Free treasure spot, alpine grasslands, and millennia-old ice caves, stunning at first sight

🍁 If you want to find a secret place in Shanxi that combines alpine grasslands, millennia-old ice caves, and cliffside villages, Xinzhou Luyashan is definitely a treasure you can't miss this autumn! The autumn scenery here rivals that of Altay in Xinjiang. 🚗 How to reach this free secret spot? 🚗 Navigate directly to "Luyashan Scenic Area" but do not enter the scenic area—this is key! 🚗 Keep going straight and then turn left, drive along the mountain road, and watch for the place on the right hillside where dozens of houses appear. The spot with many cars parked by the roadside is definitely the best viewing point; just follow where others park. 🚗 Free tip: This location is outside the paid scenic area, so no ticket is required, yet you can enjoy the most exquisite views of Luyashan. 🍁 Must-visit highlights in autumn 🌾 Malun Grassland: An alpine meadow at 2,721 meters elevation, where the grassland turns golden in autumn, forming a picturesque painting with the distant snow-capped mountains and colorful forest sea in between. It’s an excellent photo spot, with unique "frost heave mound" landforms scattered across the vast meadow. 🧊 Millennia-old Ice Cave: Even though the outside air is crisp and cool in autumn, the cave maintains a temperature between -4℃ and -10℃. The 3-million-year-old ice pillars and stalagmites sparkle under the lights, as if stepping into a frozen fairy tale world. 🏡 Cliffside Village: An ancient village built on a cliff, with houses supported by wooden pillars. Villagers still live with their backs to the cliff and facing the abyss. Walking along the wooden plank paths in the village, you can feel the primitive and peaceful atmosphere of the ancient village. 📝 Practical information pack 🎫 Ticket info: 🎫- The free viewing spot introduced here: 0 yuan 🎫- If entering the official scenic area: North Line combo ticket 180 yuan (includes millennia-old ice cave, cliffside plank road, and cliffside village) 🚗 Transportation advice: 🚗- Best by self-driving, about 3 hours from Taiyuan 🚗- Recently, the Luyashan toll station is under road repair, so it’s recommended to detour via Ningwu toll station 👕 Clothing tips: Large temperature difference in the mountains, bring a windproof jacket in autumn; wear comfortable, non-slip shoes. 💡 Professional tips 🌅 Morning light is the softest, ideal for shooting grasslands and villages 💰 Carry cash, as some areas have weak signal 🌍 Protect the environment, please take your own trash with you