4-Day Weinan Tour | Classic Combination of Mount Hua and Sima Qian Temple・Guide for All Ages
Weinan, the "eastern gateway" to the Guanzhong Plain, boasts the perilous grandeur of Mount Hua, the historical legacy of Sima Qian Temple, and the vast reeds of Qiaochuan Wetland. Bring seniors to reflect at ancient temples, accompany children to explore mountain mysteries – here, every day you can encounter nature's majesty and history's profound depth.
🗓️Itinerary Overview
Day 1: Arrive in Weinan → Mount Hua → Huayin Laoqiang Performance
Day 2: Xiyue Temple → Sima Qian Temple → Dangjia Village
Day 3: Qiaochuan Scenic Area → Fushan Scenic Area
Day 4: Cangjie Temple → Weinan Museum → Departure
⛰️Day 1: Mount Hua Scenery・Laoqiang Flavor
📍Mount Hua (5A, Admission 160 RMB + Cable Car 80 RMB)
Core Highlights: Known as the "most perilous mountain under heaven," it features the sunrise at East Peak, the sheer cliffs of West Peak, and the Plank Road in the Sky (for the brave). Take the cable car for an easy ascent to the summit. Seniors can take the West Peak cable car up and down (less strenuous) to enjoy the sea of clouds from the observation deck; children can hike the gentler sections of the "Path to Mount Hua's Wisdom," find the "Mount Hua Sword Debate" stele for photos, and listen to the legend of "Chen Xiang Rescues His Mother," making it full of fun.
🕙Opening Hours: 7:00-18:00, Recommended: 7:30-17:00 (Full-day tour)
📸Photo Spot: West Peak Lotus Peak (capture cliffs and sea of clouds, wear bright clothes for better photos)
💡Tips: Prepare non-slip shoes, hiking poles (20 RMB/pole); seniors should avoid steep sections, there are medical stations in the scenic area.
📍Huayin Laoqiang Performance (Admission 50 RMB, starts at 19:30)
Core Highlights: Known as "China's oldest rock and roll," this intangible cultural heritage performance features powerful and moving shouts from veteran artists. You can experience banging on benches (free). Seniors can listen to the original ecological singing to reminisce, while children can learn to shout along (free), experiencing the rugged and heroic folk customs of Guanzhong.
🕙Recommended Time: 19:30-20:30
🍜Dining Recommendation: "Huashan Restaurant" in Huayin City. Must-try: Huashan Tofu Pudding (8 RMB/bowl), Xu Mian (10 RMB/serving). Average cost 30 RMB per person, local specialty.
🏨Accommodation Recommendation: "Huashan International Hotel" in Huayin City (near the scenic area, with family rooms). Price 350-500 RMB/night, convenient for rest.
📜Day 2: Reflect on History at Ancient Temples・Explore Ancient Villages
📍Xiyue Temple (5A, Admission 50 RMB, included in Mount Hua combo ticket)
Core Highlights: Known as "Shaanxi's Mini Forbidden City," this temple was where emperors throughout history worshipped Mount Hua. It boasts magnificent architecture, including the "Tianwei Zhichi" archway and murals in the main hall. Seniors can listen to historical stories under ancient cypresses, while children can find "dragon-patterned stone carvings" (count how many dragons) and take ancient costume photos (60 RMB/set), experiencing royal sacrificial rituals.
🕙Opening Hours: 8:00-18:00, Recommended: 9:00-11:00
📍Sima Qian Temple (4A, Admission 80 RMB)
Core Highlights: The temple and tomb of Sima Qian, the "Sage of History," built into the mountain. It features the "Tomb of Grand Historian Sima Qian of Han" stele, stone carvings of famous quotes from "Records of the Grand Historian," and ancient, vigorous cypresses. Seniors can listen to stories from "Records of the Grand Historian" in the "Xian Hall," while children can read idioms (such as "Returning the Jade Intact to Zhao") in the "Records of the Grand Historian Corridor" and play "historical figure puzzles" (free), experiencing the spirit of "investigating the boundary between heaven and man."
🕙Recommended Time: 14:00-16:00
📍Dangjia Village (4A, Admission 60 RMB)
Core Highlights: An ancient village from the Ming and Qing dynasties, with 123 courtyards and 11 ancestral halls. The "Wenxing Pavilion" and "Jiexiaobei" (Chastity Monument) showcase family traditions, and the "night watchman" tradition is preserved (can be seen at 20:00). Seniors can drink tea (15 RMB/cup) at the "old teahouse" and watch paper-cutting artists perform; children can learn calligraphy (20 RMB/session) and explore the "maze-like alleys," experiencing the charm of the ancient village.
🕙Recommended Time: 16:30-18:30
🍜Dining Recommendation: "Dangjia Farmhouse Restaurant" in the village. Must-try: Hancheng Wontons (12 RMB/bowl), Prickly Ash Bud Vegetables (20 RMB/serving). Average cost 35 RMB per person, pure local flavor.
🌊Day 3: Seek Poetry in Wetlands・Pray for Blessings at Fushan
📍Qiaochuan Scenic Area (4A, Admission 60 RMB + Boat Ride 40 RMB)
Core Highlights: Known as "China's Yellow River Wetland Spectacle," it features vast reed marshes, the Virgin Spring (where you can soak in hot springs), and is the birthplace of the "Jian Jia Cang Cang" poem from the Book of Songs. Seniors can take a boat ride to admire the reeds and listen to the legend of "King Wen Marries"; children can play in the mud on the "beach" (free), feed swans (10 RMB/serving), and pick lotus pods in summer (5 RMB/each), full of wild fun.
🕙Opening Hours: 8:00-18:00, Recommended: 9:00-13:00
📸Photo Spot: Reed Marsh Boardwalk (take photos of people standing among the reeds, the flying reed flowers in autumn are incredibly beautiful)
📍Fushan Scenic Area (3A, Admission 30 RMB)
Core Highlights: "One peak soaring, two rivers encircling," the mountain resembles a "turtle." It houses temples where Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism converge, and from the summit, you can see the Yellow River bend. Seniors can pray for blessings in the "Three Religions Temple," while children can find their zodiac animal in the "Zodiac Garden" (free) and play "Toss the Pot to Win a Lucky Bag" (10 RMB/session), experiencing the fusion of diverse cultures.
🕙Recommended Time: 14:30-16:30
💡Tips: The mountain path is gentle, suitable for seniors; the scenic area's "Fu character rubbings" (20 RMB/sheet) can be kept as souvenirs.
✍️Day 4: Trace the Roots of Characters・Appreciate History at the Museum
📍Cangjie Temple (4A, Admission 50 RMB)
Core Highlights: A temple commemorating Cangjie, the "Sage of Character Creation," featuring thousand-year-old cypresses (48 trees) and Cangjie's tomb, with steles recording the origin of Chinese characters. Seniors can listen to stories about character creation in the "Main Hall," while children can recognize oracle bone script (free booklet) in the "Chinese Character Square" and learn to write the character "Fu" (20 RMB/session), experiencing the charm of written language.
🕙Opening Hours: 8:00-17:30, Recommended: 9:00-11:30
📍Weinan Museum (Free, reservation required)
Core Highlights: Collections include "Tang Dynasty Silver Plate" and "Song Dynasty Porcelain Pillow." The "History of Weinan Civilization" exhibition spans from ancient times to the Ming and Qing dynasties, featuring a "Mount Hua model" and a "shadow puppet interactive area." Seniors can reminisce by looking at "Old Weinan" photo exhibitions, while children can play "archaeological treasure hunt" (30 RMB/session) and assemble "Chinese character Rubik's Cubes" (free), gaining knowledge and having fun.
🕙Recommended Time: 14:00-16:00
🍜Dining Recommendation: "Weinan Old Restaurant" in the city. Must-try: Shichen Baozi (steamed buns, 10 RMB/basket), Pucheng Chuantou Steamed Bread (5 RMB/each). Average cost 30 RMB per person, rich home-style flavor.
✨Weinan Survival Guide
1️⃣Transportation: City buses No. 1 and 3 go to the museum (1 RMB); to Mount Hua, take high-speed rail (Huayin North Station, 15 minutes) or bus (10 RMB/person); for inter-county travel, a chartered car is recommended (250 RMB/day), as Mount Hua and Qiaochuan are relatively far. Taxi starting fare is 6 RMB.
2️⃣Clothing: Wear a windbreaker in spring and autumn (windy at Mount Hua and wetlands), short sleeves + sun protection clothing in summer (strong UV rays), down jacket + non-slip shoes in winter (snow at Mount Hua). Hiking shoes are essential for Mount Hua.
3️⃣Taboos: Do not climb undeveloped areas of Mount Hua, follow safety regulations on plank roads; do not touch steles or make noise in ancient temples; do not pick reeds or disturb birds in wetlands.
4️⃣Accommodation: Stay in Huayin City on Day 1, Hancheng City on Day 2, Heyang County on Day 3. For seniors, choose rooms with elevators + humidifiers (dry climate); for children, choose accommodation near restaurants. Book Mount Hua accommodation in advance (gets tight during peak season).
🛍️Must-Buy Souvenirs
① Huayin Laoqiang Cultural and Creative Products (face mask pendants 20 RMB/each, CDs 30 RMB/each)
② Hancheng Prickly Ash (gift box 40 RMB/box, spicy and fragrant, for cooking)
③ Cangjie Chinese Character Cultural and Creative Products (oracle bone script bookmarks 15 RMB/set, calligraphy brushes 30 RMB/each)
④ Qiaochuan Reed Paintings (30-80 RMB/piece, intangible cultural heritage handmade, exquisite patterns)
The soul of Weinan is etched in the cliffs of Mount Hua with tales of brave heroes, written in Sima Qian's brush with the weight of history, and nurtured in Cangjie's characters with the dawn of civilization. Whether you bring your parents to pay respects to ancient sages at a temple, accompany your children to shout along to Laoqiang at the foot of Mount Hua, or watch the reeds with friends in the wetlands, here you will find nature and humanity that inspire awe. If you come to Weinan, would you first challenge the cliffs of Mount Hua or read "Records of the Grand Historian" at Sima Qian Temple?
Isabella Foster Isabella72