焦作市

Why this place

Jiaozuo's Yuntai Mountain holds one of the highest waterfalls in China — a 314-metre single drop — and its red-rock gorges are among the most photographed landscapes in Henan. Nearby Wenxian county is the birthplace of Chen-style taiji, from which most taiji styles descend.

What to see

• Yuntai Mountain's Yuntai Tianpu waterfall and the Red Stone Gorge
• The Chen family taiji academy at Chenjiagou, the founding school of taiji
• The Qing Tianhe and Shennong Mountain scenic areas

What to eat

• Henan mountain food: bamboo shoots, wild herbs and river fish
• Jiaozuo is known for its 'four-huai' Chinese yam dishes — the local yam is a protected product

Best time

April–May and September–October