Yuntai Mountain Scenic Area (Jiaozuo)

Yuntai Mountain Scenic Area lies in Xiuwu County, Jiaozuo, in northern Henan province, on the southern edge of the Taihang range. It is a UNESCO Global Geopark known for red-rock canyons, deep gorges, streams and waterfalls that contrast with the flat plains to the south. The best-known feature is the Yuntai Waterfall, which drops about 314 metres and is counted among the tallest waterfalls in China, although its flow is thin in dry months. Other main areas include the Red Stone Gorge, with narrow red canyon walls and a clear green stream, Tanpu Gorge with pools and cascades, Quanbao Gorge, and the Qinglong Gorge, along with high viewpoints and cliffside plank walkways. The area is large, so most visitors use the internal shuttle buses, paid separately at around ¥20, to move between sections, then walk the marked trails in each. Full coverage takes a full day, and many visitors choose two or three main gorges rather than trying to see everything. Trails combine paved paths, steps and cliffside boardwalks, and some sections involve steady climbs, so sturdy shoes are useful. Photography is popular at the waterfall base, along the red canyon walls and at the misty pools, and the colours are strongest under bright sunlight or after rain. The site is busy on weekends, in summer and during Golden Week in early October, when queues form at shuttles and narrow paths. Mid-week visits in spring or autumn are calmer and more comfortable. Visitors reach it by high-speed train from Zhengzhou East to Jiaozuo in about 35 minutes and then by bus for around an hour, or by Didi at about ¥80. Food stalls and restaurants are available near the entrance and at some junctions inside.