Junji Peak via Zhongyue Temple

The Junji Peak walk starts at Zhongyue Temple on Taishi Mountain, part of the Songshan range near Dengfeng in the Zhengzhou area of Henan province, China. Junji is the highest peak of the Taishi (eastern) part of Songshan, with a summit of about 1,491 m. Access from Zhengzhou is by coach to Dengfeng bus station, then a taxi or DiDi to Zhongyue Temple, which takes about 10 minutes and costs roughly 15 to 25 yuan. Entry tickets are normally required for the temple and scenic area. The out-and-back route is about 8 to 10 km and takes 4 to 6 hours, with roughly 700 m of climbing from the temple area. That sits at the upper end of moderate: sustained uphill on stone steps, but with no technical scrambling. The surface is mostly stone stairway with some rocky and earthen sections higher up. Lower slopes have tree cover and shade, while the upper part of the mountain is more open and windier, so a windproof layer is useful at the summit. Landmarks include the temple complex at the start, forested ascents and the summit viewpoints over the Songshan range and the Dengfeng basin. Because the route is out and back, a sensible turn-around point is any viewpoint where fatigue or weather sets in; the descent follows the same steps. Water and food should be carried from the start, as supplies on the mountain are limited and formal refuge huts are not a feature of this route. A head torch is worth packing for anyone starting late, since the descent can run into dusk, particularly in autumn when days shorten. An offline map helps with orientation, as signal and English signage may be limited. Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-November) are the most comfortable seasons, while summer haze and heat, and winter ice on the steps, reduce visibility and safety.