Things to do in Lanshan

No. 16 of Family-friendly Attractions in Hunan

Yunbing Mountain Scenic Area

Mount Paradise is located at Nanfeng'ao in Lanshan County, primarily composed of four peaks: Dupangling, Xifengling, Dongbianling, and Hululing, bordering Lianzhou City in Guangdong Province. The attraction features distinctive natural ecological resources, with dreamy sea of clouds, spectacular ice formations, bamboo forest valleys, and alpine azaleas as its core tourism resources.Known as the "Snow Village of the South," this attraction features unique sights like thousand-year-old moss and ancient bird migration paths. Rich in cultural heritage, it showcases Yao ethnic traditions, historic salt-carrying trails, and remnants of the Red Army's Long March. With well-developed facilities including boutique homestays, cafes, and observation decks, it's an ideal destination for summer retreats, snow viewing, birdwatching, and experiencing local customs.

No. 3 of Best Things to Do in Yongzhou

Jiuyi Mountain Scenic Area

Jiuyishan National Nature Reserve, located in Ningyuan County, Yongzhou City, about 30 km south of Ningyuan town, is steeped in ancient Chinese legends. It is said that Emperor Shun of antiquity was buried at the foot of the mountain. Over the centuries, numerous renowned poets and scholars have visited this site, leaving behind a wealth of literary works praising its beauty. Since the Qin and Han dynasties, emperors have either paid remote tributes to Emperor Shun or sent officials to worship on their behalf, resulting in numerous sacred relics, historical traces, and cultural artifacts. The Emperor Shun Mausoleum scenic area,Ningyuan Confucian TempleUnique cultural attractions like cliff carvings and inscriptions attract numerous visitors from around the world. This is one of the sources of the Xiang River, where lush forests thrive with unique vegetation like stone pines, fragrant firs, and mottled bamboo—collectively known as the "Three Treasures of Jiuyi." The scenic area is dotted with rivers and pools. Key attractions include the Emperor Shun Mausoleum Scenic Area, Purple Cloud Cave, Emperor Shun Temple Archaeological Site Park (Jade Tube Rock), and Ehuang Peak. Visitors can opt for a combo ticket covering all attractions or purchase individual admission tickets for specific sites like the Emperor Shun Mausoleum, Purple Cloud Cave, or Jade Tube Rock. The Shun Emperor Mausoleum attraction consists of two natural courtyards and nine individual structures, arranged from the exterior inward.Yudai BridgeThe complex features the Ceremonial Gate, Sacred Way, Mountain Gate, Qian Gate, Worship Hall, Main Hall, Resting Hall, left and right wing rooms, left and right stele rooms, stele corridors, all enclosed by palace walls on three sides.Shunyuan PeakYes, this onePianshan DistrictThe main peak is named after the legendary burial site of Emperor Shun at its foothills. Yongfu Temple within the attraction stands alongside the ancient Shun Temple. Built during the Southern Qi Dynasty (479 AD), Yongfu Temple boasts over 1,500 years of history, dating back to the same era as Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou. Zixia Rock, located on the mountainside about 1 km south of the Shun Mausoleum Scenic Area, isKarst landscapeUnderground karst cave. The cave features exquisite stalactites and a crystal-clear stream flowing through its vast chambers, which are spacious enough to accommodate thousands of visitors. Located about 2 km south of Shunyuan Peak Scenic Area, Yuguan Rock is another limestone cave with the inscription "Yuguan Rock" written by Li Tingzu of the Song Dynasty above its entrance. The right wall bears carvings by Fang Xinru, the Song Dynasty governor of Daozhou.Jiuyi Mountain"Three large characters," inscribed alongside Cai Yong's "Jiuyi MountainThe "Inscription" and the calligraphy and poems by famous historical figures are carved on the cave walls, scattered across the cliff faces surrounding Yuguan Rock, forming an impressive collection of poetic inscriptions and stone tablets.

Lanshan Valley Ecotourism Resort

No. 4 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Yongzhou

Emperor Shun's Mausoleum Scenic Area

Shundiling Tourist Site is located at Jiuyishan Mountain to the south of Ningyuan county, and belongs to the core tourist attractions of Jiuyishan. This is a temple complex dedicated to the sepulcher of Shundi (the ruler of Shun), one of the five ancestral forefathers of the Chinese people. The place boasts sites such as the tomb of Shundi, relevant stone carvings, historic relics, cliff inscriptions, as well as lake and mountainside views. The complex consists of Lingshan (the peak of Shunyuan), the temple of the tomb of Shun, the Path of Gods, and the burial site. This is a great tourist spot characterized by its vendent forests, fresh air, and a large number of historic sites.

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Qingyuan

Lianzhou underground river

Lianzhou underground river is located 26 km northeast of the ancient city of Lianzhou, nestled in the towering mountains at the junction of Guangdong, Guangxi and Hunan provinces. It is a giant natural limestone cave typical of subtropical karst landforms. Renowned for its mysterious and magnificent stalactites and subterranean rivers, it is hailed as the premier underground river in Guangdong. The attraction features both land and water routes - the land route showcases the cave formations while the water route explores the underground river. With its grand scale, spectacular views and unique combination of features, the Lianzhou underground river is considered a marvel of Lingnan region. Celebrated writer Qin Mu described it as "a mysterious and magnificent underground river". Its distinctive characteristics include caves within caves, rivers within caves, bridges within caves and waterfalls within caves. The Lianzhou underground river lies hidden in a karst cave halfway up the high mountain, covering an area of 100,000 m² with 60,000 m² accessible for visitors. The upper two levels feature spectacular sights like the 30 m-high sky-piercing pillar and the immortal field square that can accommodate 10,000 people. The third level consists of a winding underground river where water quietly flows into the cave's depths. The cave presents an extraordinary landscape with endless mountain-water vistas, towering cliffs, and naturally formed majestic openings that create a profound sense of discovering a hidden world - arguably surpassing even the seven-star attraction. With year-round temperatures maintained at 18-22°C, humidity at 96-98%, oxygen levels as high as 21.4-21.6%, and carbon dioxide content merely 0.01-0.019%, the cave offers fresh air, warm winters and cool summers, making it an ideal sanctuary for tourism and summer retreats. The cave features countless stalactites of diverse shapes and dazzling colors, with the tour area divided into three levels. The upper and middle levels are land layers with tall, spacious halls and solid rock walls, presenting magnificent scenes like "waterfalls," "mountain forests," "secluded valleys," "pastoral fields," and "Yao villages," where flowers bloom in competition and birds soar amid drifting clouds. The lower level is an underground river meandering 1,500 m from north to south, passing through three beautiful gorges and beneath four mountain peaks. The river is 1.6-10 m wide and 1-7 m deep, with breathtaking scenery along both banks, including the cave treasures "Golden rooster heralds the dawn" and "Flying elephant crosses the river," as well as the two-in-one spectacle "Longevity star" in the underground river. There are also nearly 100 natural wonders formed by stone pillars, stone curtains, stalagmites, stone lotus roots, and stone flowers, such as "Flying waterfall and strange rocks" and "Flower and bird divine pavilion." Every natural wonder leaves visitors in awe, making them reluctant to leave. Lianzhou underground river offers free guide services, and viewing the stone formations with the guide's explanation makes it more fascinating. After walking through the land layer, visitors can board a cruise boat, with each boat accommodating approx. 18 people. The small boat travels along the underground river through winding and narrow passages, where stalactites overhead are within reach. Along the way, you'll pass through three gorges: banana gorge, lotus gorge, and Lianzhou underground river-dragon gate gorge. The stalactite formations on both banks, illuminated by lights, create a breathtaking sight. Visitors often get wet from water droplets falling from the dome, unlike overdeveloped caves that have dried up and lost their vitality. Product type: Land layer tour + cruise. The Lianzhou underground river attraction operates on a single-ticket system for the cave. The standard tour duration is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours (may extend during peak season and holidays). The itinerary includes walking through the land layer and taking a cruise along the underground river. The cruise lasts about 10-15 minutes, and the entire cave tour takes approx. 1.5 hours.

2026 Global 100 - Family-friendly Attractions

Chimelong Safari Park

Dive into a wildlife paradise and explore over 500 global treasures, a place where you can connect with nature like never before! Encounter the world's only panda triplets, Australia's cuddly koalas, South Africa's playful meerkats, Thailand's majestic Asian elephants, and the endangered Malayan tapirs of Southeast Asia. The Park offers two unique wildlife experiences: embark on a self-drive safari across continents or stroll along tours that bring you up close to nature's stars. Capture moments with giant pandas munching on bamboo, snap selfies with snoozing koalas, or watch tigers roam rocky terrains. Don't forget to elevate your visit with cable cars for panoramic views of flamingo flocks and lion prides. Chimelong Safari Park is a great place for animal lovers, families, and anyone looking for a fun and educational day out. With its impressive variety of animals and unique experiences, it's a must-visit spot in Guangzhou! ▲ Say hi to Mongooses ▲Panda. Meet the one and only triplets! ▲ Lizard  ▲Tiger.You can observe tigers at every stage of their growth: newborn babies, month-olds and adults  ▲ Takin (Budorcas Taxicolor),one of China's Big Three animal icons. The other two are panda and snub-nosed monkey ▲ Flamingos  ▲Your self-drive adventurewinds through different types of landscape and comes out of the East African grassland to call it a day

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Guangzhou Chimelong Tourist Resort

Guangzhou Chimelong Tourist Resort features Chimelong Safari Park, Chimelong Happy World, Guangzhou Chimelong International Circus, Chimelong Water Park, Chimelong Birds Park andChimelong Hotel, Chimelong Panda HotelAnd multiple theme parks and premium resort hotels. Chimelong Safari Park is home to the giant panda triplets "Meng, Shuai, Ku," and has successfully bred 10 surviving pandas across 7 litters to date. It also houses a koala population second only to that in Australia, as well as nearly 500 species and over 20,000 rare animals from around the world, including white tigers that account for more than half of the global population. Chimelong Happy World and Chimelong Water Park have been in operation for over 10 years, and Chimelong Water Park has received the TEA "Outstanding Achievement Award" for its innovative "Rocking Tug" ride. Chimelong Happy World and Chimelong Water Park have cultivated several well-known entertainment brands such as "Happy Halloween" and "Water Electronic Music Festival," becoming trendy landmarks for young people's leisure and entertainment. After 20 years of continuous innovation, Guangzhou Chimelong International Circus, together with Zhuhai Hengqin Chimelong International Circus, has welcomed nearly 500 circus artists from over 20 countries to perform in Guangzhou and Zhuhai, creating a "world circus stage that never stops." Chimelong Birds Park is a theme park integrating bird watching, science education, and precious wetland plants—"a place to truly see birds fly"—featuring hundreds of species and tens of thousands of rare birds and amphibians. The resort is vast in scale, with a single park typically requiring half a day to a full day to explore. For those wanting to visit multiple parks, staying at an on-site themed hotel eliminates the need for round-trip travel. Family-friendly groups often prefer the animal world and bird park, while travelers seeking thrills are better suited for the amusement park. Don't forget the water park during summer.

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Guilin

Elephant Hill Scenic Area

The Elephant Hill Scenic Area is located in the heart of Guilin, at the confluence of the Li River and the Peach Blossom River. It derives its name from its resemblance to a giant elephant stretching its trunk to drink from the sweet waters of the Li River. In his work "Records of Elephant Hill," Shu Shu, a Qing Dynasty official from the Ministry of Works, wrote: "The marvels of Guangxi lie in its mountains; the marvels of Guangxi's mountains lie in their rocks, and the elephant-shaped hill facing the provincial capital is the most marvelous of all." With its lifelike form, the attraction captivates visitors and stands as a quintessential representation of Guilin's landscape. In 1995, it was designated as the city emblem of Guilin. The main attractions in the scenic area include: Elephant Hill and Water Moon, Puxian Pagoda, Elephant Hill Scenic Area and Guilin Sanhua Liquor, Elephant Hill Scenic Area - Love Island, and Elephant Hill Scenic Area - Yunfeng Temple Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Exhibition Hall. Elephant trunk hill and water moon cave "Elephant trunk hill and water moon" is a spectacular wonder here, as described in the poem by Ji Bei Hermit of the Song Dynasty.Harmony of water, moon and caveThe poem reads: "The moon is beneath the water, the moon floats upon the water. The water flows but the moon stays, the moon departs yet the water still flows." On a moonlit night, visiting the Water Moon Cave at the Elephant Trunk Hill attraction presents a magical scene where the moon in the sky, the cave, and the water reflect each other beautifully. Inside the cave, you can find the "Poem and Preface of the Morning Sun Pavilion" by Zhang Xiaoxiang from the Song Dynasty and works by Fan Chengda.Inscription on the water and moon caveAnd over 50 precious cliff carvings including Lu You's poetry manuscripts. Xiangshan scenic area - Puxian pagoda Winding up along the rocky cliffs, you can see the Puxian pagoda standing tall amidst the greenery from afar. Built during the Ming dynasty, this 13.6m-high solid brick lama-style pagoda has a history of over 400 years. On the northern side of the pagoda, there is a line-engraved bluestone statue of a bodhisattva, with the mantra "Namo Puxian Bodhisattva" inscribed above it, hence the name Puxian pagoda in the Xiangshan attraction. Buddhist scriptures record that Puxian bodhisattva's mount is a six-tusked white elephant, making the pagoda's location atop Xiangshan mountain a perfect embodiment of this scripture. Elephant Hill Scenic Area and Guilin Sanhua liquor This is a natural wine cellar, with two-thirds of the mountain being hollow. It stays warm in winter and cool in summer, maintaining a constant temperature of 19°C and humidity above 90% year-round. Since the Song Dynasty, it has served as an official cellar for storing Sanhua wine. Sanhua wine is colorless and transparent, with a fragrant yet spicy taste. It drawsLi RiverWith the essence of the mountains and the soul of the Li River, it has become a representative of China's rice-aroma liquor. The cellar liquor was designated as a tribute to the imperial court as early as the Northern Song Dynasty and is one of the three treasures of Guilin. To date, nearly a thousand tons of liquor are stored in the caves. Love island Love island is located on the north side of the attraction, adjacent toLi RiverIt is another scenic viewpoint for distant viewing. The island boasts a beautiful environment and lush vegetation, making it a popular dating spot for locals in the 1970s, hence the name "love island". Today, it serves as an outdoor photography base for wedding celebrations against the backdrop of Guilin's landscape, where couples make their vows of love under the witness of the elephant trunk hill and the moon reflected in the water.

Purple Glow Rock

Purple Glow Rock, also known as Chonghua Rock, is an underground karst cave. The cave is divided into inner rock and outer rock. The rock at the entrance is majestic. In the cave, there are wind tunnels, rain holes, thunder holes, the Bayin Hall, and stalactites, which are famous for their large size and exquisiteness. The outer rock is broad with a bright purple roof. When the sun rises and shines on the roof, there will be purple air hovering around it, thus the name Purple Glow Rock.

No. 2 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Hunan

Yangtianhu Grassland

Yangtianhu Grassland is located in Beihu District, Chenzhou City, Hunan Province, with an average altitude of over 1,300 m and a total area of 40 km². It is a rare alpine grassland in southern China, hailed by many travelers as the "Hulunbuir of the south" and rated as a provincial-level tourist resort. The sixth season of Hunan TV's "Chinese Restaurant" was filmed at Yangtianhu Grassland. Yangtianhu Grassland is composed ofYangtianhu GrasslandIt consists of two parts: the grassland and the hinterland of the prairieYangtianhu GrasslandIt is an extinct volcanic crater gifted by the Quaternary glacial period, with perennial springs nourishing the entire grassland. On the ridges of the grassland stand towering wind turbines that stretch for miles, their white blades contrasting beautifully with the green grass, creating a unique and magnificent landscape. Yangtianhu Grassland has an average summer temperature of 20°C and fresh air, making it a summer retreat. The green grass season lasts up to 9 months, and the scenery of the four seasons—spring, summer, fall, and winter—each has its own unique charm; natural views such as grasslands, lakes, and wetlands make for great photos with every snap. Yangtianhu Grassland is a must-visit internet-famous attraction in Chenzhou: internet-famous food trucks, yurts, grassland cafes, and grassland campsite afternoon tea are not only refueling stations for visitors, but also internet-famous photo spots; Hobbit castle,Hobbit houseThe rainbow flying house authentically recreates movie scenes, as if stepping into a fairytale world. It also introduces adorable pets like alpacas, sika deer, call ducks, black swans, and dorper sheep—all gentle and charmingly cute. Activities include horseback riding, archery, shooting, boating, and grass sliding. Experience canyon stream trekking, grassland cultural performances, and a travel photo shoot on the prairie, letting you enjoy southern grassland scenery while fully immersing in recreational fun and deeply appreciating the pastoral cultural atmosphere.