After visiting Changzhi five times, I’ve completely grasped the soul of the Taihang Mountains! This private insider guide is not to be shared
As someone captivated by the Taihang Mountains, I’ve plunged into Changzhi five times! From the rhododendrons blooming in spring to the autumn leaves covering the mountains, I’ve uncovered all the tourist tricks and local eating secrets~ Follow this guide, and you’ll see a side of Changzhi deeper than 90% of visitors🌿
🌄 A 3-day, 2-night “wild adventure” itinerary (with exclusive surprises every day)
🔹 Day 1: Baquan Gorge — Playing “sea, land, and air” on the cliff
🌿 3 must-do crazy things:
1. Don’t close your eyes on the cable car! At the highest point (1,700 meters above sea level), choose the “middle seat with no obstruction.” Below you is a gorge carved like it was chopped with an axe, and in the distance, “Sleeping Beauty Peak” really looks like a lying girl. It took me five visits before I dared to hold up my phone to record a video—my palms were sweaty but totally worth it!
2. Squat at the back of the boat for 10 minutes! When the boat passes, it stirs up waves. In autumn sunlight, you can see “floating gold fragments.” If you’re lucky, little fish will jump out. Locals say this is the “Taihang Mountains’ welcome gift.”
3. Shout while walking through “One Line Sky”! The narrowest part of the gorge fits only one person. Looking up, the sky is just a slit. Shout once and the echo bounces back three times. On my third visit, I met a mountain local who said, “The louder the sound, the happier the mountain god.”
🍜 Hidden eating tip:
Don’t buy the “Taihang roasted potatoes” inside the scenic area! Turn left 300 meters outside the park, and there’s an old lady selling “boiled corn.” It’s sweet and glutinous corn grown on the mountain, with a bit of earthy flavor. Three ears for 10 yuan, best eaten when hot.
🏡 Accommodation: The “Cloud Inn” starry sky room
After 10 p.m., open the skylight on the roof to see the Milky Way stretching across the gorge. The stars are so close it feels like you can reach out and pick them. The owner offers free “sour jujube juice,” sour enough to squint but perfect to cut the richness.
🔹 Day 2: Watch the sea of clouds at Wangmangling + “cave exploring” at Xiyagou
🌅 The secret at 5 a.m.:
Set your alarm for 4:30! Drive from the inn to the “Xiyagou entrance” at Wangmangling, then walk 20 minutes on a night path to the sunrise viewing platform (bring a flashlight!). Around 6:15, the sea of clouds will flood in like a tide, turning “Wangfu Rock” into an island. When the sun rises, the clouds turn orange-red. On my second visit, I met a photography elder who said this is called “Golden Soup Bathing the Mountain.”
🚗 Wild play on the cliff-hanging road:
If driving, park at the 23rd “window”! Walk down a few steps to a dirt slope where you can photograph the road winding like a “snake” around the mountain wall. Nearby, a waterfall falls right at car window height. When you drive past, water splashes on the glass like a natural car wash.
🍢 Lunch at “Cliffside Home”:
Must order “fried tofu with Sichuan pepper leaves.” The tofu is made with mountain spring water, crispy outside and tender inside, with the numbing aroma of pepper leaves hitting your head. The owner’s son will take you to see “mountain pecans,” green fruits hanging on the tree. They say if you pick them and bury them in the soil, they’ll sprout next year.
🌌 Night exploration: Xiyagou’s “starry tunnel”
After 9 p.m., all the lights on the cliff-hanging road turn off. Standing at the 8th window, look up to see stars entering through the cave entrance, like a tunnel leading to the Milky Way. With long exposure on your phone, the stars turn into lines~
🔹 Day 3: A feast for ancient architecture lovers (Dayun Temple + Faxing Temple + devouring the City God Temple)
🖼️ The murals at Dayun Temple “speak”:
At 9 a.m., sunlight slants into the Amitabha Hall. Look at the “Flying Apsaras” mural on the east wall. The paint contains local “cinnabar ore,” still bright red after a thousand years. The guide said the instruments in the painting are Tang Dynasty “ruanxian,” rarely seen now. Look closely and you can even see the flying apsaras’ toenails clearly painted.
🎨 The “glazed eyes” of Faxing Temple:
The 12 colorful statues in the Yuanjue Hall have eyes made of “Luzhou glazed glass.” Seen from the left, they look like they’re smiling; from the right, like they’re worried. The “Lighting Tower” in front of the hall has eight sides, each with a small Buddha statue. In autumn, fallen leaves gather at the base, golden against blue-gray, looking like an ancient painting in photos.
🍢 The carb bomb at City God Temple:
- At 3 p.m., go to “Old Zhang’s Sausage.” Buckwheat noodles make the sausage, cut into diamond shapes, pan-fried until edges are crispy, topped with garlic water and chili. A big bowl costs 5 yuan. Pair it with “sugar oil cake” (3 yuan each) nearby—sweet and savory lovers rejoice.
- At 5 p.m., when the red lanterns light up, photograph the flying eaves of “Luanfu City God Temple.” Shoot from a low angle with your phone, and the eaves connect with the sunset sky, like a phoenix spreading its wings.
🧧 Souvenirs:
- Don’t buy “Qinzhou yellow millet” in the scenic area! Go to the “South Street Vegetable Market” in the city. It’s 10 yuan per jin, and you can watch farmers mill the rice on the spot. The rice oil is so thick it can hold up a coin.
- Bring back two packs of “Sichuan peppercorns.” Changzhi’s Dahongpao peppercorns have a strong numbing flavor. Toss one in when cooking, and the aroma will make neighbors knock on your door.
❌ These traps I’ve stepped on for you:
1. Don’t go to Baquan Gorge’s “internet-famous glass plank road”! The 100 yuan ticket only covers 50 meters. The free Longmai plank road is more thrilling.
2. Don’t take the “scenic area shuttle” at Wangmangling! The driver goes faster than a roller coaster and doesn’t slow down on curves. I was so scared I used up three packs of tissues.
3. Don’t buy “Taihang Mountain strange stones”! The stones at the scenic area entrance are all brought from elsewhere. Real local stones can be found by the river in Xiyagou, the kind with patterns—free and unique.
Autumn in Changzhi is when the Taihang Mountains spread out their most beautiful colors—red sumac, golden corn, green gorges, blue skies, and ancient stories hidden in the architecture. The people here are unhurried, like the trees in the mountains, firmly rooted yet living life like poetry~ Next time I go, I want to stay for seven days and uncover every secret in every mountain crevice💫