Plan at a glance
The cave and what the tickets cover
Kaiyuan Cave is in Donggao Village, Yuanquan Town, Boshan District. The cave is about 1,100 metres long, with a year-round temperature of roughly 16–18°C. Its halls follow the sequence of Water Curtain Hall, Dragon Ridge Hall, Pearl Hall, Gathering Immortals Hall, and Guanyin Hall. It suits visitors who want the cave to be the main content of the visit.
A cave-only ticket is approximately CNY 80–90, while a combination ticket is approximately CNY 160. The combination ticket may include a sightseeing bus, high-altitude zipline, mountain rafting, and some rides. In the busy season from April to October, hours are roughly 07:30–17:30; in the low season, roughly 08:00–17:00. Holiday evening sessions may be added, so confirm the day’s arrangement.
Treat the first-entry ticket and cave ticket separately
The scenic area sometimes offers “free first-entry admission,” but this does not usually mean free entry to the cave. Before buying, check what is included in the basic admission, cave ticket, sightseeing bus, zipline, rafting, and rides. Do not infer that the cave is free from a free-first-entry offer.
Allow about 1.5 hours for a quick route or 3–4 hours if you add the sightseeing bus, Bird Garden, zipline, rafting, and rides. Queues for outdoor activities and the walk from the parking area to the cave can affect the actual finish time.
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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Five halls and cliff inscriptions
Dragon Ridge Hall contains a natural stone ridge shaped like a dragon and about 45 metres long. Pearl Hall includes stone formations resembling grapes. The lighting in Gathering Immortals Hall helps reveal the shapes of the stalactites, while the “First Cave in Shandong” stone inscription outside is a common photo stop. The cliff inscriptions from the Kaiyuan era of the Tang dynasty relate to the attraction’s name and can be viewed outside the cave.
The cave stays around 16–18°C, making it a useful cool section in summer. The floor is damp, and display lighting can affect photo clarity, so focus on the sequence of halls and the conditions underfoot.
Outdoor activities and who they suit
Families can choose the Bird Garden, rides, or mountain activities according to the children’s ages. Visitors who enjoy more thrilling experiences can consider the high-altitude zipline and mountain rafting. Outdoor activities have separate opening and ticket conditions; older adults, children, and anyone with limited mobility should assess the walking and slopes first.
Kaiyuan Cave, Lushan National Forest Park, and Yuanshan National Forest Park can form a Boshan nature route, but their entrances, parking, and tickets are completely separate. If combining them in one day, first confirm the cave’s last admission time before deciding whether to add a forest park.
Build your day
A 1.5 hour cave route
Walk from the entrance to the cave and visit Water Curtain Hall, Dragon Ridge Hall, Pearl Hall, Gathering Immortals Hall, and Guanyin Hall in sequence, then leave through the exit. This route does not add paid outdoor activities and suits visitors whose main goals are the cave scenery and its cool environment.
Stairs and damp surfaces inside the cave affect walking speed. Do not stay in narrow passages for a long time while taking photos. After leaving the cave, also allow for the walk between the cave, parking area, ticket office, and exit before planning the next attraction.
A complete 3–4 hour route
Finish the five cave halls first, then take the sightseeing bus uphill from the exit. Consider the Bird Garden, high-altitude zipline, and mountain rafting in sequence, finish with the rides at the foot of the mountain, and leave. Package contents can change, so check every included activity when buying.
On holidays, the zipline and rafting may have queues of 1–2 hours even though the actual experience is brief. If time is limited, complete the cave first, then choose one or two of the zipline, rafting, and rides, leaving enough time to return to the parking area.
Get there
Driving and parking
By car, navigate to “Kaiyuan Cave Scenic Area.” Parking is approximately CNY 10 per visit; there is also parking outside the ticket hall, according to on-site directions. Public transport such as Bus 13 can reach the surrounding area, but services are infrequent and the journey takes longer.
You need to walk from the parking area to the cave entrance. The outdoor ride area may also require a vehicle transfer or more walking from the cave. Before entering, confirm the sightseeing-bus direction and the exit used that day to avoid searching for the shuttle again after completing the cave route.
Know before you go
Buying tickets and checking open activities
The cave-only ticket is approximately CNY 80–90 and the combination ticket approximately CNY 160. Children, students, and older adults may have discounts. Check whether the combination ticket includes the sightseeing bus, zipline, rafting, and rides one by one; a free-first-entry offer does not replace a cave ticket.
High- and low-season hours differ, and holiday evening sessions may also change. The cave, zipline, rafting, and rides may adjust their opening status independently, so choose the route according to the products available that day.
Damp surfaces, queues, and food
Humidity is high inside the cave and the floor may be slippery. Wear shoes with good grip and slow down on stairs. Both the walk from the parking area to the cave and the cave route itself require walking, so avoid bringing large luggage inside.
Nearby food options include Baijia Restaurant and Diyihe Fishing Village; on holidays, you may need to wait for a table. If continuing to Lushan or Yuanshan, check the forest park’s last admission time before planning food and the drive between attractions.