Useful Tricks

Planning your visit to Yuntai Mountain is very important. And, using the hotel as your strategic base is the right choice. Give a good tip of at least one whole day, if possible two, to get a proper exploration of the vast scenic area. Ask the Hotel Concierge or the Front Desk to arrange available transportation (like a taxi for the day) to the park entrance, which is just a short drive away; they open times and help in purchasing tickets could be invaluable if you do not speak Mandarin.

Try some local Henan cuisine to enhance your cultural experience. While the hotel provides for easy dining, a meal in Xiuwu town can be quite an experience. Ask them which clean, reputed local restaurant nearby serves regional specialties like ‘Hulatang (a spicy soup served mostly for breakfast) or noodles. And have your translation app ready on the phone to help you order.

For a smoother stay, especially communication, have the translation app (Google Translate or Baidu Translate) downloaded on your phone. Hotel staff in big Chinese cities speak English often, but the same cannot be said for small towns like Xiuwu. It will be much easier to get one’s message across for requests, directions, or ordering food if you can show written translations.

If possible, plan your trip to Yuntai Mountain during shoulder seasons like spring or autumn. Weather during these times is generally more tolerable as compared to hot summers or cold winters, and natural sceneries with spring blossoms or fall foliage are exceptionally beautiful. Generally, weekdays are always less crowded compared to weekends or national holidays. But the size of the park would definitely work in your favor in most cases in a crowded situation, one can find a less trodden trail. Best time is to reach there early in the morning.