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Hailongtun

海龙屯

Plan Hailongtun in Zunyi with CNY 65 admission, CNY 35 sightseeing bus, front-up back-down route, Thirty-Six-Step Heavenly Stairway, weather, and return transport tips.

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Quick Facts
Ticket
Admission CNY 65; sightseeing bus CNY 35.
Hours
Summer 08:30-18:00, last entry 16:30; winter 09:00-17:30, last entry 16:00.
Transport
No metro. From Zunyi city, use self-driving, taxi, hired car, or limited tourist bus service to Hailongtun.
Duration
3-5 hours
Best Time
Spring-autumn and dry days for safer stone steps
Visitors
Adults
Book Ticketsvia Trip.com
How to Visit
1

Treat Hailongtun as a mountain-climbing heritage site

Hailongtun is not a normal museum. It is a Tusi military fortress built into the mountains. The nine passes, Thirty-Six-Step Heavenly Stairway, and New Palace ruins all require walking and climbing.

Tip:If you only want an easy exhibition visit, Hailongtun will feel harder than expected. If you like history and mountain ruins, it is very worthwhile.
2

Use the front-mountain-up and back-mountain-down route first

A reliable route is to climb from the front mountain through the passes and the Thirty-Six-Step Heavenly Stairway to the New Palace ruins, then descend toward the back mountain and connect with the sightseeing bus.

Tip:This route shows the core defense system and feels less tiring than going up and down the same way.
3

Use the sightseeing bus as a transfer, not as a replacement for the hike

The distance from the visitor center to the trailhead is long, and the sightseeing bus saves a dull approach section. The core ruins still require walking.

Tip:Use CNY 65 for admission and CNY 35 for the sightseeing bus as the main planning reference. Do not assume the bus makes every key point easy.
4

Choose clear or dry weather

Hailongtun has many stone steps and steep sections. In rain or fog, visibility drops and the steps become slippery, especially on the way down.

Tip:If it rains, shorten the route rather than forcing the Thirty-Six-Step Heavenly Stairway and steep sections.
Highlights
  • Hailongtun is one of Zunyi's most important World Cultural Heritage sites and suits history-focused travelers.
  • The nine passes make the Tusi fortress defense system easy to understand on-site.
  • The Thirty-Six-Step Heavenly Stairway is the strongest section for feeling the site's steep terrain, but it also requires stamina.
  • The New Palace ruins are mostly walls and foundations, but their scale and position are impressive.
  • The mix of mountain terrain, ruins, and military defense structure gives Hailongtun a clearer identity than a simple old town.
Insider Tips

✦Wear non-slip sports shoes; avoid hard-soled shoes or sandals on rainy days.

✦Supplies inside the scenic area are limited, so bring water and simple food before entering the mountain.

✦Plan return transport in advance. The site is remote, and late-day ride-hailing may be difficult.

✦With older travelers, children, or knee problems, shorten the route instead of forcing the full crossing.

✦Read a little about the Bozhou Yang Tusi history before visiting; the ruins are much easier to understand with context.

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Admission

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Typical Visit

1-3 days depending on how many sections you visit

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Official admission CNY 80; sightseeing bus CNY 20 round trip or CNY 10 one way; elevator CNY 20 one way.

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Admission

Official admission CNY 80; sightseeing bus CNY 25 round trip.

Typical Visit

3-5 hours; longer if adding higher viewpoints

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Typical Visit

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Typical Visit

3-5 hours if walking; shorter only if cableway is operating

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All Ages

Admission

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Typical Visit

3-5 hours