Plan at a glance
Northern Xiangtang as the main visit; Southern Xiangtang separately
The Xiangtangshan Grottoes are on Gushan Mountain in Fengfeng Mining District, Handan. The northern and southern sites are about 15–20 km apart. Northern Xiangtang is larger and is the main area to visit; allow a separate half day for Southern Xiangtang, with separate navigation and transport between the two.
Carved during the Eastern Wei and Northern Qi periods, the grottoes are an important royal cave-temple complex known for the Xiangtang style of sculpture and stone carving.
Admission, cave hours, and opening times
Adult admission is CNY 80, and the round-trip sightseeing bus costs CNY 20; the round-trip fare still applies if you ride only one way. Students and visitors aged 60–69 receive half-price admission. Visitors aged 70 and above and children under 1.2 m are exempt from the main admission ticket. The Handan Tourist Pass costs about CNY 88 and must be activated one day in advance; check the applicable discounts and coverage before buying.
The scenic area is open 08:00–17:30, and cave entry stops after 17:00. Allow about 1–1.5 hours for the short Northern Xiangtang visit, or 2–3 hours for the longer route with the Changle Temple ruins and Digital Museum. Holiday hours may change; call 0310-5050222 to check service and entry arrangements.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
Choose your visit
Three key caves at Northern Xiangtang
The Great Buddha Cave centers on Northern Qi sculptures. Look closely at the seated Shakyamuni and the attendant bodhisattva beside Maitreya, the Buddha of the future. In Shakyamuni Cave, the domed, stupa-shaped ceiling and the folds of the bodhisattva’s robes at the entrance show features of Northern Qi sculpture.
The South Cave at Northern Xiangtang, also called the Sutra Carving Cave, has more than 50,000 Northern Qi characters carved densely into its walls. The inscriptions include the Vimalakirti Sutra, Maitreya’s Attainment of Buddhahood Sutra, Foshuo Bo Jing (佛说孛经), and the Srimala Sutra. These inscriptions are a distinctive feature of Northern Xiangtang; the condition of the caves and sculptures differs from the large, more complete Buddha statues at Yungang and Longmen.
Changle Temple ruins and Southern Xiangtang
The Changle Temple ruins are near the entrance to Northern Xiangtang. The Song-dynasty pagoda and remaining Buddha sculptures can be visited on the same trip as the caves. A protective shelter above the pagoda blocks part of the view for photos.
Southern Xiangtang is smaller; its Thousand Buddha Cave is known for apsaras and a lotus-patterned caisson ceiling. Visitors interested in cave art and Northern Qi history can plan to see both the north and south sites. If time is limited, start with the three main caves at Northern Xiangtang.
Build your day
A 1–1.5-hour short route at Northern Xiangtang
Enter at the Northern Xiangtang Tourist Center and take the sightseeing bus uphill. Visit the Great Buddha Cave, Shakyamuni Cave, and Sutra Carving Cave in that order, then visit the Digital Museum if you wish and take the bus back down. The museum costs about CNY 10 and is optional; allow the most time for the Great Buddha Cave.
A 2–3-hour highlights route at Northern Xiangtang
Start at the entrance by visiting the Changle Temple ruins. Then take the sightseeing bus uphill and see the Great Buddha Cave, Shakyamuni Cave, and Sutra Carving Cave in order. Add the Digital Museum if time allows, then take the bus back to the lower area. This route includes the ruins before the bus ride, unlike the short route that goes straight uphill.
To continue to Southern Xiangtang, arrange a separate drive of about 15–20 km and allow half a day. Check the Southern Xiangtang entrance, opening hours, and ticket arrangements first, then arrange transport from the Northern Xiangtang parking lot; the two sites are not connected by the in-area sightseeing bus.
Get there
Driving, train arrival, and parking
Navigate to “Xiangtangshan Scenic Area Tourist Center.” Driving from Handan takes about one hour, and parking costs CNY 10 per day; spaces are generally plentiful.
From Handan East Railway Station, you can take a taxi for about CNY 60–80. A direct scenic-area shuttle is also available for about CNY 39.9, but confirm its schedule in advance; departures may run late. Local public transport is inconvenient.
Getting around and guided tours
Visiting Northern Xiangtang requires the round-trip sightseeing bus, which costs CNY 20 for adults. The same round-trip fare applies if you ride only one way. An official guide costs about CNY 200 per group; ask on site and consider sharing the cost with other visitors.
Know before you go
Cave lighting, photography, and weather
The Great Buddha Cave is best photographed at about 13:30–16:00. From the opening in the north wall, you can frame a profile of Shakyamuni; the moon-gate entrance to Shakyamuni Cave is another photo spot. The shelter above the Song pagoda at the Changle Temple ruins affects the view.
The scenic area may be cleared during severe weather alerts, especially for heavy rain. Call 0310-5050222 before setting out to check opening arrangements. Follow the on-site rules for photography and cave conservation.
Food and nearby stops
There are few restaurants near the scenic area. Bring snacks or go to Pengcheng Town for “Sanxia Guo”; Haolaiwu Restaurant serves large portions, so check serving sizes when ordering. The Cizhou Kiln Museum, Yuanbao Mountain, and Heilong Cave can be visited as separate nearby stops. Heilong Cave is known for its spring-water scenery.