Huancui Valley

Huancui Valley

Huancui Valley is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

Huancui Valley Scenic Area is located in Xingyang City, 40 kilometers southwest of Zhengzhou. It is a national AAA-level tourist attraction, a provincial-level scenic area, a provincial-level forest park, and one of Zhengzhou’s Top Ten Excellent Scenic Spots. The area features natural landscapes as its main attraction, ancient castles as its highlight, and cultural heritage as its foundation, integrating sightseeing, leisure vacation, science education, and ecological conservation. Situated in the central part of Fuxi Mountain, it is an extension of the Songshan Mountain range. The 18th-year (1753) Annals of Sishui County recorded that the area was “surrounded by green mountains, with overlapping pines and cypresses; hills converging like stars in orbit; lush forests and serene valleys,” which is how it got the name Huancui (meaning “encircled by emerald green”).

Clear streams

Huancui Valley Scenic Area boasts beautiful mountains and clear waters, with picturesque scenery that varies beautifully with the seasons. In spring, apricot blossoms vie in splendor, filling the air with fragrance for miles; in midsummer, dense shade covers the land while waterfalls and springs flow abundantly; in autumn, red leaves cover the hills, painting the forests in layers of color; in winter, ice formations hang like silver threads, and pines and cypresses remain evergreen. The area is known for its unique landscape featuring peculiar rocks, mysterious caves, tranquil scenery, and beautiful woods. There are over 130 natural attractions, divided into six sightseeing zones: Wolongtai Sightseeing Zone, Xinghuacun Sightseeing Zone, Jiguan Mountain Ancient Juniper Forest Sightseeing Zone, Luohexia Gorge Sightseeing Zone, Longxi Palace Sightseeing Zone, and Chennangou Wild Fruit Forest Sightseeing Zone.

Xinghuacun has tens of thousands of apricot trees stretching over ten li. As an old saying goes: “When willows shed their leaves on the ninth ninth day, apricot blossoms bloom on the nineteenth.” During this time, the hills are covered in a crimson hue like drifting clouds, displaying a dazzling and enchanting beauty. “Morning dew on apricot blossoms in spring, with a subtle fragrance that refreshes the heart”—this scene is fully captured here. The Luohexia Grand Canyon features steep cliffs, magnificent scenery, bizarre rock formations, interconnected waterfalls and pools, and jagged peaks, forming a perfect painting. It embodies the ideal harmony of valley, water, stone, and forest, along with the natural advantages of being strange, serene, perilous, and wonderful. The danger of the mountains, the peculiarity of the rocks, the tranquility of the water, and the liveliness of the monkeys are all on full display here.

Green fruits

In terms of cultural attractions, the area spans a long historical timeline and has profound cultural heritage, encompassing filial piety culture, revolutionary culture, ancient castles from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, and early human activity sites such as Pangu Cave. It is also the hometown of Leizu, the primary consort of the Yellow Emperor. Within Huancui Valley, rare birds soar through the sky, exotic animals roam the forests, birds sing and flowers bloom, cultural relics abound, and the local customs are simple and sincere. Handmade noodles, wild mountain vegetables, and free-range chicken eggs are especially favored by visitors. Huancui Valley has truly become the mountain-and-water backyard garden of Zhengzhou.

Dusky mountain hues

- Travel Tips:

Ticket: 30 RMB

Opening Hours: 8:00–17:00

Address: Miaozizhen, Xingyang, Zhengzhou, Henan Province

Postal Code: 450000

Transportation

Take a direct bus from Zhengzhou West Passenger Transport Station to Miaozixiang.