Dikengyuan
Dikengyuan—China's most magical village, also known as Tianjingyuan or Dikengyuan. Locals refer to it as 'Tianjingyuan', 'Diyinkeng', or 'Diyao'. According to research, Tianjingyuan has a history of 1500-2000 years and is a unique form of residential architecture on the Loess Plateau. It serves as a tangible witness to the evolution of human 'cave dwelling'. This unique form of residence is unparalleled in China and even the world. Driving route: Miaoshang Village is located about 1.5 kilometers south of the Xizhang Town Government in Shan County, approximately 30 kilometers from Sanmenxia City and about 20 kilometers from Shan County. It is connected by township roads (Leizhang Road, Sanzhang Road), with Provincial Road 318 and Sangang Road passing by the village, and the road conditions are good.
Guoliang Village—situated on a sheer cliff with a history of 600 years and an altitude of 1700 meters, it exudes absolute grandeur. Guoliang Village retains the stone-built houses of the Ming and Qing dynasties, arranged in rows and clusters, perched on the steep cliffs with unique charm! Stone mills, stone rollers, stone walls, stone tables, stone benches, and stone beds, the farmhouses with stone roofs, and the tranquil courtyards give a sense of a paradise on earth! Driving route: No matter where you come from, you must first go to Xinxiang. After arriving in Xinxiang, drive northwest along Provincial Road S229 and Provincial Road S306. It takes about 3 hours to reach Guoliang Village.
Daimai Mountain
Daimai Mountain—an extraordinarily beautiful destination that lives up to its name, consists of four major scenic areas: the unique Yun Ding Garden of Central Plains, the highest alpine meadow in Northern China, the ingeniously crafted geological gallery, and the grand and magnificent Yellow River panorama. 'Scenery passes by your side, and you travel within a painting.' The mountain is even more magnificent with its grasslands. The alpine meadow at an altitude of over 1000 meters is unique in Henan. Daimai Mountain is also the only global geopark in the country that is surrounded by mountains on one side and the Yellow River on three sides. Driving route: Zhengzhou—Lianhuo Expressway—S246—Daimai Mountain Scenic Area.
Longtan Grand Canyon—China's No.1 Zhang Valley, is a unique canyon characterized by typical red rock Zhang Valley geological and geomorphological landscapes. It stretches for 12 kilometers, with Zhang Valleys and narrow valleys distributed like a string of beads. Its formation has undergone 1.2 billion years of geological sedimentation and 2.6 million years of water erosion and cutting. The water erosion and cutting marks from different periods are very clear, and the giant collapsed rock blocks forming wave marks and large cliffs are rare both domestically and internationally. Driving route: Lianhuo Expressway—exit at Xin'an (turn right)—Shisi Town—Shijing Town (turn left at Shijing Bridge)—follow the road signs for 10 kilometers to reach the scenic area (about 48 kilometers from the expressway exit to the scenic area).
Jiyuan Yellow River Three Gorges
Jiyuan Yellow River Three Gorges—The First Gorge of the Yellow River, where the peaks of the Three Gorges compete in beauty and the mountains and waters blend harmoniously. Each of the three gorges has its own unique charm. Gushan Gorge is a masterpiece of nature with competing peaks; Longfeng Gorge is winding and deep with secluded valleys; Bali Gorge has steep cliffs and is majestic, known as 'The First Gorge of the Yellow River'. Driving route: Do not exit the highway within Jiyuan, switch to Jishao (Jiyun) Highway (S28) towards Shaoyuan direction, exit at Wangwushan Station, and follow the road signs for 25 kilometers to the scenic area.
Xiaolangdi Yellow River Three Gorges
Xiaolangdi Yellow River Three Gorges Scenic Area is a world geological park, a national water conservancy scenic area, one of the most attractive places in China, one of the top ten hot spots in Henan, and the essence of Xiaolangdi scenic area. The scenic area is located 20 kilometers upstream of the Xiaolangdi Dam, with a total area of 40 square kilometers. Self-driving route: Zhengzhou—Southwest Ring Expressway—Luokai Expressway—Changji Expressway—Jiyuan.
Shiban House
Shiban House—A secluded paradise in the Taihang Mountains. The majestic Taihang Mountains boast peaks, ridges, terraces, cliffs, gorges, waterfalls, and springs in various forms, along with the beautiful Taihang villages! Especially delightful are the unique and beautiful Shiban Houses. Entering the southern Taihang is like stepping into a picturesque natural painting. Shiban Houses adorn the Taihang Mountains, bringing them vitality, while the Taihang Mountains, with their vast expanse, nurture the people of Taihang. Shiban Houses are a major feature of Linzhou, mainly distributed in Shibanyan Township of Linzhou City, with the most typical Shiban House village being Shibanyan Village. Driving route: Shibanyan Village is located 20 kilometers northwest of Linzhou City, deep in the Taihang Grand Canyon of the southern Taihang Mountains, and is the seat of the Shibanyan Town government, with an altitude ranging from 800 to 1736 meters.
Hongqi Canal
Hongqi Canal—The most beautiful man-made river, a man-made miracle on the Taihang Mountains, feel the perseverance of the Chinese nation! If the excavated soil and rocks were piled up into a wall 2 meters high and 3 meters wide, it could circle Beijing and connect Guangzhou with Harbin. The famous water conservancy project Hongqi Canal is a 'stunning masterpiece' in human history. Internationally, Hongqi Canal is known as the 'Eighth Wonder of the World'. Self-driving route: Zhengzhou—Yellow River Bridge—Xinxiang Huixian (turn left at Huixian roundabout)—Linzhou, after arriving in Linzhou, take the southeast road to reach the Hongqi Canal scenic area directly.
Guoliang Village Cliff Road
Guoliang Village Cliff Road—The Road for the Brave. Introducing Guoliang Village and Guoliang Village Cliff Road separately is necessary because they are both so unique! Guoliang Village in Shanyao Township, Huixian, Henan, is perched atop the cliffs of the Taihang Mountains. In the past, villagers used a series of stone steps carved into the cliff face, known as the 'Sky Ladder,' to enter and exit the mountain. In the 1970s, villagers spent five years arduously chiseling a 5-meter-high, 4-meter-wide, and 1,300-meter-long stone tunnel road into the cliff face using steel chisels and hammers. Driving route: No matter where you are coming from, you must first go to Xinxiang. After arriving in Xinxiang, head northwest along Provincial Road S229 and Provincial Road S306. It takes about 3 hours to reach Guoliang Village.
Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden— the real-life version of the Qingming Scroll, is a large historical and cultural park themed around Song Dynasty culture. It is built based on the famous painting 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival' by the renowned Northern Song Dynasty painter Zhang Zeduan. The park features Song Dynasty urban culture, folk customs, royal gardens, and ancient entertainment, with a focus on visitor participation and experience. It is a large Song Dynasty folk custom amusement park that vividly recreates the scenes depicted in the original painting, showcasing the millennium-old prosperity of the ancient capital Bianjing. Driving route: Zhengzhou—Luokai Expressway—Longting District.
