Plan at a glance
Enter from the Yanzi River Grand Canyon visitor centre
Yanzi River Grand Canyon is in Daxiagu Village, Yanzihe Town, Jinzhai County, Lu'an, Anhui. Most visitors first navigate to the “Yanzi River Grand Canyon Visitor Centre”, then take the scenic shuttle to the East Gate, about 3 km away. The East Gate is the main sightseeing entrance, and the shuttle connects it with the visitor centre.
Driving from Hefei takes about 3.5 hours, while the journey from Jinzhai Station takes about 1 hour. The mountain road has many bends. The visitor centre has a car park with a reference rate of CNY 10–15 per day.
Tickets, scenic shuttle and opening hours
The reference adult ticket is CNY 55–60. Half-price or free-entry arrangements for older visitors, students and children follow the document requirements for the day. The scenic shuttle from the visitor centre to the East Gate is about CNY 16 per person for a return trip and is needed to reach the main sightseeing area; the entrance ticket and shuttle are charged separately.
Advance booking is usually not required. Reference opening hours are 07:30–18:00, and entry before 16:30 is recommended. Online platforms may offer discounted prices, but confirm the day's ticket prices, concession documents and shuttle arrangements on site.
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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Tiankeng Xianjing, Jiutian Xianpu and the glass attractions
Tiankeng Xianjing (天坑仙境) is a collapsed landform surrounded by cliffs on three sides. Jiutian Xianpu (九天仙瀑) has a drop of more than 150 metres, and its spray is especially noticeable when the water flow is strong. Tingyuan Willow (听愿柳) is another sight along the route. A glass walkway or glass bridge offers a higher viewpoint over the canyon.
Tiankeng Xianjing is suitable for upward photographs of the cliff walls, while the area below Jiutian Xianpu works well for capturing spray and the full waterfall. The glass attractions are charged separately; their names, operation, prices and access rules depend on the arrangements on the day.
Three routes and different levels of effort
The highlight route takes about 2–3 hours and focuses on the gentler wooden walkway on the left, Tiankeng Xianjing and Jiutian Xianpu. A glass attraction may be added later in the route according to the day's arrangements. The short route takes about 1.5–2 hours and focuses on the main sights; the longer route takes about 3–4 hours and adds stone steps, a suspension bridge and waterside sections.
Visitors travelling with older adults or children can start with the gentler wooden walkway on the left, where the first section is less demanding. The later part of the full route also has steps and a suspension bridge, so older adults, children and visitors with limited fitness can turn back after the main sights in the front section.
Who it suits
Yanzi River Grand Canyon suits visitors who enjoy canyon scenery, forest walkways, waterfalls and hiking. It also works for families looking for a light outdoor activity. Tiankeng Xianjing, Jiutian Xianpu and the glass attractions are concentrated in the main sightseeing section, so the length of the visit can vary with the route.
Waterfalls usually have more flow after rain or during the wetter season, but the wooden walkways, steps and glass sections also become more slippery. In the dry season, changing water levels may affect the waterfall views. Visitors who only want a gentle walk can stay on the left-hand route and keep the visit shorter; the steps, suspension bridge and waterside sections in the later loop require more effort.
Build your day
Highlight visit: the left wooden walkway, Tiankeng Xianjing and Jiutian Xianpu
Take the scenic shuttle from the visitor centre to the East Gate → enter through the East Gate → follow the gentler wooden walkway on the left → visit Tiankeng Xianjing → continue to Jiutian Xianpu → choose a glass walkway or glass bridge according to that day's operation and charges → return along the open route. Allow about 2–3 hours for the complete visit; glass attractions cost extra.
This route begins with a gentler walkway before reaching the main sights and elevated attractions, which helps groups with older adults or children manage the first section. The canyon is humid, so slow down after rain and wear shoes with good grip.
Short visit: the main waterfalls and the return route
Take the scenic shuttle to the East Gate → go directly to Tiankeng Xianjing and Jiutian Xianpu → decide at the glass attraction whether to try it under the day's rules → return along the same route to the East Gate → take the scenic shuttle back to the visitor centre. Allow about 1.5–2 hours. This suits visitors with limited time or those who only want the main sights.
The glass walkway or glass bridge is a separately charged activity, with a reference price of about CNY 10 per person. It may have limited opening hours or restrictions on the number of passages. Confirm the price, opening status and how the route reconnects before paying.
Longer visit and a self-drive combination with nearby sights
The longer route follows the scenic-area loop on foot. The first section is relatively gentle, while the later part adds stone steps, a suspension bridge and waterside sections. Allow about 3–4 hours. If a companion is not comfortable with continuous steps or the suspension bridge, turn back after the main sights in the front section.
Yanzi River Grand Canyon is about a 40-minute drive from Tiantangzhai and can also be combined with Dabie Mountains Grottoes or West Anhui Rift Valley in a self-drive route around the same part of Jinzhai. Each site has its own ticket and entrance; if you visit another scenic area on the same day, allow time for the drive and entry to the next site.
Get there
Drive to the Yanzi River Grand Canyon visitor centre
Navigate to the “Yanzi River Grand Canyon Visitor Centre”, park and buy your ticket there, then take the scenic shuttle to the East Gate. Driving from Hefei takes about 3.5 hours, and the journey from Jinzhai Station takes about 1 hour. Once you enter the mountain area, there are many bends, so control your speed according to the road conditions.
The visitor-centre car park has a reference rate of CNY 10–15 per day, with spaces and charges subject to the arrangements on the day. The East Gate and visitor centre are about 3 km apart by mountain road, and the scenic shuttle operates this connection.
Continue from Jinzhai Station
After arriving at Jinzhai Station by high-speed rail, take a taxi or local transport to the Yanzi River Grand Canyon visitor centre. Public transport and connecting services are less flexible than driving. If you plan to return on the same day, confirm the outbound trip, return option and drop-off point before setting out.
Once inside, the East Gate is the main starting point. Walking is the main way to move between Tiankeng Xianjing, Jiutian Xianpu and the glass attractions. The scenic shuttle connects the visitor centre and East Gate; it does not replace the wooden walkways, steps and suspension-bridge sections inside the scenic area.
Know before you go
Wet surfaces, insects and suitable clothing
The canyon is humid, and the wooden walkways, steps, glass sections and rock surfaces can be slippery after rain. Wear sports shoes with good grip and bring insect repellent in summer. Flip-flops and high heels are unsuitable for the glass attractions and some elevated sections.
When travelling with older adults or children, start on the gentler wooden walkway on the left and judge whether to continue after seeing the actual conditions around Tiankeng Xianjing, the waterfall and the later steps. Mountain weather can affect waterfall flow, trail conditions and visibility, so photographs cannot be guaranteed.
Scenic shuttle, glass attractions and holiday crowds
The reference return fare for the shuttle between the visitor centre and East Gate is CNY 16 per person. The glass walkway or glass bridge is about CNY 10 per person. They serve different purposes and their prices are not combined. During public holidays, the car park, shuttle and glass attractions may have queues, and online prices or project rules may differ from those on site.
Confirm the day's opening hours, shuttle services and glass-attraction charge before entering. If you choose the longer route, remember that the steps and suspension bridge in the later section add walking time.
Food and rest nearby
For a meal, consider the restaurant at Xianjing Resort (仙境度假村) or a local farmhouse restaurant near the scenic area. Common local flavours include Jinzhai diaoguo (金寨吊锅). If you link Tiantangzhai, Dabie Mountains Grottoes or West Anhui Rift Valley in a self-drive route, arrange separate time for parking, tickets and the return journey at each site.