Nanyang|18°C Funiu Mountain Summer Escape, Free Admission to the 5A Scenic Spot is Simply Irresistible
❄️ June's Ultimate Summer Escape|Who still goes to Lushan! Nanyang Laojieling offers free admission in June! At an altitude of 2212 meters, with an average summer temperature of 18°C and a forest coverage rate of 97%, experience the magical feeling of stepping across north and south in one step!
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🔥 Exclusive June Benefits in Nanyang
Key points! From May 6 to June 30, 2026
· 🎫 Free admission to Laojieling, a National 5A Scenic Spot, originally 60 RMB now 0 RMB
· 🌊 Rafting opens: Baotianman and Guanhe rafting start mid-June
· 🌡️ Comfortable temperature: The mountain top is 15°C cooler than the city, bring a jacket for the evening
· 🚄 Convenient transportation: 1.5 hours direct high-speed train from Zhengzhou, easy for self-driving too
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🏔️ Complete Guide to Laojieling|The North-South Divide of China
🌿 Why is Laojieling the ultimate summer escape?
· Altitude 2212 meters, the highest peak in Nanyang, a true mountain summer retreat
· Forest coverage 97.8%, every breath is full of negative oxygen ions
· Average summer temperature 18°C, you’ll need a thick quilt at night
· Sea of clouds and sunrise, misty all year round, like a fairyland
· Step across north and south, stand on the watershed and feel the climate difference
🚡 Must-try activities
1. Cable car up the mountain, cross the sea of trees and watch the clouds roll
2. Watershed check-in, left foot in subtropical zone, right foot in warm temperate zone
3. Glass plank road, overlook the full view of Funiu Mountain suspended in the air
4. Forest trail, hike through the primeval forest, listen to birds and insects
5. Mountain top wooden cabin, stay overnight to watch the starry sky, Milky Way + sunrise over the sea of clouds
📸 Recommended photo spots
· Watershed boundary marker, a must-visit landmark, step across north and south
· Cable car cabin, shoot epic cloud sea photos, full of atmosphere
· Glass plank road, shoot the cliff face from above, thrilling and exciting
· Sunrise viewing platform, best spot for sunrise and sea of clouds, worth waking up at 5 AM
⏰ Best times to visit
· Morning 7-9 AM, highest chance of sea of clouds, fewer people
· Afternoon 4-6 PM, sunset with golden light over the mountains
· Evening 8-10 PM, starry sky and Milky Way, zero light pollution
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🌊 Baotianman|World Biosphere Reserve
The last piece of primeval forest in Central China!
· 🌲 Primeval forest, the most intact in Central China
· 💧 Canyon rafting opens mid-June, 3 hours of thrilling water fun
· 🦋 Species gene pool, rich in flora and fauna, excellent for science education
· 🥾 Easy hiking, gentle trails suitable for elderly and children
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🍜 Nanyang Cuisine|The underrated food paradise of Southwest Henan
“Xinye Banmian” invented by the famous Three Kingdoms general Zhang Fei 🍜
Wide noodles + spicy beef sauce, chewy and satisfying!
· Thick, chewy noodles, evenly shaped, with a springy texture
· Spicy and flavorful beef sauce, served with vegetables and eggs
· Local way: add a spoonful of mutton oil chili, the more you eat the better it tastes
“Zhenping Roast Chicken” the divine chicken that falls off the bone with a shake 🍗
Marinated in aged broth + 20 kinds of Chinese herbs!
· Shake lightly and the meat separates from the bone, tender and juicy
· Skin intact, meat tender, fragrant to the bone, rich but not greasy
· Eat cold sliced with drinks or hot shredded for more enjoyment
“Fangcheng Huimian” Nanyang’s top food 🥣
Mutton soup cooked milky white, noodles with bounce!
· Mutton bones slow-cooked into a rich, creamy broth
· Noodles stretched to be “bouncy,” chewy and smooth
· Seaweed, tofu skin, vermicelli, very rich toppings
“Tanghe Liangfen” a 400-year-old summer delicacy 🧊
Mung bean jelly, cold and spicy, very appetizing!
· Soft, bouncy, very refreshing in summer
· Vinegar + garlic + chili, so delicious in summer
· Can also be pan-fried, crispy outside and tender inside
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📅 Three-day, two-night summer escape itinerary
Day 1 Arrival + Laojieling
· Morning: Arrive at Nanyang High-speed Rail Station / Airport, drive to Laojieling
· Afternoon: Cable car up the mountain, visit the watershed, walk the glass plank road
· Evening: Stay in a mountain top wooden cabin, watch the stars, enjoy the 18°C summer
Day 2 Sunrise + Baotianman Rafting
· Early morning: Wake up at 5 AM to watch the sunrise and sea of clouds, breathtaking
· Morning: Descend and head to Baotianman, explore the primeval forest
· Afternoon: Canyon rafting, water fun to beat the heat and relax
· Evening: Stay in Neixiang County, enjoy Zhenping roast chicken
Day 3 Nanyang Prefecture Office + Food + Return
· Morning: Visit Nanyang Prefecture Office, experience Three Kingdoms culture
· Noon: Eat Xinye Banmian + Fangcheng Huimian
· Afternoon: Buy local specialties, return trip
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💡 Summer Escape Tips
1. Bring a thick jacket! It’s really cold on the mountain top, don’t catch a cold
2. Free admission but reservation required, book in advance on the official WeChat, don’t go empty-handed
3. Bring change of clothes for rafting, you will definitely get soaked
4. Sunscreen! Sunscreen! UV rays are strong in the mountains
5. Avoid weekends, it’s crowded, weekdays offer a much better experience
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💬 Final thoughts
Nanyang is truly a hidden gem for summer escapes in Henan! Free admission to a 5A scenic spot, 18°C summer, and so much delicious food. If you don’t come in June, you’ll have to wait a whole year!
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Accommodation
🏨 Laojieling Forest Wooden Villa
Located at 1500 meters altitude in the core scenic area, 96 forest wooden cabins, open your window to sea of clouds and pine waves
🏨 Wuduoshan Yunshang Mountain Residence Hotel
A family-friendly luxury secret on the southern slope of Funiu Mountain, infinity pool + garden family rooms, around 800 RMB per person
🏨 Yinju Xiangli · Zai Shui Yifang
At the source of the Huai River in Tongbai Mountain, 12 rooms scattered in the mountains and fields, pool with views of rolling clouds
🏨 Dongfang Ruogu Li Resort Hotel
Deep in Neixiang Funiu Mountain, standalone villas + tea room + KTV, one-stop vacation experience