Plan at a glance
A free riverside-cliff walk
Little Red Cliff is within Xiandu Scenic Area and centres on its red cliffs, the Longgeng Road walkway and the Hao Stream valley. It is free to enter and needs no reservation. Allow an hour as a standalone stop, or use it as the final section of a day at Xiandu.
You can pass through the area throughout the day, but scenic transport and nearby services have operating hours, so finish the walkway and leave before evening. Allow 2–3 hours for the complete Longgeng Road route. If you only want a riverside-greenway stroll and a distant look at the cliffs, one hour is enough.
Who it suits and how to choose a route
Little Red Cliff suits visitors who enjoy walking paths, river-valley scenery and evening photography. Children, older relatives and anyone who does not want steps can stay on the riverside greenway. If fitness and footwear are suitable, take Longgeng Road for the cliffside walkway and the tunnel through the mountain.
The emphasis here differs from Dinghu Peak and Zhutan Mountain: it is the walk itself and the views from the cliff. If you have already visited the Xiandu main area in the morning, coming here in the afternoon makes the day feel more relaxed.
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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Longgeng Road and the tunnel
Longgeng Road follows the cliff, with rock on one side and views of the Hao Stream on the other. A section of the walkway goes through the mountain, where light changes noticeably at the tunnel opening and makes a good river-valley photo stop. The steps are steep and some sections narrow, so check your companions' fitness and the weather before heading up.
You will not miss Little Red Cliff if you skip the walkway. The lower greenway is level and is enough for viewing the cliffs and Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law Rock, making it a good choice for families or a relaxed visit.
Afternoon and evening light
Later in the afternoon, the setting sun brings out more colour in the cliffs, which works well for silhouettes and valley scenes. For portraits, light or plain-coloured clothing separates more clearly from the red rock and green water. If you are not taking portraits, the view outward from the tunnel opening is a cleaner composition.
When weather is unsettled, make the river valley and nearby cliffs your photography goal rather than insisting on the whole walkway. The cliffs and water are still worth seeing in rain, but safety takes priority on wet ground.
Build your day
Easy one-hour route: out and back along the river
Enter around Jichuan Bridge in Xiayang Village, follow the Hao Stream greenway to a point where you can look towards Longgeng Road and Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law Rock, then return the same way. This route is largely level and suits visitors with limited time, children, or anyone who does not want stairs.
After Dinghu Peak or Zhutan Mountain, it makes a gentle end to the day. If you also want to visit Xiandu Temple, add it only after confirming the on-site road and opening arrangement; do not delay departure until dark simply to fit in one more stop.
Complete 2–3 hour route: go up Longgeng Road
Enter from the Xiandu Temple side, follow the greenway to the Longgeng Road entrance, climb the steeper steps to the walkway and tunnel, then descend from the other end. Check daylight and ground conditions before heading up. After rain, or if your soles are slipping, the greenway is the better route.
If you want sunset photos, leave enough time for the descent. The walkway has no night lighting, so start down as soon as you have finished photographing rather than staying when the light is poor.
Get there
High-speed rail, driving and scenic transfers
From Jinyun West Station, first reach the Xiandu Visitor Centre, then transfer by scenic transport to the Little Red Cliff area. Drivers can navigate to Little Red Cliff or public parking near Xiayang Village. During scenic-area operating hours, private-vehicle access to the core area is managed, so use the Visitor Centre transfer if you do not have an internal parking arrangement.
Little Red Cliff is free to enter. The scenic bus is a separately purchased CNY 20 option that can be used repeatedly over two days. Little Red Cliff is some distance from the other main sights, so allowing time for transfers is more reliable than walking between attractions at the last minute.
Walking after you get off
After entering from a bus stop or village road, first identify whether you are taking the riverside greenway or the Longgeng Road entrance. You do not need much equipment for the greenway. For the walkway, wear non-slip shoes, carry water, and keep your hands free for railings and photography.
Nearby roads and parking become tighter on public holidays. Arrive in the earlier part of the afternoon so you can sort out parking or transfers and still have enough light to come down.
Know before you go
Steps, railings and the risk after dark
Longgeng Road has sloping steps and some narrow sections. Hold the railing on the walkway, and do not climb beyond barriers for photos. Rain makes the stone surface slippery; if visibility is poor or anyone in your group feels unwell, shorten the visit to the riverside greenway.
There is no lighting on the walkway at night. Whether or not you are photographing sunset, begin your descent before dark and do not leave the return journey to dark steps for the sake of one last photo.
Tickets and supplies
Little Red Cliff is free to enter and needs no reservation. If you are also visiting ticketed stops such as Dinghu Peak or Zhutan Mountain on the same day, buy the Xiandu pass as appropriate. Free entry applies only to Little Red Cliff; other Xiandu sights follow their own ticket arrangements.
You can plan food around Dinghu Village or Xuanyuan Culture Street. Little Red Cliff is better for walking and photographs than for a long meal. Bring water, sun protection and insect repellent in summer, plus a light rain jacket in the wet season.