Plan at a glance
An underground heritage site with a formal entrance
Longyou Caves is in Xiaonanhai Town, Longyou County, Quzhou, Zhejiang, about 3 km from Longyou town. Enter through the visitor centre at the main gate and follow the fixed route arranged by the site. This is a managed underground heritage attraction with low light and some low ceilings, not a place for exploring unopened areas on your own.
Tickets and time needed
The caves have separate tickets and reservation arrangements. Prices, promotional periods, interpretation, and the number of caves open on a given day can change. Entry is usually planned for 08:30–16:30, with admission possibly stopping around 16:00; use the day’s actual arrangement. Allow about 1 hour for the cave route alone, or 2–2.5 hours if you want to include walking, the exit and a nearby independent stop.
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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Carving marks and cave structure
Stone pillars, diagonal carving marks and large underground spaces are the main features. If the route is open that day, Cave 1 offers a higher space and stone pillars, while the chamber and echo in Cave 3 and the more winding passages in Cave 5 provide different points of interest; the actual caves depend on the route open that day.
Who will enjoy it
The site suits visitors interested in ancient engineering, archaeological heritage and underground spaces, and works well as a short stop in Longyou County. The light is low and some passages are narrow, so moving carefully matters more than rushing for photos. Visitors who are uncomfortable in darkness, have limited mobility or are sensitive to low ceilings should consider whether the setting suits them.
Separate stops outside the caves
Zhulin Temple and Fengxiangzhou Water Culture Park can be added nearby, but each has its own entrance, opening arrangements and transport boundary. If you only want the caves, return through the main gate after the fixed route; there is no need to add distant stops simply to fill a day.
Build your day
About 1 hour: the fixed cave route
Enter through the main visitor centre, visit the caves open that day in the order shown on site, and return towards the exit. The route is part of the site’s management, so follow the interpretation or signs. Do not detour into closed passages, cross barriers or look for other cave entrances.
This plan suits visitors with limited time or those using Longyou Caves as one stop on a longer journey. Walk slowly inside, let people pass first at low or narrow sections, and leave through the main gate when finished.
2–2.5 hours: caves plus a nearby walk
You can spend about 1.5 hours in the caves, walk roughly 30 minutes to Zhulin Temple, and then continue to Fengxiangzhou Water Culture Park if your energy and the day’s arrangements allow. The temple, park and caves are managed separately; they do not form one ticket or one internal route.
If your group needs a longer rest or fewer caves are open that day, the cave visit itself is a complete stop. Decide on nearby walking only after leaving the caves and confirming transport and opening boundaries.
Get there
Driving and parking
For driving, navigate to “Longyou Caves Parking Lot 2,” which is close to the main entrance. The parking area has charging facilities. Fees, spaces and charger availability can change, so follow the on-site directions to the visitor centre after arrival.
Longyou Caves is in Longyou County, outside walking distance of Quzhou old city and the Jiangshan attractions. If you add it to a city itinerary, calculate the county-to-county drive and return time separately.
From Longyou Station
After taking the high-speed train to Longyou Station, a taxi takes about 15 minutes to the caves, a distance of roughly 8 km. Bus 8 also reaches the site, but services are limited. Groups or travellers with a fixed return time should arrange the vehicle in advance rather than wait for a limited bus after arrival.
Know before you go
Low light, low ceilings and temperature
The caves feel cooler than outdoors, so a light layer is useful even in summer. Some passages are dark and low; wear comfortable walking shoes, lower your head in low sections, and slow down on slippery or crowded stretches.
The site only opens the route managed for visitors that day. Do not enter closed caves or cross barriers, and do not stop in narrow passages or at entrances for photos.
Tickets, interpretation and photography services
Tickets, reservations, temporary free-entry programmes and interpretation arrangements change by date, so follow the entry arrangements for your visit. Photography services, photo mounting and the cultural shop are separate commercial arrangements and may not be available on every visit.
If you want a souvenir, confirm the shop’s opening period before setting your departure time. Keep a return buffer after the cave route, especially if you need to catch a train or one of the limited buses at Longyou Station.
Keep it separate from other Quzhou attractions
Longyou Caves, Quzhou Ancient City, Jianglang Mountain and Nianbadu Ancient Town are in different areas. Treat the caves as a separate Longyou County visit, or combine them with a separately planned temple or park stop; keep them outside the old-city walking route.