Plan at a glance
The memorial museum and Youth Cave are separate arrival points
The main Red Flag Canal visit is divided between the Red Flag Canal Memorial Museum and the Youth Cave Scenic Area. The museum is south of Jingtou Village in Ren Village Town, Linzhou; Youth Cave is west of Lujiaguai Village. The two sites are about 23 km apart, so set the destination separately to “Red Flag Canal Memorial Museum” or “Red Flag Canal Youth Cave.”
The two sites usually use a combined pass priced at about CNY 80, and they are generally not sold as separate admissions. The museum is open about 08:00–18:00 and Youth Cave about 08:00–17:30. An area shuttle connects them about once an hour, but holiday capacity may be tight, so ticket coverage and transport need separate planning.
How much time to allow
A 3–4-hour visit can start with about 40 minutes at the memorial museum, followed by the Canal Waterway Trail at Youth Cave, which takes about 2–2.5 hours. A 5–6-hour visit can add the mountain route, Yixiantian (“One-Line-Sky”) and the downhill slide, but this option requires more strength and mobility.
Reservations are usually not required; use an ID card to enter. The museum and Youth Cave have different closing times, so a cross-area visit should follow Youth Cave's earlier closing time rather than the museum's hours alone.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
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Red Flag Canal Memorial Museum: start with the engineering history
The memorial museum suits visitors who want an introduction to the canal's construction history, engineering process and related objects. Tools, archive images and reconstructed scenes are on display; the hammers, steel chisels and workers' food bags help explain the practical conditions of the project before you continue to Youth Cave.
The museum also provides a substantial indoor visit for children, older visitors and anyone who does not want a long outdoor walk. Its exhibition content and Youth Cave's outdoor trail serve different purposes, so seeing the exhibition first gives the visit a clearer sequence.
Youth Cave, Yixiantian and Luositan Waterfall
Youth Cave is a 616-metre tunnel cut through the mountain as part of the Red Flag Canal. The tunnel entrance, Canal Waterway Trail and surrounding cliffs suit visitors interested in engineering remains and the mountain setting. Luositan Waterfall is downstream from Youth Cave and can be a stop along the trail.
Yixiantian is a narrow cliff path, only about 40 cm at its tightest point. Some sections require you to turn sideways or use your hands for balance. Visitors whose body size, knees, heart and lung function or balance make narrow, steep paths unsuitable should use the Youth Cave trail as the main experience and skip Yixiantian.
Build your day
3–4 hours: the museum and the basic Youth Cave route
Start at the Red Flag Canal Memorial Museum and allow about 40 minutes for the engineering history and construction tools. Then drive or take the scenic-area transport to Youth Cave. Follow the Canal Waterway Trail, visit the tunnel entrance and nearby viewpoints, and return along the marked route.
This route covers the museum exhibition, the Youth Cave tunnel and the waterway trail without adding the Yixiantian climb. The two sites are about 23 km apart, so cross-area travel is part of the day's schedule; the walking distance inside one site does not represent the whole transfer.
5–6 hours: Youth Cave and the mountain route
Visit the museum first and then continue to Youth Cave. After the Canal Waterway Trail, choose the mountain route if the weather and your strength are suitable. The route passes Yixiantian, climbs to a higher viewpoint and can finish with the downhill slide. The cableway, slide and Youth Cave sightseeing vehicle are optional day-of-operation choices.
The area shuttle runs about once an hour, and direct services between the museum and Youth Cave are limited. If you depend on public transport, the tourist bus from Anyang Railway Station to Youth Cave is listed with departures at 05:00 and 11:00, while holiday congestion may affect the journey. A private car or chartered vehicle is better suited to a complete visit to both sites.
Get there
Navigation for the museum and Youth Cave
For the museum, set the destination to “Red Flag Canal Memorial Museum,” south of Jingtou Village in Ren Village Town. For Youth Cave, use “Red Flag Canal Youth Cave,” west of Lujiaguai Village. These are separate destinations, so confirm which one you will visit first before setting out.
Driving takes about 1.5 hours from Anyang and about 40 minutes from Linzhou. Each site has its own parking and entry arrangements, so drivers should save the museum and Youth Cave as two separate destinations.
Public transport and the area shuttle
Visitors without a car can look for the tourist bus from Anyang Railway Station to Youth Cave, but departures are limited and holiday traffic can affect the timing. The area shuttle between the museum and Youth Cave runs about once an hour; holding the combined pass does not mean that cross-area transport is available at any time.
The Youth Cave sightseeing vehicle costs about CNY 20, while the cableway and slide cost about CNY 40 each. These are separate options, and whether the sightseeing vehicle reaches the open sections depends on the day's operation. A private car or chartered vehicle makes the return journey easier when visiting both areas.
Know before you go
Tickets, opening hours and extra-cost options
The museum and Youth Cave usually use a combined pass priced at about CNY 80 rather than separate admission. The museum is open about 08:00–18:00 and Youth Cave about 08:00–17:30. The sightseeing vehicle, cableway and slide are not included in the pass; confirm their price and operation for the day.
Yixiantian narrows to about 40 cm, and the mountain route includes steep and confined sections. Wear shoes suitable for long walks and wet surfaces, and reduce the climbing route in rainy conditions. Children, older visitors and anyone with knee or heart-and-lung limitations may find the Youth Cave waterway trail a better main route.
Cross-area transport and nearby planning
Youth Cave and the museum are about 23 km apart, with an area shuttle roughly once an hour and possible holiday queues. If you also plan to visit Taihang Grand Canyon Scenic Area, treat it as a separate Linzhou attraction for a same-day choice or a second-day visit; the Red Flag Canal pass does not cover it.
Linzhou huicai, a local dish, can be arranged in Linzhou or around the scenic area. If you choose restaurants such as Yuanpeng Huicai or Chaozhou Huicai, check their opening hours and menu for the day. Accommodation can be in Shibanyan Town or Linzhou, depending on the next day's route.