Wanxian Mountain (Guoliang) 万仙山Wànxiān Shān

Why go to Wanxian Mountain (Guoliang)

Wanxian Mountain is a Taihang Mountains scenic area made up of the Guoliang and Nanping sections, best known for the Guoliang Tunnel, a road carved by hand through the cliff face above the valley. Clifftop Guoliang village has long drawn painters and film crews, and the sheer walls around it form a national rock-climbing park with hundreds of routes.

The story

Until the 1970s Guoliang could be reached only by a steep path cut into the mountainside. In 1972 a group of villagers, led by Shen Mingxin, sold their livestock to buy tools and began chiselling a road by hand; it opened on 1 May 1977 after five years of work. The tunnel's story, and the village's isolation, are why Guoliang is a favourite subject for artists and a film location.

What to see at Wanxian Mountain (Guoliang)

• Guoliang Village 郭亮村: The clifftop stone village that was cut off from the outside world until the tunnel opened; today its lanes, farmhouses and viewpoints make a natural starting point.
• Guoliang Tunnel 郭亮洞: The hand-chiselled cliff road, a little over 1.2 km long, with openings that look out over the valley. It opened to traffic in 1977.
• Sky Ladder 天梯: A steep stone stairway of several hundred steps set into the cliff above the valley, one of the old ways in and out of the village before the tunnel. Sturdy shoes and a head for heights are needed.
• Nanping and Danfen Gully 南坪与丹分沟: The second section of the scenic area, a mountain village with a gorge walk of pools and falls; a guide puts the shuttle ride from Guoliang at about 20 minutes.

How to visit Wanxian Mountain (Guoliang)

Start in Guoliang village, walk or ride through the tunnel and follow the cliff paths to the lookouts. Allow most of a day for the village, tunnel and a loop or two; a half-day will cover just the village and tunnel. Nanping and Danfen Gully are a separate section that fits better into an overnight stay.

How to get to Wanxian Mountain (Guoliang)

The area lies in Shayao township, roughly 70 km by road north-west of Huixian city, and Xinxiang is the gateway city, so allow two hours or more for the drive. Without a car, take a bus to Huixian and continue by local bus or taxi.

Where to stay

Guoliang has farmhouse-style guesthouses, and staying overnight lets you see the cliffs before the day crowds arrive. Huixian town or Xinxiang are the fallback bases with more choice.

What to eat

• Mountain-chive eggs 山韭菜炒鸡蛋: Farm eggs scrambled with wild mountain chives, a staple of the farmhouse restaurants in Guoliang.
• Wild mountain vegetables 山野菜: Dandelion and other wild greens, often served with mushrooms or stone-ground tofu in village meals.

Tips for visiting Wanxian Mountain (Guoliang)

• Wear sturdy shoes and bring water and snacks; facilities inside the scenic area can be limited, and weekends and holidays are crowded, so arrive early.
• The tunnel road is narrow and cut into a sheer cliff face; take it slowly and stay on the marked paths and trails.
• Check current ticket and booking rules on the official channels before you go, as the scenic area is made up of several separately visited sections.

Nearby

• Taihang Grand Canyon 太行山大峡谷 20 km
  Sheer gorges in the Taihang Mountains, explored by boat, cliff path and cable car
• Yinxu 殷墟 80 km
  The last Shang capital, where China's earliest writing and Fu Hao's tomb came to light
• Huangcheng Xiangfu 皇城相府 100 km
  A walled hillside estate of courtyards, towers and gardens built by a family of officials
• Henan Museum 河南博物院 100 km
  Zhengzhou's treasure house of Central Plains bronzes, jades and Neolithic finds

Also within 30 km: Jiaoding Mountain 轿顶山 (under 10 km), Wangmangling 王莽岭 (under 10 km), Baligou Scenic Area 八里沟 (20 km), Guanshan Geopark 关山 (20 km), Nanshentou Erxian Temple 南神头二仙庙 (20 km), Shizhang Yuhuang Temple 石掌玉皇庙 (20 km).

On the map

Open Wanxian Mountain (Guoliang) on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.