Wulongkou

　　Wulongkou Scenic Area is located 15 kilometers northeast of Jiyuan City, Henan Province, covering an area of 128 square kilometers. It is divided into five major scenic zones: Hot Spring, Pangu, Qin River, Chou’ergou, and Baijian’gou, featuring a total of 68 natural and cultural attractions. It is primarily a mountainous scenic area known for its natural landscapes, with macaques and hot springs as its highlights. It is also a national nature reserve for macaques. The area is home to 12 major troops of macaques, totaling over 3,000 individuals, and represents the northernmost population of macaques on Earth in terms of latitude. In August 2002, it was rated as a National AAAA-level Tourist Attraction, and in April 2004, it was recognized as a Henan Provincial Civilized Scenic Area.

　　The Yangluo Mountain within the scenic area is lush with vegetation and boasts abundant secondary primeval forests, providing an ideal habitat for wildlife. According to surveys, there are more than 20 troops of Taihang macaques here, numbering over 3,000. In recent years, a macaque park has been established where over 400 macaques have been tamed. They can be summoned at will to interact with visitors, play, and pose for photos, offering a delightful experience.

　　In recent years, hot springs were discovered to the east of Wulongkou. The year-round water temperature averages 53°C, reaching up to 72°C at its highest. Over the years of development and usage, the water volume has not decreased but increased. With its picturesque scenery, the area not only serves as a tourist attraction but is also poised to become an important health and wellness destination.

　　Wulongkou is rich in geothermal resources. The geothermal area stretches approximately 1,000 meters from east to west and about 300 meters from north to south. The highest water temperature reaches 101°C, with stable temperatures and abundant reserves. It is the inland geothermal mineral spring with the highest water temperature and superior water quality in China, classified as a chloride-sulfate-calcium-sodium medical-use geothermal mineral water. It contains over 30 types of minerals and trace elements such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron, potassium, and sulfur, suitable for treating more than 20 types of illnesses. Currently, the town of Wulongkou is investing nearly 100 million yuan in building a Hot Spring City, which includes a range of modern facilities such as hot spring bathing, hot spring therapy, hot spring villas, indoor hot spring pools, and hot spring resorts. These facilities cater to all the needs of tourists, including “food, accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, shopping, entertainment,” as well as conference services.

　　Wulongkou is the birthplace of Chinese Spring Festival couplets and door gods. The plaque inscription at Taodu Mountain reads: “A tree twists for three thousand li, at sunrise the golden rooster crows to awaken all things to life; a long ladder soars straight into the blue clouds, where Shen Tu and Yu Lei guard with reed ropes in hand, protecting us for a hundred generations of peace.” Therefore, this place is considered a pure land, foretelling safe and auspicious travels for all.

　　The original Peach Tree was made of pottery, covered in green glaze, standing 69 centimeters tall and weighing 2.2 kilograms. The entire tree is divided into three sections: the base, the trunk, and the treetop. The top features a vermilion bird, below which leaves are inserted, with images of macaques and running deer attached to the leaf surfaces. It is a national first-class cultural relic unearthed from a Western Han Dynasty ancient tomb in Sijian Village, Zhi Cheng, our city, and is unique in the whole country. Guo Moruo attached great importance to it during his lifetime, personally authenticating it and writing an article to explain its significance.

　　This is an observation elevator set up in the Wulongkou area of Jiyuan, a nationwide first. With a vertical height of over 150 meters, it can carry over 300 people per hour and is hailed as “the world’s foremost elevator.”

　　On either side of Woling Ridge, the cliffs are sheer, surrounded by drifting white clouds. Along the path, grotesque rocks stand in great numbers, giving those who walk here a feeling of floating as if becoming immortal. The area is both delicate and precipitous, with exceptional scenery, resembling the Canglong Ridge of Huashan Mountain. Heifengkou and Jinaoding stand opposite each other from north to south, resembling a wind tunnel. From here, one can look up to see the strange peaks and rocks of Jinaoding and Lover’s Peak, or gaze down to view the valley of the Qin River and the pastoral scenery.

　　Yanwang’s Nose was originally a section of cliff where climbing up and down relied entirely on rock-climbing techniques, making it very perilous. As the saying goes, “Climb over Yanwang’s Nose, and even ascending to heaven becomes easy.” It has now been turned into a staircase path. Looking south from Yanwang’s Nose, you can see the Abandoned Rock, about two zhang high (approx. 6.6 meters), which strikingly resembles a human figure hiding behind a tree, appearing too ashamed to face the sun.

　　The stone path above Yanwang’s Nose leading up to Tianqiao is called the Stairway to Heaven. There is a “One Line Sky” passage within it, bright from north to south, naturally forming a step-like stone bridge, which has now been reconstructed into a small stone bridge.

　　Jinding (Golden Rooster Peak), at an elevation of 862 meters, is covered with dense forests of secondary primeval growth, mainly consisting of Liaodong oak, smoke tree, blue sandalwood, peach trees, ginger trees, and Taihang elm. When viewed from below, Jinding stands out prominently, but once you reach the summit, it is nowhere to be seen—turns out it has become a huge boulder underfoot. A poem describes it: “From afar the golden rooster is clearly seen, but close up it vanishes; one wonders if it has flown even higher. No need to climb in search of immortal traces—it is found without any effort.”

　　Yishan (Archer Mountain) faces north and sits to the south, backed by steep rocks, at an elevation of 999 meters. In the myth, Houyi shot down the suns, offending the Sun God, but was pardoned by the Golden Rooster, only to later die from a peach wood club. The terrain and vegetation here are all related to this mythical legend. The main peak of Yishan rises prominently, with Qinglong Ridge to the left and Bailong Ridge to the right, Arrow Peak ahead, and Golden Rooster Peak behind, along with wild peach trees covering the mountainsides. When spring returns to the earth, peach blossoms bloom all over the mountain, lasting nearly a month. Many tourists flock here, drawn by its fame. A poem reads: “Fragrance abounds, planted beside the clouds; jade bowls brimming, white in the fifth moon. The Queen Mother cannot bear three thousand years, so phoenixes descend from the jade terrace with flutes silent.” Legend says that the Queen Mother once gave Houyi an elixir of immortality, which was stolen and consumed by Chang’e, giving rise to the myth of “Chang’e Flying to the Moon.”

　　The scenery on the mountain is boundlessly beautiful, while the macaques at the foot roam free and carefree. After descending the mountain, you can visit the Taihang Macaque Garden to watch monkey performances. The Taihang Macaque Garden is the largest natural macaque paradise in the country, integrating breeding, domestication, scientific research, and performances. A temple dedicated to the Monkey King is built on the mountainside cliff, exuding an antique charm. Visitors can enjoy various wildlife performances here, such as monkeys playing hide-and-seek and swinging on swings.

　　Address: Shankou Village, Wulongkou Town, Jiyuan City

　　Type: Mountain

　　Rating: AAAA

　　Recommended visiting time: 4–5 hours

　　Phone: 0391-6751588

　　Official Website: http://www.zhongguohoushan.com/

　　Opening Hours:

　　8:00–18:00