here to help you avoid the crowds and see the real China. Last winter, a video went viral across the internet— After the snow, Laojun Mountain looks like a “palace in the sky,” With rolling seas of clouds and the golden temple faintly visible, It’s like a fairy mountain from a martial arts novel has descended to earth. Overnight, this once little-known famous mountain in western Henan Became the hottest check-in spot nationwide. Ticket prices soared, cable car lines were long, and the Golden Summit was packed to the brim… As someone who has been to Laojun Mountain three times (once each in spring, autumn, and winter), Today I’ll guide you step-by-step on— ✅ How to avoid the crowds? ✅ What time is best to start climbing? ✅ Which photo spots look like movie scenes? ✅ Plus 5 hidden local secrets only insiders know! Stop blindly following the trend. This super practical and pitfall-avoiding Laojun Mountain guide Will make you regret it if you don’t read it before you go! 📍 Quick Basic Info Location: Luanchuan County, Luoyang City, Henan Province Elevation: Main peak Yuhuangding 2,217 meters Opening Hours: Open year-round (7:00 AM - 6:00 PM) Ticket Price: 100 RMB (80 RMB in off-season) Cable Car Price: Zhongling/Yunjing Cable Car one-way 130 RMB, round-trip 200 RMB Recommended Visit Duration: 1.5 days (overnight stay recommended) ✅ Best Seasons: - Winter (December to February): Stunning snow scenes, frequent seas of clouds - Autumn (September to November): Colorful foliage, stable weather - Spring (March to May): Rhododendrons bloom, fewer tourists ❌ Summer is rainy, mountain often closed, scenery less impressive 🚗 How to Get There? Complete Transportation Guide ✅ Recommended Route (suitable for most tourists) High-speed train/plane → Luoyang → Luanchuan County → Laojun Mountain Take the high-speed train to [Luoyang Longmen Station] → taxi or bus to the bus station → take a direct bus to Luanchuan (about 2 hours) After arriving in Luanchuan, take a 15-minute taxi to the entrance of Laojun Mountain Scenic Area (bus also available) 📌 Tips: If driving, navigate directly to “Laojun Mountain Scenic Area Parking Lot” Leave before 7 AM to avoid traffic jams! 🎯 Classic Route Recommendation (for first-time summit climbers) ⏱️ About 6 hours total | 18 km hiking | Moderate to high difficulty 💡 Tips: “The Ten-Mile Painted Screen” is the highlight section, with a new view at every step The Golden Summit buildings are Ming and Qing dynasty style, with golden roofs that look stunning in sunlight Yuhuangding is the highest point, offering panoramic mountain views 🌟 5 Must-Visit Popular Photo Spots (instant Instagram hits!) Location Photo Content Best Time ------ -------------- --------- Liangbaotai Golden Temple + sea of clouds Early morning 6:00-7:30 AM Nantianmen Martial arts style stone steps + distant mountains Around sunrise Yuhuangding Viewing Platform 360° panoramic view Sunny mornings Cliffside plank road (Laozi’s enlightenment spot) Suspenseful aerial shots Soft afternoon light Sunset Slope Winter sunset + snow pine silhouette Evening 5:00-5:40 PM 📸 Photo Tips: Use a wide-angle lens for more spectacular building shots Wearing Hanfu or light-colored clothes greatly improves photo quality In winter, remember to wear anti-slip shoe covers for safety! 🏕️ Where to Stay? On the Mountain or at the Foot? ✅ Strongly recommended: Stay on the mountain! Watching the sunrise and sea of clouds is worth the ticket price! Recommended Accommodation Areas: Inns near the Golden Summit (e.g., Laojun Mountain Scenic Hotel, Golden Summit Homestay) Pros: Close to viewing platforms, convenient for star and sunrise photography Cons: Basic conditions, relatively expensive (peak season 800+ RMB/night) Farmhouses around Zhongtianmen Pros: Cost-effective, convenient dining Cons: No night view of the Golden Summit 📌 Danqing’s Private Tips: Book rooms at least a week in advance! Especially during holidays, rooms are hard to get Bring earplugs (poor sound insulation in shared rooms) Big temperature difference on the mountain, bring down jackets + thermos 🍜 What to Eat? Scenic Area Dining Pitfall Guide ⚠️ Warning: Prices are high on the mountain and taste is average! Dining Spot Recommended Dishes Price Range ----------- -------------------- ----------- Foot of the mountain Luanchuan tofu, Hutumen noodles 15-25 RMB/serving Zhongtianmen Snack Street Grilled sausage, instant noodles, roasted sweet potato 10-20 RMB Golden Summit Restaurant Simple meals, rice bowls 30-50 RMB ✅ A Yue’s Advice: Eat well before climbing, bring your own snacks (chocolate, beef jerky, energy bars) Bring self-heating hot pot (water boils slowly on the mountain) Bring plenty of hot water! Prevent hypothermia 🔍 5 Hidden Local Secrets Nobody Knows (Exclusive!) Climb Sunset Slope at 4 AM Don’t be fooled by the name! This is the best spot to watch the sunrise and sea of clouds, almost no one knows about it, peaceful and stunning. Take the “wild path” to see the cliffside temple From the Mazoling fork, go down 200 meters to a small temple built on a cliff, very few tourists visit, perfect for photos! Nighttime star and Milky Way photography On clear nights after 10 PM, there’s little light pollution around the Golden Summit, you can even capture the Milky Way with your phone! Look for wild macaque groups in autumn Macaques often appear near Jiuzifeng Peak, bring some apples to feed them from a distance (do not get too close!) Join Taoist blessing ceremonies Every Saturday at 9 AM, there is a free blessing ceremony at the Golden Summit Taoist temple, a deeply immersive experience. ❗ Lessons Learned! Avoid These Pitfalls! ❌ Don’t climb in the afternoon—you won’t see the sea of clouds and might miss the last cable car ❌ Don’t wear new shoes—the mountain paths cause blisters, many people take off their shoes halfway ❌ Don’t rely on “free ticket policies”—senior and student IDs must be used by the holder, checks are strict ❌ Don’t blindly take wild paths—some tourists got lost and trapped, rescue took 6 hours! 🌈 Conclusion: Is Laojun Mountain Worth Visiting? The answer is: As long as you avoid peak times and prepare well, it’s definitely one of the places in China closest to a “fairyland.” I’m not hyping it for traffic; I sincerely hope everyone can see the most beautiful scenery, Not just squeeze into crowds to take a blurry photo and leave. So please take this guide, Choose a clear morning, Step onto the stone stairs leading to the clouds, And when you stand on the Golden Summit looking back at the rolling sea of clouds, You’ll understand— All the effort was worth it. 📌 Interactive Topic: Who do you most want to climb Laojun Mountain with? A. Lover watching the sea of clouds and sunrise B. Parents for blessing and health C. Alone for quiet meditation D. Siblings for fun and check-ins