A Stunning Hidden Gem of Lakes and Mountains

Yuntai Mountain Secret Realm! Peak Forest Gorge and Emerald Waves Hiking Guide🏞️ The Little Jiuzhaigou of Central China! The emerald fairyland hidden in Xiuwu has finally been discovered by me~ 🌿 Reasons to Visit A rare northern canyon lake! The emerald-like water surface is breathtakingly beautiful🚣 📍 Transportation Tips Address: Shuangmiao Village, Xicun Township, Xiuwu County, Jiaozuo City Self-drive: 1.5 hours from Zhengzhou, very convenient to navigate to "Peak Forest Gorge Scenic Area" Bus: Take the tourist shuttle from Xiuwu Bus Station (every half hour) 🕒 Opening Hours 07:00-17:00 (recommended to arrive before 9 to avoid crowds) 🚶‍♂️ Hiking Route 1️⃣ Emerald Lake Boat Dock First stop: Glass viewing platform! From a drone’s perspective, the emerald lake looks like a spilled palette, with Tiffany blue gradient layers appearing under sunlight 📸 Tips: Most magical in the early morning mist, wearing light-colored dresses makes for better photos 2️⃣ Macaque Valley Boardwalk Home to wild Taihang macaques🐒 Remember to put away snacks! Both sides of the trail are well-preserved secondary forests, with a high chance of encountering squirrels 3️⃣ Tianmen Waterfall Viewing Platform During the high water season, the waterfall hangs like a white ribbon; in winter, it forms an ice waterfall spectacle. You can also see wave ripple fossils from ancient marine deposits on the rock walls🌊 🍲 Taste Explosion Xiuwu Jingjie Noodles: noodles made with mountain spring water mixed with wild Jingjie herb, fragrant and refreshing Huaifu Donkey Meat: smoked with cornelian cherry wood, tender and not dry Mountain Walnut Oil Tea: traditionally ground oil tea paired with fragrant walnut pieces 💎 Hidden Experiences - The day after rain, you can see the sea of clouds flowing over the peak forest - In October, during cornelian cherry fruit season, the entire gorge is filled with red fruit hanging on branches - The scenic area offers geological study routes, great for kids to find fossil specimens ⚠️ Pitfall Tips ❌ Don’t wear sandals! Some boardwalk steps are steep ❌ Heavy fog on rainy days affects the viewing experience ✅ Bring a light jacket, the canyon is about 5℃ cooler than the city