Just got back from Huixian, here are some blunt truths
Huixian is hidden on the southern foothills of the Taihang Mountains. Once September arrives, the mountains look like a spilled palette—green tinged with yellow, red hues just beginning to show, and the coolness is just perfect! This place is the "natural oxygen bar" of Central China, with canyon waterfalls, cliff-hanging roads, and ancient stone village houses all here, and it's super photogenic for sharing on social media~
🗓️【Super Detailed Three-Day Itinerary】
🏔️ Day 1: Explore the Mysterious Cliff Canyons
• Morning: Head straight to 【Baligou Scenic Area】! Right at the entrance is the clear water pool of Peach Blossom Bay, with waterfalls crashing down and mist spraying on your face—super refreshing~
• Noon: At a farmhouse restaurant at the foot of the mountain, enjoy a bowl of “muddy noodles” paired with cliff cypress smoked cured meat. The noodles are thick and sticky, the cured meat salty and chewy, and after eating, your energy is instantly recharged~
• Afternoon: Climb the One-Line Sky of Hongshixia, so narrow you have to turn sideways to pass. Looking up to see the cliff walls framing a strip of blue sky is truly breathtaking!
• Evening: Stay at 【Guoliang Village Cliffside Homestay】, where opening the window reveals a thousand-foot abyss! It’s scary enough to make your legs weak but the view is amazing. They even thoughtfully provide an emergency oxygen bottle by the bedside (at 1200 meters altitude, a reminder to be cautious).
🌌 Day 2: Cliff-Hanging Road and Starry Night Tour
• Morning: Hike the 【Guoliang Cliff-Hanging Road】! The 1250-meter road is all hand-carved tunnels. Touching the uneven chisel marks, imagine the villagers’ determination carving through the mountain for five years. Outside the tunnels, the endless Taihang Mountains make every photo National Geographic quality~
• Noon: Eat the “Taihang Eighteen Bowls” in Guoliang Village, with the cornelian cherry stewed free-range chicken pot a must-try! The chicken is stewed until tender, dipped in fried millet, so delicious you’ll lick the bowl clean~
• Afternoon: Stroll to Nanping Danfenggou, go barefoot creek trekking flipping stones to find the “Sun, Moon, and Star Stones.” Playing in the icy waterfall remains is super refreshing! Also pick some wild sour jujubes, so sour you’ll squint—perfect for meme faces~
• Evening: Night tour of the cliff-hanging road! The 3D projection on the cliff walls is super cool, recreating the mountain carving scenes from back then. The stars above are so dense it looks like sprinkled sugar frosting. If it’s cold, wrap up warmly~
🍁 Day 3: Geological Wonders and Autumn Exclusives
• Morning: Rush to 【Guanshan National Geopark】! Hike the Hongshixia plank road and see the 2.5-billion-year-old stone pillar forest that looks like giant pineapple buns. If lucky, you might spot Taihang macaques (but don’t feed them!)
• Noon: Snack on your own treats while squatting on Tianzhu Peak cloud sea. When the clouds drift past your feet, you’ll feel like you’re ascending to immortality~
• Afternoon: Go to 【Qiugou】 to see early autumn red leaves! The yellow sumac trees are just starting to turn golden at the edges, and the pond reflects a warm orange. Wearing a white dress standing by the shore for photos is stunning!
• Evening: Before heading back, slurp a bowl of quick sugar-vinegar spicy hot pot, with a triple hit of sour, spicy, and sweet that’s so satisfying you’ll stomp your feet!
🌟【Must-Visit Checklist】
1️⃣ Guoliang Cliff-Hanging Road (open all day):
Feature: A human miracle-level rock tunnel road, night projection is super exciting! 📸 Best spot: Early morning viewing platform for mist-wrapped road shots.
2️⃣ Baligou Tianhe Waterfall (8:00-18:00):
Feature: 170-meter waterfall + water curtain cave secret spot! 💦 Hidden fun: Go behind the waterfall to get drenched (bring a change of clothes).
3️⃣ Qiugou Red Leaf Pond (open all day):
Feature: A little-known northern red leaf secret spot, fully golden after October! Free to enter the frame~.
🏨【Accommodation Recommendations】
• Cliffside Homestay (about 600-800 RMB/night):
Thrilling view of the abyss from your window + 1200-meter altitude cloud sea morning views, a dream for photo lovers!
• Persimmon Red Farmhouse (about 200 RMB/night):
A cozy little courtyard at the entrance of Qiugou, the owner’s night firefly tours are super healing~
🚌【Transportation Tips】
• Day 1: Self-drive from Zhengzhou → Huixian (1.5h) → Baligou (navigate to “Songshuping Village” parking to transfer to scenic shuttle bus)
• Day 2: Guoliang Village → Nanping (scenic shuttle stops at 5 PM, sunset chasers are advised to drive!)
• Day 3: Guanshan → Qiugou (take the “Taihang Tourism Expressway,” the mountain views along the way are stunning!)
🍜【Food Highlights】
• Mountain chives stir-fried with free-range eggs: freshly picked chives from the farmhouse, so tender they drip water, eggs fragrant with wok aroma!
• Cave-aged persimmon vinegar: perfect for dipping dumplings! Sweet and sour with fruity aroma, one sip and you’re hooked~
• Honey-glazed duck wing roots: a sweet and salty marinade, meat so firm you have to tear it apart to enjoy!
💰【Expense Summary】
Tickets about 300 + two nights accommodation 800 + three days meals 500 (all mountain delicacies and filling!) + transportation and fuel 200 ≈ 1800 RMB. Feels like buying a ticket to travel through Taihang’s time and space, totally worth it!
💡【Tips】
• September mornings and evenings in the mountains are cold, bring a windbreaker! Lots of mossy paths, wear non-slip shoes for safety~
• Some canyons may close temporarily during the rainy season, check Trip.com for real-time announcements before departure!
🙌【Personal Feelings】
Loved it: The cloud sea on the cliff-hanging road early in the morning looks like a river of milk, eating corn cakes by the cliff feels magical!
Tough part: Climbing One-Line Sky left me panting like a husky | Driving at night with so many curves felt like playing Snake…
September in Huixian is truly a private natural gallery, few people, wild scenery, and cheap! This guide was put together after reading tons of player reviews on Trip.com~ If any experts have hidden tips or lesser-known photo spots, please drop them in the comments! Next time, let’s team up and conquer Taihang again 💪