Plan at a glance
How much time to allow
Taian Underground Dragon Palace is in Baota Long Tourist Area in Qiujiadian Town, Taishan District, Tai'an. It is a natural cave and underground-river rafting attraction, separate from the Mount Tai hiking routes. Allow 2.5–3 hours for the full visit, including the visitor centre, main cave, underground rafting, and the walk back from the exit. A shorter cave-and-rafting visit takes about 1.5–2 hours.
The visitor centre is the single entrance. The main cave area is about 3 km from it. The round-trip sightseeing vehicle costs around CNY 20; walking one way takes about 30 minutes, before adding the walking inside the cave and around the exit.
Tickets and opening hours
The admission ticket does not include rafting and costs around CNY 108. A cave-viewing and underground-rafting combination ticket costs around CNY 168. Children under 1.4 metres are free for the admission ticket; visitors aged 60–69 and students receive half-price discounts with the required documents. Check whether your ticket includes rafting and the sightseeing vehicle.
The attraction is open around 08:40–17:00, with last entry at 16:00. Advance reservation is usually not required, and buying online can reduce time at the ticket counter. Arriving after the last-entry time may leave too little time for both the cave and the rafting route.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
View Visit Optionsvia Trip.comChoose your visit
Caves and underground rafting
The main experience combines a natural cave system with about 3,000 metres of underground-river rafting. Inside, you will see karst features such as stalagmites, stone waterfalls, and flowstone curtains. The rafting section takes about 20 minutes, and areas such as East Sea Dragon Palace and Sea-Calming Needle are places to stop and look around or take photos.
The cave temperature is usually around 18°C, making it cooler than the surface in summer. The rafting produces some splashing, and the attraction provides shoe covers. It suits visitors who want a gentle water activity alongside a cave visit.
Who it suits
Families can combine the cave scenery, geological displays, and relatively gentle rafting, but there is still a long walk from the visitor centre to the cave and from the cave to the exit. Older adults and young children should use the sightseeing vehicle and decide how much of the exit route they can comfortably walk.
Photography enthusiasts can focus on the cave lighting, stone pillars, and rafting scenes, but keep your camera steady on the cave paths and boat. This works best as a half-day visit, not as a last-minute stop after a Mount Tai summit trip.
Build your day
Full visiting sequence
After buying and checking your ticket at the visitor centre, take the sightseeing vehicle or walk to the main cave entrance. Walk through the principal cave sights first, then enter the roughly 3,000-metre underground rafting route. After rafting, continue on foot to the exit and take the sightseeing vehicle back to the visitor centre.
The sightseeing vehicle covers the 3 km distance between the visitor centre and the cave; it does not replace the walking inside the cave or around the exit. Wear shoes suitable for a long walk and include the shopping corridor and the walk back after rafting in your total time.
Shorter route and ticket choices
For a 1.5–2-hour short visit, take the sightseeing vehicle to the cave, view the main cave section, complete the rafting, and return along the route. When time is limited, keep the main cave sights and rafting, and reduce stops in the outer areas.
The admission-only ticket covers cave viewing but not the underground rafting. With a combination ticket, confirm the rafting entrance, current operation, and return direction before entering. The sightseeing vehicle is useful transport for older adults, children, and visitors who cannot comfortably walk long distances; it is not an internal cave ride.
Get there
Reaching the visitor centre
Drivers can navigate to Taian Underground Dragon Palace or Baota Long Tourist Area, which has a large parking lot. Parking costs around CNY 10 per visit. From the square outside Taishan Railway Station, bus You 4 runs directly to the attraction entrance for around CNY 5.
Taian Underground Dragon Palace is in the Qiujiadian Town direction and is not on the same walking route as Red Gate, Tianwai Village, or Dai Temple. For the return, arrange transport from the visitor centre or the attraction entrance; Mount Tai's buses and cableways are not the relevant transfer system here.
Moving around the site
The visitor centre is about 3 km from the main cave, and the sightseeing vehicle costs around CNY 20 for a return trip. Walking takes about 30 minutes one way and suits visitors who want a slower approach and have the stamina for it. With children, older adults, or luggage, include the vehicle in your visit budget.
Know before you go
Tickets, entry, and rafting
The admission ticket, cave-and-rafting combination ticket, and sightseeing vehicle ticket cover different parts of the visit. Rafting is not included in the admission-only ticket, and the sightseeing vehicle is also a separate purchase. Check the inclusions shown on the online ticket before paying.
Last entry is at 16:00, and arriving late may leave time for only part of the cave route. Heavy rain, road conditions, or the day's operating arrangements may affect rafting and sightseeing vehicles, so adjust the sequence after checking what is running.
Temperature, footwear, and the return
The cave stays around 18°C, so a light jacket is useful even in summer. Rafting causes some splashing; shoe covers are available, and a rain jacket can be bought near the rafting point if needed. Shoes with good grip are safer than loose sandals.
The site includes long walking sections and a shopping corridor near the exit, which can be tiring for older adults and children. Prepare water, medication, and simple food before entering; you can return to central Tai'an for a meal after the visit.