Pingdingshan Buddhist Travel Guide

🏞️ Pingdingshan Four Days Three Nights Travel Guide (Budget 5000 RMB) Suitable for: Nature lovers, cultural explorers, short leisure trips Budget allocation: Transportation (1000 RMB) + Accommodation (1200 RMB) + Meals (800 RMB) + Tickets & Experiences (1500 RMB) + Others (500 RMB) 📅 Itinerary Day 1: Yao Mountain Scenic Area + Hot Spring Relaxation Morning High-speed train from Zhengzhou/Luoyang → Pingdingshan West Station (1 hour, ticket about 50 RMB) Taxi to Yao Mountain Scenic Area (about 1.5 hours, fare 150 RMB) Yao Mountain Scenic Area (ticket 65 RMB, round-trip cable car 120 RMB) Recommended route: Yingfeng Cableway → Yuhuang Peak → Qinglong Back → Bai Niucheng Noon Lunch: Yao Mountain farmhouse restaurant (40 RMB per person, try wild vegetables and free-range chicken) Afternoon Yao Mountain Fuquan Hot Spring (138 RMB) Soak in natural hot springs to relieve hiking fatigue Evening Stay at a hot spring hotel (e.g., Huanggu Bath Hot Spring Hotel, about 400 RMB/night including hot spring access) Day 2: Central Plains Giant Buddha + Cultural Exploration Morning Central Plains Giant Buddha Scenic Area (120 RMB) World’s tallest bronze Buddha (208 meters high), pray by touching the Buddha’s feet Supporting attractions: Foquan Temple, Yuanxin Platform Noon Lunch: Vegetarian restaurant in the scenic area (50 RMB per person) Afternoon Pingdingshan Museum (free, reservation required) Learn about Pingdingshan’s history, focus on Ying State cultural relics exhibition Baigui Lake Wetland Park (free) Walk and birdwatch, especially beautiful at sunset Evening Dinner: Old Town “Three Pots Legend” (60 RMB per person, recommended spicy fish pot) Accommodation: Four-star hotel in the city (e.g., Yunhai Jianguo Hotel, about 350 RMB/night) Day 3: Ruzhou Fengxue Temple + Strange Slope Wonder Full-day car rental (about 400 RMB/day) Morning Fengxue Temple (free) A thousand-year-old temple as famous as Shaolin Temple, don’t miss the Hanging Bell Pavilion inside Noon Lunch: Ruzhou Heluo noodles (20 RMB per person) Afternoon Ruzhou Strange Slope (30 RMB) Experience the “water flows uphill” anti-gravity phenomenon Ruzhou Porcelain Culture Park (60 RMB) Make your own Ruzhou porcelain (50 RMB experience fee, you can take your work home) Evening Return to Pingdingshan city, visit Caesar Night Market (40 RMB per person) Accommodation: Same as Day 2 Day 4: Yexian County Government Office + Return Trip Morning Yexian County Government Office (45 RMB) The only fully preserved Ming Dynasty county government office in China, with daily court performance Buy local specialties: Lushan silk, Ruzhou porcelain tea sets Noon Lunch: Yexian stewed noodles (30 RMB per person) Afternoon Return trip (taxi to Pingdingshan West Station about 80 RMB) 💰 Budget Details (for 2 people) Item Cost (2 people) Transportation 1000 RMB (high-speed train + car rental/taxi) Accommodation 1200 RMB (3 nights mid-to-high-end hotels) Meals 800 RMB (including specialty meals + snacks) Tickets & Experiences 1500 RMB (Yao Mountain, Giant Buddha, hot springs, etc.) Shopping/Others 500 RMB Total 5000 RMB 📌 Tips Transportation: Yao Mountain and Ruzhou attractions are scattered; car rental or self-driving is recommended (car rental about 200 RMB/day). Best seasons: Spring and autumn; Yao Mountain’s red leaves in October are stunning; winter offers skiing (Yao Mountain Ski Resort). Clothing: Wear sports shoes for hiking, bring swimwear for hot springs. Alternatives: If time allows, add Huamei Valley (waterfall group) or Xiangshan Temple (origin of Guanyin culture). Pingdingshan combines mountains, water, Buddhism, and ancient government offices—off the beaten path but full of surprises!⛰️ Feel free to ask if you need adjustments~