Plan at a glance
Site area and visit length
The Xumishan Grottoes are in Huangduobao Town, Yuanzhou District, about 50 km from downtown Guyuan, or roughly an hour by car. The visitor center is the starting and ending point. The grottoes are spread across different parts of the mountain. Allow about 2–3 hours for Cave 5, Yuanguang Temple, and Xiangguo Temple; set aside 4–5 hours if you also want to head toward Taohua Cave.
The museum area faces the grottoes across a river and can be an optional stop before the mountain visit. If it is closed, you can go straight to the main grotto route.
Tickets and timing
The peak-season reference admission price, for May 1 to October 31, is CNY 48. The sightseeing bus costs an additional CNY 20. Published peak-season hours vary between 8:30 am–6:00 pm and 7:00 am–7:00 pm. Check ticket sales, the last admission time, and which areas are open on the day of your visit.
The reference off-season hours are 9:00 am–5:30 pm. Check the current ticket price and last admission time before setting out. The museum temporarily closed in July 2026; contact the attraction to confirm whether it has reopened and how visits are arranged. Also ask whether it is included with the grotto ticket, charges separately, or requires a reservation.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
Choose your visit
Start with the Tang-dynasty statue in Cave 5
The seated Maitreya statue in Cave 5 dates to the Tang dynasty and stands about 20.6 meters tall. It is a good place to appreciate the scale of the Xumishan Grottoes. The statue faces southeast, so morning light can be a useful reference for photography, though the light on site changes with the season and weather.
First view the statue as a whole from areas open to visitors, then notice how the principal figure relates to the space on the cliff face. Follow on-site directions for where you may stop and which areas are open that day.
Compare the sculptures at Yuanguang and Xiangguo temples
Caves 45 and 46 at Yuanguang Temple retain Northern Zhou sculptures with rounded, full forms, giving them a different feel from the large Tang statue in Cave 5. Cave 51 at Xiangguo Temple is a Northern Zhou central-pillar cave with seven Buddha images. The Maitreya image above the entrance relates to the seven-Buddha theme. Look at both the cave’s spatial layout and the arrangement of its sculptures.
If time is limited, prioritize these locations. If you are traveling with children, factor in the slopes and walking distances.
Use the museum as an optional introduction
If it is open, spend 30–45 minutes with the grotto displays, replicas, and Silk Road exhibits before visiting the corresponding sites in person. The viewing platform on the second floor faces Cave 5. Skip the museum if it is closed.
For a separate visit to Guyuan’s wider Silk Road history and archaeological collections, see Guyuan Museum.
Build your day
2–3 hours: Visit three key grotto stops and return the same way
Enter from the visitor center and visit Cave 5 at Foge Temple, Caves 45 and 46 at Yuanguang Temple, and Cave 51 at Xiangguo Temple, then return to the visitor center along the same route. This itinerary starts with the Tang statue and then compares Northern Zhou sculpture and cave layout. Allow about 15 minutes for the walking stretch between areas; time inside the caves is additional.
Before setting out, ask which caves are open and where the sightseeing bus stops and picks up passengers for the return. Walking paths connect the main areas. Decide whether to buy the CNY 20 bus ticket based on your energy, the service running that day, and its actual stops; do not assume the bus reaches every cave directly.
4–5 hours: Add the Taohua Cave route
After Cave 51, return to Yuanguang Temple, then take a different downhill route past the Taohua Cave area back to the visitor center. The full visit takes about 4–5 hours. Check whether this descent is open that day and leave extra time for the return. If any section is closed, follow on-site directions and return along the way you came.
Both itineraries start and end at the visitor center. The museum is an optional stop beforehand and does not change the main grotto route.
Get there
Travel from downtown Guyuan to the visitor center
Set your navigation destination to “Xumishan Visitor Center.” The site is in Huangduobao Town, Yuanzhou District, about 50 km from downtown Guyuan and roughly an hour away by car. Allow separately for the road trip in each direction and walking inside the site.
Check direct bus schedules and parking arrangements before you leave. If you are not driving, arrange transportation for both directions before deciding how long to spend at the grottoes.
Confirm the day’s route when you arrive
At the visitor center, check which grottoes are open, where the sightseeing bus stops, and how the return service works. If the open areas have changed, shorten your route as directed on site.
Know before you go
Walking, slopes, and grotto protection
The main route through Cave 5, Yuanguang Temple, and Xiangguo Temple includes several walking sections. The roughly 15 minutes between areas is only a walking estimate and does not include time spent viewing the grottoes. The slope around Zisun Palace is steep, and some grottoes are damaged. Add this area only if the route is open, the footing is suitable, and you are interested in visiting.
The grottoes are protected cultural heritage sites. Follow on-site rules; do not touch the sculptures or climb on the ruins. If you are traveling with children, agree on a meeting point and keep an eye on steps and slopes. Contact the attraction before your visit to ask which areas are accessible if you need step-free access.
Food, guiding, and photography
There are few places to buy supplies along the route, so bring enough water and a simple snack, especially if you plan to spend 4–5 hours. Guided tours have been quoted at around CNY 150 per group. Confirm the current fee and what the service covers. If you want to focus on particular grottoes, ask when buying your ticket or before entering. Follow on-site photography rules, especially inside the grottoes.
Check these details before setting out
On the day of your visit, confirm ticket sales and the last admission time, which grottoes are open, sightseeing bus service, and the museum’s status before choosing a route. If the museum is closed, simply skip it.