Plan at a glance
Enter from the visitor centre on County Road 054
Tiantangzhai is in Tiantangzhai Town, Jinzhai County, Lu'an. The main gate is on County Road 054. Drivers should park near the visitor centre, then use the scenic shuttle to reach Huxingdi (虎形地), the lower cableway station, the waterfall area or Baima Grand Canyon. Private cars cannot drive directly between the different visitor areas.
For the main mountain area, allow 2–3 hours for a cableway round trip to the main peak, 4–5 hours for a cableway ride uphill followed by a walk through the waterfall area, or 6–7 hours for the full hiking loop. Baima Grand Canyon and Shenxianju are easier valley walks: allow about 1.5–2 hours for the full route, or 30–60 minutes for a shorter visit.
Tickets, scenic shuttles and the cableway
The reference entrance-ticket price is CNY 100. The main peak area and Baima Grand Canyon use the same scenic shuttle system; the shuttle ticket is CNY 28 and remains valid for 48 hours. You need to take the scenic shuttle to reach both areas. Reference cableway prices are CNY 70 uphill, CNY 60 downhill and CNY 130 for a return ticket; the entrance ticket, shuttle and cableway are charged separately.
The reference opening hours are 09:00–17:00, with entry stopping at 16:00. Standard admission usually does not require advance booking, but free-entry or special-discount tickets may require real-name registration one day in advance. Foreign visitors using a passport or another travel document should confirm how real-name registration and discount-ticket procedures work before buying.
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 main peak, boundary marker and waterfalls
The main peak area includes the Anhui–Hubei boundary marker, Jiuying Waterfall, Lover's Waterfall, Xiyu Waterfall and Longjian Peak. The boundary marker is a good place to photograph the mountain views across the provincial border. The waterfalls are spread along the mountain trail and usually have more water after rain or during the wetter season, while a sea of clouds, visibility and waterfall conditions depend on the weather.
This area suits visitors who enjoy mountain scenery, stone steps and continuous walking. The cableway reduces the uphill or downhill walking, but you still need to hike after getting off. Wet steps and mountain paths add walking time, and shuttle queues can lengthen the return journey during busy periods.
Baima Grand Canyon and Shenxianju
Baima Grand Canyon lies below the main mountain area. Streams, Feicui Pool (翡翠潭), Biyu Pool (碧玉潭) and the wooden trail beside the water are its main sights. Shenxianju is the highlight section of Baima Grand Canyon and uses the same visitor centre, entrance ticket and scenic shuttle as Tiantangzhai. It suits families and visitors who want an easier mountain-and-water walk without climbing to the main peak.
The canyon requires less strenuous walking than the main peak route, but its walkways and steps are often slippery. Allow 1.5–2 hours for a longer visit with time for streams, pools and forest reflections; 30–60 minutes is enough for the main views around Shenxianju.
Three ways to approach the main peak
Taking the cableway uphill and walking through the waterfall area takes about 4–5 hours. It reduces the amount of climbing while keeping the main water scenery. A 2–3-hour route uses the cableway both ways to reach the main peak and boundary marker, which suits visitors with limited time. The waterfall and Longjian Peak loop takes about 6–7 hours, with more walking and a harder descent, so it suits visitors with solid mountain-hiking experience.
Build your day
Easier route: cableway up, then walk through the waterfalls
Take the scenic shuttle from the main gate → get off at the lower cableway station at Huxingdi (虎形地) → take the cableway uphill → visit the main peak and the Anhui–Hubei boundary marker → walk downhill past Jiuying Waterfall, Lover's Waterfall and Xiyu Waterfall → after the downhill section, board the shuttle at an operating stop along the route and return to the main gate. Allow about 4–5 hours. The descent still includes wet stone steps, so wear shoes with good grip.
Short route: cableway both ways to the main peak
Take the scenic shuttle from the main gate → ride to Huxingdi (虎形地) → take the cableway uphill → visit the main peak and boundary marker → take the cableway downhill → take the scenic shuttle back to the main gate. Allow about 2–3 hours. This route involves less mountain walking, but the cableway and shuttle may have queues during busy periods; if you enter in the afternoon, pay particular attention to the last cableway and shuttle services.
Longer route: waterfalls, Longjian Peak and the main-peak loop
Take the scenic shuttle to Huxingdi (虎形地), then hike uphill on the path beside the stream. Visit the waterfall area, continue via Longjian Peak to the main peak, then descend through the other valley and return to Huxingdi. Allow about 6–7 hours. The main climb is completed on foot rather than by cableway, so this route suits visitors with solid mountain-hiking experience and is less suitable for a standard family outing.
Baima Grand Canyon: the Shenxianju easy walk
Take the scenic shuttle from the visitor centre to the Baima Grand Canyon stop → walk downhill along the wooden trail beside the stream → pass Feicui Pool (翡翠潭) and Biyu Pool (碧玉潭) → stop at the Shenxianju section → take the scenic shuttle from the canyon exit back to the main gate. Allow about 1.5–2 hours for the full route. With limited time, stay around the pools and walkways near Shenxianju for 30–60 minutes. If you have more time, Baima Grand Canyon and the main peak can be planned on separate days. The scenic-shuttle ticket itself remains valid for 48 hours.
Get there
Drive to the Tiantangzhai visitor centre
Navigate to “Tiantangzhai Scenic Area” and enter from County Road 054 to reach the visitor centre and official parking area. The reference parking price is CNY 15 per day. The mountain road has many bends, so visitors prone to motion sickness should prepare in advance. From Hefei, the final stretch into Tiantangzhai has many bends, and driving time should be planned more generously than for an ordinary road.
Take the high-speed rail to Jinzhai, then continue by bus 307
From Jinzhai Station, first travel to the Jinzhai County East Coach Station, then take the 307 rural bus service to Tiantangzhai; the journey takes about 2 hours. Bus frequency and the last departure affect the return trip, so passengers using public transport should confirm the day's bus back towards Jinzhai.
Use the scenic shuttle inside the park
The scenic shuttle connects the main gate, the Huxingdi (虎形地) lower cableway station, the waterfall area and Baima Grand Canyon. It is the main internal transport for reaching the different visitor areas. The Baima Grand Canyon and main-peak routes use different stops, so check the destination before boarding. Queues can be long during busy periods; return according to the day's last shuttle service.
Know before you go
Steps, slippery surfaces and weather
The main peak and canyon both have stone steps or wooden walkways. Mist and spray make the paths around the waterfalls and in the canyon particularly slippery after rain. Wear comfortable shoes with good grip and bring rain protection. Rain and fog can reduce visibility on the mountain and in the canyon, and cloud seas and waterfall volume cannot be guaranteed.
Queues and the return trip
The scenic shuttle, cableway and popular viewpoints may have queues on public holidays, so start early for a long hike. Long-distance hikers should watch the last shuttle and cableway services inside the park. Visitors returning by bus 307 should separately confirm the last bus of the day back to Jinzhai.
Equipment and route safety
Hiking, the waterfall area and Baima Grand Canyon are unsuitable for flip-flops or high heels. Stay on maintained scenic paths and do not enter trails that are not officially open or clearly marked. Leeches, getting lost and wet stone steps can all add risk on the mountain.
A short stop outside the park
The Liu–Deng Army's Advance into the Dabie Mountains Forward Command Headquarters (刘邓大军挺进大别山前方指挥部) is about 150 metres outside the main gate and takes around 30 minutes to visit. Tiantangzhai Town has local dishes such as Jinzhai diaoguo (金寨吊锅), a local specialty; dinner can be arranged near the gate or in town. Food choices are limited along the Baima Grand Canyon route, so bring drinking water and simple food before entering.