Northern Henan

Six cities, Anyang, Hebi, Xinxiang, Jiaozuo, Puyang and Jiyuan, where Taihang Mountain gorges and waterfalls, cliffside roads and the Shang capital coexist.

This region corresponds to "Northern Henan" among Henan's five regions and includes six cities: Anyang, Hebi, Xinxiang, Jiaozuo, Puyang and Jiyuan. Jiyuan is sometimes counted in Western Henan, but here it is placed in Northern Henan following the Taihang–Wangwu Mountain tourist route. The region backs onto the southern Taihang Mountains and is known for dramatic gorges, red-rock cliffs and cultural sites. Yuntai Mountain in Jiaozuo is a nationally known scenic area, with Hongshixia Gorge, Tanpuxia Gorge and Zhuyu Peak fairly close together, and Chenjiagou in Wen County, Jiaozuo, is one of the birthplaces of tai chi. In Huixian, Xinxiang, Wanxian Mountain has the cliffside road at Guoliang Village, a passage the Taihang villagers carved into sheer rock, and nearby Bali Gully is also popular. Wangwu Mountain in Jiyuan is linked to the tale of the Foolish Old Man Who Moved the Mountains and has deep Daoist roots. The Yinxu ruins in Anyang, capital of the late Shang dynasty, are a World Heritage site, and the city also has the Chinese Character Museum. In Linzhou, Anyang, the Red Flag Canal is a man-made "river in the sky", and the Taihang Grand Canyon is also here. Xunxian Ancient Town and Daping Mountain in Hebi have a long history, and the temple fair held in the first lunar month has a strong folk flavor. Puyang is known as the home of acrobatics. The classic itinerary is a Taihang Mountains self-drive: Yuntai Mountain in Jiaozuo–Wangwu Mountain in Jiyuan–Wanxian Mountain in Xinxiang–Linzhou in Anyang, recommended for 5–7 days; for culture alone, Anyang and Xunxian can be combined in two days. For transport, the Beijing–Guangzhou high-speed line has stations at Anyang East, Hebi East and Xinxiang East, the Zhengzhou–Jiaozuo intercity railway makes Jiaozuo easy to reach, and air travel mainly relies on Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport. Mountain roads have sharp bends and steep grades, so drive carefully. Popular scenic areas are crowded on holidays, so travel off-peak.

Destinations

Itineraries