Plan at a glance
About one hour in the cave, half a day with the city
Panlong Cave is at 75 Panlong Road in Yunfu’s Yuncheng District, near Lion Mountain. Adult admission is listed at about CNY 30 on weekdays and CNY 40 on weekends and public holidays. Student and senior tickets are listed at about CNY 20; children under 1.2 metres and visitors aged 70 or over are listed as free.
The cave is open from 08:30–17:30, with final entry at 17:00. The cave may close during thunderstorms; follow the visitor centre’s arrangements for a refund or a change of plan rather than assuming that the normal cave route operates in all weather.
The cave stays at about 18°C. The cave visit itself takes about 40 minutes, while a first visit combined with Tianhu Square, Yunfu Museum or the old streets works better with 2–3 hours. Floors are damp and slippery, and some passages are narrow, so wear shoes with good grip and bring a light layer.
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Use the standard admission package for the core shuttle route; confirm the visit date and current opening hours before checkout.
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Stone flowers, rock curtains and the underground river
Heavenly Passage Cave contains unusual stone-flower formations. The Jade Canopy is a large shield- and curtain-like formation, while Longquan Underground River has intermittent surges. Other sections contain a range of rock formations shaped by natural processes and named in the visitor route.
The stone flowers do not grow downward like ordinary stalactites; their crystals spread in several directions. Do not use flash photography, touch the formations or stand too close for a better angle. Damp air and coloured lighting also mean that photographs may look different from what you see in person.
Who it suits, and who should take care
Panlong Cave suits families, geology enthusiasts, visitors looking for a cool indoor stop and photographers. Some sections are narrow and air circulation is limited, so visitors who are uncomfortable in enclosed spaces should consider the route length before entering.
Visitors who want to avoid a long wait should come on a weekday or soon after opening. Tianhu Square is free and next to the cave, so a group member who does not enter can wait by the lake or take a short walk.
Build your day
About 40 minutes: short cave route
Visitor centre and ticketing → wait at the entrance pavilion for the next group → Heavenly Passage Cave → Nine-Dragon Corridor → Longquan Underground River → exit. After buying a ticket, visitors generally wait about 20 minutes; during holidays, groups are listed at up to 80 people, so include the wait in your schedule.
A guide leads each group, so you do not need to find the route on your own. The exit is to the right of the entrance and close to the car park, so you do not have to walk back up the hill for your vehicle.
2–3 hours: cave and city culture
Visit the cave first, then walk around Tianhu Square. Depending on the time, continue to Yunfu Museum, Nanshan Forest Park or Dongjie and Xijie for the old streets. The cave’s group-entry system and the museum’s last-entry time affect the order even when the stops look close on a map.
If you also want Yunfu Museum, enter before 16:30. If thunderstorms close the cave, visit the museum or old streets first and decide later whether the cave has reopened.
Adjust when the queue is long
Ask the visitor centre about the next group before deciding whether to wait at the entrance. Families with children can walk around Tianhu Square during the wait, and groups travelling together can agree to meet at the exit or car park.
The cave is not a free-flowing path, so do not leave the guide group to save time. Follow the on-site instructions for group entry, the explanation route and the exit.
Get there
Driving and train connections
Navigate to “Panlong Cave Scenic Area”. The south-gate car park is listed as free and usually has space; some spaces have charging points. Park, buy or collect your ticket at the visitor centre, and then follow the group-entry arrangement.
From Yunfu East Station, take bus K01 to the cave. A taxi from within Yunfu is also convenient. If you get off at Tianhu Square, walk across the square to reach the entrance.
Use Tianhu Square as a meeting point
Tianhu Square is next to Panlong Cave and works well for waiting, walking and a family break. If your group separates, agree on the lake entrance, cave entrance or south-gate car park rather than trying to find each other inside the cave.
Taxis between Yunfu’s city attractions are generally practical, but the cave’s finishing time depends on the group-entry system. If you need to catch a train or reach a museum before closing, confirm the return point before buying the ticket.
Know before you go
Storms, damp floors and temperature
The cave may close during thunderstorms, so check the visitor centre’s arrangement before entering. At about 18°C, the cave can feel cool, and frequent dripping makes floors and steps slippery. Shoes with good grip are safer than sandals or hard-soled fashion shoes.
Some passages are narrow and air circulation is limited. Visitors with claustrophobia or a strong sensitivity to damp, cool spaces should understand the route before deciding to enter.
Photography and group order
Flash photography is prohibited, especially around the stone-flower formations. Step aside before taking a picture, and do not touch the rock or block a narrow passage for a photograph.
The cave is toured in guided groups. Do not leave the group. Arriving around 09:30 on a weekday or early on a holiday morning can help avoid larger tour groups, but final entry is still at 17:00.