Gushi County Travel

Gushi County, Xinyang City, Henan Province — "Hometown of Tang Dynasty Immigrants · Ancestral Home of Fujian and Taiwan", integrating root clan culture, tea and Zen ecology, and historical relics. It boasts the tea fragrance of West Jiuhua Mountain, the homesickness of Root Clan Park, and the ancient charm of General Shrine. Experience the unique charm of the integration of Central Plains and Fujian-Taiwan cultures with a 3-day 2-night in-depth tour.

1300+

Years of Root Clan Cultural History

5A-Level Scenic Area (West Jiuhua Mountain, applying for official recognition)

17+

Core Scenic Spots

25+

Specialty Cuisines

West Jiuhua Mountain Scenic Area in Gushi County

West Jiuhua Mountain Scenic Area - Tea and Zen Resort in Southern Henan

National 4A-level scenic area (applying for 5A), covering a total area of 120 square kilometers. Integrating tea gardens, bamboo seas, waterfalls, and ancient temples, it is known as "Little Jiuzhaigou in Central Plains". Miaogao Temple, Tea Mountain Slide, and Dream Valley are the core landscapes.

3-Day 2-Night Root Clan Ecological Tour in Gushi County

Visit Jiuhua Mountain to taste tea fragrance, explore Root Park to trace ancestral veins, visit General Shrine to recall loyal spirits, enjoy the tranquility of Anshan Mountain, and unlock the beauty of the integration of root clan culture and natural ecology in southern Henan

                    
Itinerary Duration
3 Days 2 Nights

                    
Main Destinations
West Jiuhua Mountain, Root Clan Cultural Park, Chen's General Shrine, Anshan Forest Park, Huayang Lake, Gushi Museum

                    
Suitable For
Root clan culture seekers, ecological sightseers, tea culture lovers, history researchers, family with kids

                    
Per Capita Budget
¥750-¥1400

Tea and Zen at Jiuhua

West Jiuhua Mountain Scenic Area · Miaogao Temple · Tea Mountain Slide · Dream Valley

Itinerary Highlights

Spend the whole day exploring West Jiuhua Mountain: stroll through ten thousand mu of tea gardens to experience tea picking, visit the millennium-old Miaogao Temple to feel Zen spirit, take the Tea Mountain Slide to enjoy the tea garden scenery, hike in Dream Valley to watch waterfalls and flowing springs, and taste Zen tea feast in the evening.

Attractions Arrangement

West Jiuhua Mountain Scenic Area

National 4A-level scenic area, featuring "tea, bamboo, Zen, water". It covers ten thousand mu of tea gardens, bamboo seas, waterfall groups, ancient temples and other landscapes, and is a well-known ecological tourism and tea culture experience resort in southern Henan.

Miaogao Temple

The core cultural landscape of West Jiuhua Mountain, built in the Tang Dynasty, is a famous temple in southern Henan. It has existing buildings such as Mahavira Hall and Guanyin Hall. There are thousand-year-old ginkgo trees and ancient wells in the temple, which set off against the surrounding tea gardens, forming the artistic conception of "tea and Zen as one".

Dream Valley (Liu Meng He Gu)

The iconic natural landscape of West Jiuhua Mountain, 3 kilometers long. The valley has gurgling streams and more than 20 waterfalls of various sizes. The two banks are covered with dense bamboo seas and maple forests. It is shaded by greenery in summer and covered with colorful leaves in autumn, known as "Little Jiuzhaigou in southern Henan".

Practical Information

Accommodation Recommendations

West Jiuhua Mountain Zen Hotel
Tea Mountain Homestay
Characteristic Farmhouse in Chenlinzi Town

Food Recommendations

Gushi Goose Cubes
Tea-Flavored Spare Ribs
Bamboo Tube Rice
Cold Mixed Bamboo Shoots

Travel Tips

Tea picking experience requires reservation (best in April-May)
Tea Mountain Slide is fast, it is recommended to wear non-slip shoes
Hiking in Dream Valley takes about 2 hours, prepare mosquito repellent

Tracing Ancestral Roots

Gushi Root Clan Cultural Park · Chen's General Shrine · Gushi Museum · Huaxia Root Clan Museum

Itinerary Highlights

In the morning, walk into the Root Clan Cultural Park to trace the ancestral origins of Fujian and Taiwan, and visit Chen's General Shrine to understand the history of opening Zhangzhou; in the afternoon, visit Gushi Museum and Huaxia Root Clan Museum to systematically understand the context of Gushi's root clan culture, and participate in root clan-themed activities in the evening.

Attractions Arrangement

Gushi Root Clan Cultural Park

A cultural park themed "Hometown of Tang Dynasty Immigrants · Ancestral Home of Fujian and Taiwan", covering an area of 500 mu. It has landscapes such as Root Clan Altar, Surname Square, and Kaizhang Shengwang Sculpture. It is an important place for Chinese at home and abroad to seek roots and worship ancestors, and holds the Root Clan Culture Festival every year.

Chen's General Shrine

A national key cultural relic protection unit, built to commemorate Chen Yuanguang, the Sage King of Kaizhang in the Tang Dynasty, and his father Chen Zheng. It has existing Qing Dynasty building complexes, including statues of the Chen father and son, merit monuments, genealogies, etc., showing the origin between Gushi and Fujian-Taiwan.

Huaxia Root Clan Museum

The only museum themed on root clan culture in China, with more than 800 cultural relics in its collection. Through exhibition areas such as "Emigration from Gushi" and "Origin of Fujian and Taiwan", it systematically shows the historical connection between Gushi as the "Hometown of Tang Dynasty Immigrants" and Fujian-Taiwan regions.

Practical Information

Transportation Guide

Take No.1 bus from Gushi County to Root Clan Cultural Park (about 15 minutes)
Root Clan Cultural Park to Chen's General Shrine is about 30 kilometers, self-driving or chartered car is recommended
The museum is adjacent to the cultural park, accessible on foot

Ticket Information

West Jiuhua Mountain Scenic Area: ¥100
Root Clan Cultural Park: Free (Ancestor worship ceremony requires reservation)
Chen's General Shrine: ¥30
Huaxia Root Clan Museum: Free

Travel Tips

Root Clan Culture Festival is held in late October every year
Chen's General Shrine provides free explanation (two sessions at 10:00/15:00)
Surname tracing AR interaction is available in the museum

Ecology and Lake Scenery

Anshan Forest Park · Huayang Lake Ecotourism Area · Gushi Old Street · Return Trip

Itinerary Highlights

Climb Anshan Forest Park in the morning to enjoy forest scenery, visit Huayang Lake in the afternoon to watch lake and mountain scenery, stroll around Gushi Old Street to experience urban customs, purchase special local products and return.

Attractions Arrangement

Anshan Forest Park

Provincial-level forest park, covering a total area of 45 square kilometers, with the main peak at an altitude of 419 meters and a forest coverage rate of 93%. Known as "the green lung of Gushi", it has landscapes such as Anshan Temple, air-raid shelter, and zoo and botanical garden, making it a good place for leisure and oxygen absorption.

Huayang Lake Ecotourism Area

An ecological scenic area centered on Huayang Lake, with a water area of 10 square kilometers. There are multiple islands in the lake and ten thousand mu of orchards by the lake. You can take boat tours, go fishing, and pick fruits, making it an ideal choice for family leisure.

Gushi Old Street

A historical and cultural block in Gushi County, retaining shops and dwellings from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the Republic of China. There are still century-old time-honored shops (such as "Zhang's Goose Cubes") here. You can taste authentic snacks and buy traditional handicrafts.

Practical Information

Experience Projects

Forest oxygen bar hiking in Anshan Forest Park
Huayang Lake boat tour (¥40 per person)
Orchard picking (seasonal, ¥20 per person)
Handmade dried noodles making experience in Old Street

Specialty Recommendations

Vacuum-packed Gushi Goose Cubes
Gushi Radish (National Geographical Indication Product)
Xinyang Maojian Tea from West Jiuhua Mountain
Gushi Shredded Pork Skin

Return Trip Guide

Anshan Forest Park is 25 kilometers away from the county seat, with township buses available
Gushi Station has trains to Xinyang, Zhengzhou, Hefei
Specialties can be purchased in Old Street or county supermarkets, express delivery is supported

Must-Try Cuisines in Gushi County

Gushi Goose Cubes

The iconic delicacy of Gushi County, using locally raised white geese, cut into cubes after special marinating process, served with secret spicy red soup base, cooked and eaten while boiling. The meat is tender and the soup is spicy and fragrant. Known as "the top goose dish in southern Henan", it is the first choice for Gushi people to entertain guests.

Gushi Radish

National Geographical Indication Product. Due to Gushi's unique soil and climate, the radish has crisp and tender meat, juicy and sweet taste. It can be eaten raw, cold mixed or stewed in soup. Folk proverb says "Gushi radish is better than Sydney pear", making it a fine product on the winter dining table.

Gushi Shredded Pork Skin

A traditional famous dish in Gushi, made from pork skin through more than ten processes into shreds as thin as hair. It is golden in color and chewy in taste. It can be cold mixed, stir-fried or stewed in soup. It was a tribute in the Ming and Qing dynasties, known as "vegetarian sea cucumber".

Han Style Goose Cubes

A specialty snack in Gushi, different from Gushi Goose Cubes. Han Style Goose Cubes are marinated in white soup, with tenderer meat, seasoned with mashed garlic and balsamic vinegar, refreshing and not greasy. It is a summer refreshment food, named after originating from the military diet in the Han Dynasty.

Gushi County Travel Tips

Best Travel Time

Spring (April-May): Tea picking season at West Jiuhua Mountain, Anshan Mountain is full of blooming flowers
Autumn (September-November): Root Clan Culture Festival is held, Huayang Lake has fat fish and ripe fruits
Winter (December-February): Can taste Gushi cured meat and experience rural New Year flavor

Must-Try Foods

Gushi Goose Cubes
Gushi Radish
Gushi Shredded Pork Skin
Han Style Goose Cubes
Tea-Flavored Braised Pork

Budget Reference

Tickets: About ¥150
Accommodation: ¥140-290 per night
Catering: ¥75-110 per day
Transportation: About ¥95
Total: ¥750-¥1400

Frequently Asked Questions

Where to eat authentic Gushi Goose Cubes? Time-honored shops on Zhongshan Old Street in downtown
Best time for tea picking at West Jiuhua Mountain? Late April to early May annually
Is ancestor worship available at Root Clan Park? Book group worship service three days in advance
Can Gushi Radish be mailed? All specialty stores provide nationwide express delivery

All Counties & Districts Travel Navigation of Xinyang