Waihuang Village is located in Duohuo Township, Lingchuan County, Jincheng City, on the summit of Yuntai Mountain at the southern end of the Taihang Mountains, where Shanxi and Henan provinces meet. It is the most remote natural village within the Shangyuntai Scenic Area, falls under the jurisdiction of Qinquan Village, and is renowned as the “Number One Village Under Heaven.”
The village is a rare example of a “one-village, one-household” settlement. Since the 1930s and 1940s, only one family has resided here. According to legend, their ancestors traveled here via a circuitous route from the Great Locust Tree in Hongtong and have lived here for several generations. Located at the border between Shanxi and Henan provinces, this household historically assumed the role of “border guard” due to the unclear demarcation of the boundary. Waihuang Village sits atop the peak of Yuntai Mountain, where the terrain rises abruptly and the cliffs soar thousands of ren—a place known as “the Summit of Yuntai.”
This is the source of Yuntai Mountain’s Great Waterfall, surrounded by mountains and shrouded in mist. From the observation deck to the east of the village, visitors can overlook Yuntai Mountain and gaze in the distance at Zhuyu Peak. The high altitude creates a cool climate, making it an ideal spot for summer retreats and viewing sunrises over the sea of clouds; tourists from all over come here specifically to visit this famous destination. (Photo by Zhang Shaoyi)