Plan at a glance
Enter from the Hongshan Village visitor centre
Dabie Mountains Grottoes is in Hongshan Village, Zhangdian Town, Jin'an District, Lu'an. All visitors enter through the “Dabie Mountains Grottoes Scenic Area” visitor centre. Driving from Hefei takes about 1.5–2 hours, and the car park has a reference rate of CNY 10 per day. Public transport is possible by taking Tourist Bus Route 1 (游1路) from the South Station Bus Transfer Centre to Dabie Mountains Grottoes, but services are infrequent; reference departures are around 07:00 and 14:00, so confirm the day's timetable before travelling.
Inside the scenic area, most movement is on steps and there is no cableway. The lower route takes about 1 hour, while climbing to see the grottoes, reach the summit and complete the descent takes about 2–3 hours. The route is not very long, but the steps are continuous and some are steep, so visitors with average fitness should decide whether to climb according to their condition that day.
Tickets, opening hours and travel documents
The reference adult ticket is CNY 68. Students and visitors aged 60–64 pay half price, about CNY 34, with valid proof. Visitors aged 65 and over and children under 1.2 metres enter free, while the Anhui Tourism Pass may cover admission under its current rules. Advance booking is usually not required. Reference opening hours are 08:00–17:00, with final entry at 16:30; confirm ticket rules, concession documents and the day's entry arrangement when buying.
Foreign visitors using a passport or another travel document should confirm real-name registration, document verification and the on-site process before applying for a discount or free admission. Online ticket buyers may need to exchange the booking for a paper ticket on site; confirm whether this is required and which window handles it that day.
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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The lower route: Changyan, grottoes and lake views
Without climbing, follow the lower trail to the main “Changyan” grotto (敞岩) and the lake views; allow about 1 hour. Changyan formed about 160 million years ago and is about 80 metres high and 200 metres across. Its honeycomb-like rock walls suit visitors interested in geological scenery, visitors with limited energy and anyone looking for a short stop.
From inside Changyan, frame the temple and lake through the cave opening. The lower route has fewer steps, but the trail and waterside areas can still be slippery after rain. This short visit does not include the summit, and you can enjoy the lake view without taking the uphill route.
The full route: grottoes, summit and descent options
Allow about 2–3 hours for the full route: climb the steps to see the grottoes along the way, reach the summit for the surrounding views, then choose a descent based on your energy, budget and what is operating that day. The upper route has continuous steps and some steep sections, so it suits visitors comfortable with a short period of sustained climbing.
At the three-way junction near the summit or glass suspension bridge, read the signs carefully. Choose “trail” or “descent trail” for the free route rather than going straight into the paid glass-bridge area. The free descent includes two types of path: a suspended boardwalk and a rough stone trail; the upper boardwalk is relatively level, while the lower trail is cooler but has more mosquitoes.
The glass walkway or glass suspension bridge, Kaixin Slide (开心滑道) and Rainbow Slide are separately charged optional activities. Kaixin Slide starts near the summit and ends near the canyon entrance; it is about 688 metres long and has a reference price of CNY 30–40 per person. Rainbow Slide is usually in the middle or lower part of the descent, with a reference price of CNY 30–50 per person. Glass attractions have a reference price of CNY 30–50 per person. Operation, exact prices and the connection with the downhill route depend on the arrangements that day.
Extra activities and who they suit
Besides the glass attractions, the scenic area may offer separately charged activities such as Rainbow Slide and Sky Mirror. These are outside the core grotto route; decide according to the day's operation, price and your interest, and do not include their cost in the entrance ticket.
Dabie Mountains Grottoes suits visitors interested in natural grottoes, lake views and short mountain walks, including families driving from the Hefei area. Whether older visitors or children can manage the upper steps depends on the slope, weather and personal fitness; the lower Changyan and lake-view route is easier to keep within a comfortable effort level.
Build your day
The lower route: about 1 hour
Enter through the visitor centre → follow the lower trail to Changyan → look at the honeycomb-like rock walls inside and frame the temple and lake through the cave opening → return along the trail. The route takes about 1 hour, does not climb to the upper steps and works well as one stop in a self-drive day with nearby attractions.
The cave and lakeside ground can be slippery after rain. The lower route can be completed on its own, so you can see Changyan and the lake without reaching the summit; if you still have time and energy, decide afterwards whether to take the uphill route.
The full route: about 2–3 hours with a choice of descent
Enter through the visitor centre → climb the steps to see the grottoes → reach the summit for the views → read the “trail/descent trail” signs at the junction near the summit → choose the free trail, or choose one of the glass walkway/glass suspension bridge, Kaixin Slide or Rainbow Slide options after confirming the day's operation and price → descend on the open route → return to the visitor centre. Allow about 2–3 hours for the complete visit and leave enough time for the descent.
If you do not buy the glass walkway or glass suspension bridge, take the adjacent walking trail at the junction; there is no need to return to the summit. The suspended boardwalk is relatively level, while the rough stone path is cooler but has more mosquitoes. Wear long sleeves and trousers and bring insect repellent if you use the rough trail. Online ticket buyers should also complete any paper-ticket exchange or window verification before climbing, so entry is not delayed near the final-entry time.
Combine it with West Anhui Rift Valley: keep the route demands separate
Dabie Mountains Grottoes and West Anhui Rift Valley are close enough for a same-day self-drive combination, but each has its own ticket and visitor centre. Dabie Mountains Grottoes focuses on natural grottoes, lake views and stepped climbing; West Anhui Rift Valley focuses on the Three Gates, Yixiantian and narrow-rift climbing, with different physical demands and movements.
For a one-day combination, make the main stop the one that best matches your energy, then see whether there is time for the second. If rain, holiday queues or a longer first visit take extra time, shorten or drop the second stop rather than rushing on wet steps or through narrow rift sections.
Get there
Drive to the Dabie Mountains Grottoes visitor centre
Set navigation to the “Dabie Mountains Grottoes Scenic Area” visitor centre. The drive from Hefei takes about 1.5–2 hours. The car park has a reference rate of CNY 10 per day, with spaces and charges subject to the arrangement on the day. Control your speed on the mountain road and confirm that navigation is pointing to the Dabie Mountains Grottoes visitor centre, not the West Anhui Rift Valley visitor centre.
Dabie Mountains Grottoes and West Anhui Rift Valley can be two stops on the same self-drive route, but their parking, tickets, final-entry times and internal paths are separate. After leaving one, set navigation again for the other visitor centre.
Public transport services are infrequent
From Lu'an city, take Tourist Bus Route 1 (游1路) from the South Station Bus Transfer Centre to Dabie Mountains Grottoes. Reference departures are around 07:00 and 14:00, and services are infrequent, so do not rely on deciding after arriving at the station. Confirm the day's departure, return bus and drop-off point before travelling; if you plan to reach the summit, make sure the return service allows enough time for the full route.
There is no cableway or scenic shuttle inside the scenic area, so the main route depends on walking up and down steps. The glass walkway or glass suspension bridge, Kaixin Slide, Rainbow Slide and Sky Mirror are separate optional activities; confirm their charges and operation independently.
Know before you go
Steps, descent trails and paid activities
The upper route has many steps. The free descent includes a suspended boardwalk and a rough stone trail, and the rough trail has more mosquitoes. Wear grippy, well-covered sports shoes, bring long sleeves and trousers and carry insect repellent, as well as 2 bottles of water and some snacks. Older visitors, children and anyone with knee or leg problems can choose the lower route and decide about the summit according to their condition.
At the summit, first confirm the direction marked “trail/descent trail,” then decide whether to pay for the glass attractions or another slide. If you do not buy a glass activity, use the adjacent free trail; the glass walkway, glass suspension bridge and slides are not included in the entrance ticket.
Tickets, paper tickets and extra charges
The adult ticket, student and 60–64 concession, free admission for visitors aged 65 and over and children under 1.2 metres, and Anhui Tourism Pass arrangements all follow the ticket rules for the day. Online ticket buyers may need to exchange a paper ticket on site; confirm the exchange window, entry time and proof for discount tickets before buying. Foreign visitors using a passport or another travel document should also confirm the real-name process.
The glass walkway or glass suspension bridge has a reference charge of CNY 30–50 per person, Kaixin Slide about CNY 30–40, and Rainbow Slide about CNY 30–50; Sky Mirror and other activities may also cost extra. These are optional experiences, so confirm their operation, price and suitability for your group separately.
Nearby food and the self-drive combination
At the entrance, you can consider Jinjia Local Food (金家土菜) or a farmhouse restaurant along the route. Local dishes include Jinzhai diaoguo (金寨吊锅), guanyin tofu (观音豆腐) and haozi baba (蒿子粑粑); opening and availability depend on the day. If you combine the visit with West Anhui Rift Valley, both sites involve walking and steps, so allow separate time for parking, tickets and the return drive.
If you still have time for the return journey, you can make a short stop at Maotanchang's Ming–Qing Old Street. It is a separate town walking area, not part of the grotto ticket or scenic route. Drivers should decide whether to add it according to the day's mountain road, parking and actual departure time.