Have you read about our travel mishap in China? This hiccup plus a dash of spontaneity led us to Mount Yun earlier than planned, from Day 5 to Day 4 (PM).
This change also meant we had just half a day to explore instead of a full day. Despite the time crunch, we “did it” and enjoyed a wonderful day at Mount Yun.
For a better story flow, check out what got us into this situation and how we made our way to Jishan County. This post continues from when we dropped our luggage at the hotel and hurriedly made our way to Mount Yun Scenic Area (云丘山风景区).
Don’t miss:
- Day 1: From Singapore to Beijing’s Temple of Heaven
- Day 2: Step back in time at Pingyao Ancient City (UNESCO Gem)!
- Day 3: Hanfu & Photoshoot Experience in Pingyao Ancient City
- Day 4 (AM): Yellow River Waterfall: Travel Hiccups & Most Stressful Day
Mount Yun Scenic Area: What’s in Store?
(1.30pm)
How many of you have heard of Mount Yun Scenic Area (云丘山风景区)? Not to worry – today, I’ll show you the highlights of this tourist-friendly mountainous destination.
The star attraction here is the Mount Yun Ice Cave Group, which is said to be the largest in the world. Wondering if it’s worth visiting in the summer? Absolutely! The ice remains frozen all year round.
Where is Mount Yun located?
Mount Yun Scenic Area is nestled in Shanxi Province (see location on Google and Baidu). To get there, follow our route (see Day 4 AM post), i.e. take train to Hou Ma West Station. There, you can take public buses to Mount Yun, but I read that there were only departures daily.
Given our strong currency and the affordability of cab in China, we mostly use ride hailing services to complete our last mile. From our hotel in Jishan, Mount Yun was a 30-minute drive away.
By the time we reached Mount Yun, it was already 1.30pm
“How many attractions could we cover before most things closed by 5pm?”
“Also, would we have difficulty getting a cab back, since most people visit Mount Yun in the morning?”
These were our thoughts. But let’s just do it!
Mount Yun Admission Ticket: Various Permutations
At Mount Yun Ticketing desk, you can choose from various bundle packages depending on your needs. We bought one that included admission to 1) Mount Yun Scenic Area, 2) Shuttle bus and 3) Ice Cave Group.
Admission Ticket: Unlike the Hukou Waterfall mishap, it’s safe to book Mount Yun ticket online. They even allow refund if you do not use the ticket.
If time wasn’t an issue, we would have chosen one that included Yuan Yang Bridge too. That’s ok, we could still get the standalone tickets at Yuan Yang Bridge later, i.e. if we managed to make it in time.
A Few Routes to Choose from at Mount Yun
Many suggested taking a shuttle bus to the back of hill (后山), alighting at 圣母谷换乘站 and walking back towards the ticketing gate (Route C and D below). This route is easier as it’s mostly downhill and passes several key sights as follows:
- Yu Huang Peak
- Yuan Yang Bridge**
- Ice Group Cave***
- Talipo Village
- Fairy Valley
That was our original plan too. However, having our time shaved by half meant we needed to focus on attractions that we truly wanted to see (marked with asterisks above). So, we opted for Route A, and decided to explore #5, #4 and #3, and possibly #2 if time allowed.
This would mean a tougher journey going uphill, skipping Yu Huang Peak and having to retrace the same route back.
Let’s uncover what Mount Yun has to offer
From the ticketing office, we took a unexpectedly lengthy 300m walk to the bus boarding area (location). And wow – it was scorching, even though it was autumn!
I was literally perspiring, and I’m not someone who sweats easily!
After alighting from the shuttle (Route A), we were laser-focused on getting to 1) Mount Yun Ice Cave Group and 2) Glass Bottom Bridge. However, the journey turned out to be less direct than we’d expected.
To get to Mount Yun Ice Cave, we still had to walk through Fairy Valley and Talipo Village. So, we brisk-walked extremely quickly knowing that we could enjoy these sights later on our way back.
Here’s our route in exact sequence:
1) Fairy Valley: Serenity and Misty Romance
Brisk-walking through Fairy Valley (神仙峪 – see location), popular for its enchanting mist and romantic ambiance, I managed to capture a few quick shots.
Don’t worry, we would be back later and spending more time immersing ourselves in the serenity of the fairy-like landscape.
2) Talipo Village, with a history spanning 2,500 years
(2pm)
Similarly, we hurried through Talipo village (塔尔坡古村落 – see location), in quick steps. But it still took us 10 minutes to get to the other end of the village.
There, we spotted a buggy service that would cover 600m for ¥10 per person, and decided to go for it. Thankfully, we did, as the uphill walk under the hot element would have been a real torture.
Even from where the buggy dropped us off, we still had to walk another 280m to reach the Ice Cave.
3) Ice Cave Group at Mount Yun: A Unique Experience
(2.30pm)
Finally, after an hour of “dashing”, we arrived at the attraction top on our must-visit list at Mount Yun. Here at the 3-million-year-old Mount Yun Ice Cave Group (云丘山冰洞群 – see location), we were offered free use of winter jackets and cute safety helmets.
Ice Cave Admission: If you didn’t opt for the bundle ticket that includes entrance to the Ice Cave, the standalone admission is ¥120. You can book this ticket online too.
The Ice Cave Group features a short 199m route with easy steps, neon colour-changing lights and several photo spots. Out of the 14 ice caves discovered, you can explore 5 of them here.
The man looked darn amusing in his Bermudas paired with knee-length winter jacket. I couldn’t stop laughing as he looked like a flasher on the loose. Ha ha!
Wearing those Bermudas meant his legs were exposed to the -6°C cold. As he was struggling with the chill, we decided to make a quick exit after just 25 minutes.
The complimentary hot ginger tea for exiting visitors was a lovely touch.
4) Short Café Break at Mount Yun
Soon, the man got hungry. We squeezed in a short 15 minutes break at a café outside the Ice Cave that boosted a lovely view of the surrounding nature.
We ordered burger and milk tea, but as expected at most tourists spots, the food was pretty average.
5) Yuan Yang Bridge: Thrilling for those afraid of height
Getting to Yuan Yang Bridge (鸳鸯桥 – see location) was the most physically demanding part of the journey. We climbed steep flights of stairs for a solid 20 minutes – it was a real workout!
Upon arrival, we paid the standalone admission fee (¥60) to enter and stroll along the 219m-long Yuan Yang bridge.
The walk was fun, though not as scary as I’d imagined – watch video below and let’s walk together! :)
TIP: Do not exit the other end of the bridge, if your intention is to reverse back. Doing so would require you to pay the admission again. Unless, your plan is to continue onward to Yu Huang Peak. Then sure, go ahead and exit the bridge at the other end when you are done.
Reverse Route: Downhill walk back to Talipo Village
By the time we finished exploring Yuan Yang Bridge, it was 4pm. We retraced our steps and began the journey back.
Going downhill was definitely much easier – what’d earlier taken 20 minutes took just 8 minutes on the way down. And it was a breeze – no sweat. I literally skipped down the steps.
1) Fun & Thrilling Activities at Mount Yun
Along the way, I decided to stop for a thrill ride – sliding down the hill (location). The momentum caused me to be lifted in the air twice, and it was so fun!
Watch me in the video below, screaming and having loads of fun!
What an unexpected itinerary at Mount Yun. If you crave for a bigger adrenaline rush, the same area offered hang-gliding activity.
2) Relaxing Exploration of Talipo Village
(5pm)
Soon, we were back at Talipo Village. Having checked off the keys sights we wanted to see at Mount Yun, we could finally slow down and truly enjoy the charm of the 2,500-year-old Talipo Village.
It was interesting walking through the old village, mostly built from stones. Some rooms had cave-like appearance, with ceilings so low they seemed perfectly suited for hobbits.
Each one has a theme – I stepped into one and was surprised to find an elderly lady selling shoes. Caught up in a tourist spirit, I bought myself a pair of Beijing shoes even though I knew I wouldn’t really wear it in Singapore. 😊
Talipo Village also offered a range of activities for visitors, such as puppet show, traditional tofu-making and cloth dyeing.
We also chanced upon a traditional wedding ceremony.
3) Romance at Mount Yun: A Walk through Fairy Valley
Back at Fairy Valley, we now have plenty of time to take photos. Or even to wash our hands at the fountain that was supposed to bring good luck.
On our way out, we saw lots of persimmons hanging from the trees. What a rare sight!
There’s a saying that if one sees a persimmon (柿子), everything will happen just as you wish. I saw many that day. :) You must come Mount Yun if you want to 柿柿如意.
Cab back out was not easy
Since our journey ended late (6pm), it wasn’t easy to get a cab. In fact, we couldn’t get any cab at all through ride-hailing apps.
Luckily, we’d earlier asked for the taxi driver’s contact (the one who got us here). He was so kind to quote a rate similar to what we would have paid via app instead of overcharging us given our situation.
We gave him a good tip, as we like honest folks!
Dinner at Jishan County
Jishan was a very quiet town. We had initially wanted to dine at a food street recommended by the taxi driver. But when we were there, vendors were aggressively touting and that put us off.
Glad we walked away as we found a restaurant that served the best meal we had in this entire 16-day trip – really delicious BBQ beef meal (location).
See our order comprising Beef, Century Eggs, Cucumber, Lettuce, Mushroom Enoki Set and more. The portion was so generous (too generous actually). The grill tray also came with egg and corn topped with cheese.
What a super satisfying and enjoyable meal for just ¥150!
Despite the travel mishap and deep disappointment in the morning, we were glad we made it through Mount Yun and enjoyed everything we wanted to experience there, even though time was cut by half.
Day 4 was a good day after all!
This wraps up Day 4 in China. On Day 5, we’ll visit an equally amazing attraction. In fact, this place – Great Ladder Cliff of Yellow River – is my favourite attraction of this China trip! Stay tuned!
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