Wanxiang Cave Scenic Area
Wanxiang Cave is 250 to 300 million years old and is a classic karst cave. It is vast in scale, with oddly shaped rock formations and dazzling glistening surfaces, and has very high artistic value.…
Wanxiang Cave Scenic Area, Lanzhou
Key facts
- Admission
- ¥100 (adult ticket + shuttle train)
- Opening hours
- 8：30—17：00
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Getting there
- Take a bus directly from the starting station of Panxuan Road (盘旋路) in Longnan city centre; taxis or chartered cars are also available
- Guidebook rating
- 3 / 5
From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 728. Open in Google Maps
About Wanxiang Cave Scenic Area
Wanxiang Cave is 250 to 300 million years old and is a classic karst cave. It is vast in scale, with oddly shaped rock formations and dazzling glistening surfaces, and has very high artistic value. It is known as the “Underground Cultural Corridor.” Inscriptions inside show that countless visitors came here more than 1,000 years ago. The cave preserves over 100 stone steles from the Northern Zhou, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, as well as more than 960 inscribed poems.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Wanxiang Cave Scenic Area cost?
Admission to Wanxiang Cave Scenic Area is ¥100 (adult ticket + shuttle train), as listed in the 2025 guidebook. Prices can change; check the official channel before you go.
What are the opening hours of Wanxiang Cave Scenic Area?
Wanxiang Cave Scenic Area is open 8：30—17：00.
How do I get to Wanxiang Cave Scenic Area?
Take a bus directly from the starting station of Panxuan Road (盘旋路) in Longnan city centre; taxis or chartered cars are also available
How long should I spend at Wanxiang Cave Scenic Area?
Plan on 2 hours for Wanxiang Cave Scenic Area.
Where is Wanxiang Cave Scenic Area?
Wanxiang Cave Scenic Area is in Lanzhou, Gansu Province, in the Northwest of China.
More places in Lanzhou
Gansu Provincial Museum
Gansu is traversed by the Silk Road, and most travelers will not have enough time to explore all its historic sites. This museum is highly recommended as a way to gain a comprehensive understanding of Gansu's history and to view a wide range of cultural relics, including the national treasure “Flying Horse of Gansu” (Galloping Horse Treading on a Swallow).
Free admission · 1–3 hours
Qingcheng Ancient Town
Historically, Qingcheng was a distribution hub for goods such as water-pipe tobacco, with excellent transport links, and merchants from Beijing, Shanxi and Tianjin gathered here. As a result, its architecture combines the luxurious grandeur of Shanxi mansions with the elegant symmetry of Beijing siheyuan courtyard houses. Here, visitors can admire the antique Ming and Qing dynasty residences, see the 10,000-mu lotus fields swaying in the breeze, and listen to the moving Xixiang folk tunes.
¥30 · 1–3 hours
Binglingsi Grottoes
Binglingsi Grottoes were first carved during the Western Qin period of the Sixteen Kingdoms. Today there are 183 caves, 694 carved stone Buddha statues, 82 clay sculptures and 900 square metres of murals. On the cliff wall of Tangshu Cave, the largest cave, ink inscriptions dated to the first year of the Jianhong era (420 CE) survive, the earliest explicitly dated inscription among China's grottoes. The site is divided into the Upper Temple, Donggou and the Lower Temple. The Lower Temple has the most spectacular scenery, and its relief stupas and esoteric Buddhist murals rank alongside those of the Mogao Caves and Maiji Mountain Grottoes.
¥50 · 1 hour
Xinglong Mountain Scenic Area
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¥40 · 0.5–1 day
Tulugou National Forest Park
A purely natural scenic area, the valley is 15 km long and resembles a corridor formed by green vegetation and steep cliffs. It is known as the “Mythical Green Valley.” A stream flows through it all year round, giving visitors a refreshing feeling.
¥50; sightseeing shuttle ¥30 · 1 day
Waterwheel Expo Park
Waterwheel Expo Park is home to the famous Lanzhou Yellow River Waterwheel, along with dozens of waterwheels from across China and abroad, each in a different style, so visitors can learn about the characteristics of waterwheels from different regions. The park also features ponds, flower beds and sculptures, making for a pleasant setting. On the east side of the park, the Culture Plaza houses exhibition halls including the Lanzhou Strange Stones Museum, the Gansu Folk Customs Museum and the Waterwheel Exhibition Hall, which are also worth a visit.
Free · 1–2 hours