Things to do in Shandan
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Top 10 attractions in Shandan
Shandan Big Buddha Temple
It is located about 5 kilometers west of the county seat of Shandan County, backed by mountains. It is an ancient temple built in the Northern Wei Dynasty. The temple is one of the largest in the country. The indoor clay sculpture of the seated Buddha is famous. Historically, the monasteries had a high status. Zhu Qizhen, Emperor Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty, once wrote the name of the monastery. Most of the monasteries today were renovated in the 1990s. There are several main buildings in the monastery, such as the mountain gate, the Mahavira Hall, the Five Hundred Arhat Hall, and the Dizang Bodhisattva Hall, as well as the squares and buildings in the courtyard such as the Nine Dragons Mu Prince, the Buddhist Culture Corridor, the Seven-hole Archway, and the Footprints of the Buddha. Visit them one by one. The more important landscapes mainly include the Daxiong Hall and the Wubai Luohan Hall. The Daxiong Palace is a loft-style high-rise all-wooden building. The whole body is very beautiful in red, and you can take photos from the outside to visit. The building enshrines the famous Buddha of the whole monastery, namely the seated statue of Sakyamuni. It is 35 meters high. The hands, feet, chest and face of the seated Buddha are covered with pure gold. After climbing to the top of the building, you can also see the scenery of the reservoir in the distance, and the field of vision is very wide.Shandan · 5.7km from downtown
Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple
The Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple is located in the urban area of Zhangye. It was first built during the Yong'an era of the Western Xia Dynasty and has a history of over 900 years. The temple is renowned for housing one of China's largest indoor clay reclining Buddha statues, along with other distinctive ancient structures such as the earthen pagoda and the Shanxi Guild Hall, which are open for visits. Exhibitions inside the temple help travelers understand Buddhist art and the history of the Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple. As one of Zhangye's iconic attractions, it is a must-see for visitors to the city. The current site of the temple is not large, with a depth of approx. 200 m and a width of approx. 100 m. Visitors can enter from the western square and explore on foot. The main buildings open for visits, from west to east, include the Giant Buddha Hall, the Hall of Ten Thousand Saints (now the Buddhist Art Exhibition Hall), the Scripture Hall (now the Buddhist Texts Exhibition Hall), the earthen pagoda, and the Shanxi Guild Hall. A complete tour takes approx. 1–2 hrs. The Giant Buddha Hall is the temple's most significant structure and the highlight for travelers. It features one of China's largest indoor clay reclining Buddha statues, depicting the Nirvana of Sakyamuni. The statue measures 34.5 m in length and 7.5 m in shoulder width—so massive that a single finger can accommodate a lying person, and one ear can seat 10 people side by side. The hall also houses statues of the Ten Great Disciples and the Eighteen Arhats, along with exquisite murals depicting Journey to the West and the Classic of Mountains and Seas. The Hall of Ten Thousand Saints and the Scripture Hall, located in the central area, now serve as exhibition spaces for Buddhist art and texts, displaying sculptures, grotto statues, scriptures, and other artifacts. Notable among these is a collection of over 6,000 Buddhist scriptures personally bestowed by Emperor Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty, many written in pure gold, which are the temple's prized treasures. The earthen pagoda, standing over 30 m tall, is east of the Giant Buddha Hall. Its two-tiered base features four small pagodas on each level, adorned with exquisite carvings and housing solemn Buddha statues. The Shanxi Guild Hall, situated northeast of the temple complex, was originally a merchant guild hall during the Qing Dynasty. This typical northwestern residential courtyard features ancient architecture with intricately carved beams and painted pillars, exuding rustic elegance.Zhangye · 57.1km from Shandan
Hanmingchangcheng Ruins
The Great Wall of Shandan County is divided into two categories. One is the Great Wall of the Han Dynasty, built in the sixth year of Yuanding in the Western Han Dynasty (111 BC), more than 2,000 years ago. The total length is 98.5 kilometers, and it runs east-west. It consists of trenches and natural river beacons. Walls are replaced by trenches along the entire line, which are still clearly visible despite the age. The second is the Ming Great Wall, built in the sixth year of Ming Longqing (1572), more than 400 years ago. The Ming Great Wall was composed of walls, piers and columns built with rammed loess. The direction and length are the same as those of the Han Great Wall. The Great Wall of Han is on the north side, and the Great Wall of Ming Dynasty is in it. The distance between the two is between 10 and 80 meters, and they extend in parallel. Such a section of the Great Wall that was built in different historical eras at the same time and remains relatively complete is rare in China. Shandan Hanming Great Wall is a relatively well-preserved section of the ancient Great Wall in China, and is known as an "open-air museum".Shandan · 19.3km from downtown
Qilian Mountain Grassland
Qilian Mountain Grassland is located in the hinterland of the middle section of theQilian Mountainsin Haibei, Qinghai, spreading across an intermontane basin at an altitude of approx. 3,000 m. The Qilian Mountains are like a wet island extending into the arid region of the northwest, intercepting moisture and conserving ice and snow. Meltwater flows down along the valleys, nurturing continuous alpine meadows at the foothills. Grasslands and coniferous forest belts are distributed alternately, making it a rare and fertile pasture on the plateau. Every July and August, the meadows turn green, with the greenery spreading all the way to the foot of the mountains. Yaks, Tibetan sheep, and horses are scattered throughout, and the white tents of herders dot the gentle slopes; looking up, the distant snow-capped peaks remain covered in silver, and the scene of snow-capped mountains and green grasslands in one frame is what distinguishes this place from most other grasslands. The view along the way is expansive, making it perfect for stopping frequently to capture the snow-capped mountains and grasslands in a single photo.Qilian · 92.1km from Shandan
Shengquan Bay Scenic Area of Qinghai Lake
Shengquan Bay Scenic Area of Qinghai Lake, located on the northern shore of Qinghai Lake, is a masterpiece of geological formation and glacial activity. With its magnificent and rugged cliffs reaching vertical heights of dozens of meters, it creates a striking contrast against the azure waters of Qinghai Lake, offering a unique landscape. As one of the core attractions of Qinghai Lake, Holy Spring Bay not only boasts captivating natural scenery but also serves as a vital habitat for diverse wildlife, holding significant ecological value. Nearby, visitors can explore rich historical and cultural relics, providing a multifaceted travel experience.China · Gangca
Wuwei Confucius Temple
Wuwei Confucian Temple is located in the southeast of Wuwei City and is also the location of Wuwei City Museum. This Confucian Temple was built in the Ming Dynasty, with a large scale and a high status in history. Today, you can come here to worship the first sage Confucius, visit the quaint historical buildings and courtyards, and visit the many cultural relics collected in the museum. The Confucian Temple is very large, with a depth of nearly 200 meters and a width of more than 100 meters. After entering, you can walk and play. Generally, it is advisable to play for 1-2 hours. There are many ancient buildings in the temple, such as Chongsheng Temple, Zunjing Pavilion, Zhuangyuan Bridge, Shanmen, etc. There are also some towering ancient trees in the courtyard. The whole scenic area is antique and suitable for visiting and taking pictures. When visiting the Confucian Temple, you can pay attention to the many plaques hanging on the building, some of which are written in ancient Uighur and Western Xia scripts, which are very special. The inscriptions in the temple are also worth noting. Some of the inscriptions have all the jinshi who have ever been out of Wuwei. You can go and see. In addition to the buildings and courtyards, the Confucian Temple is also the location of the Wuwei City Museum. There are exhibitions about the history of Wuwei. You can visit here and learn about the heyday of ancient Liangzhou in history. The Zhuangyuan Bridge in the Confucian Temple is covered with red banners with various gold prayer lists, and many parents with students at home will come here to offer incense and pray for blessings.China · Wuwei
Mt. Gangshika Scenic Area
Gangshika Snow Peak is located in Qinghai Province, with an altitude of 5254.5 meters. It is the main peak in the eastern section of the Qilian Mountains. Usually seen from a distance, it is pure white. Whenever the sun sets, the sunset glows, the top of the mountain is colorful, and the twilight rises. It is called "Dragon Peak Sunset" and is one of the eight major scenic spots in Menyuan.China · Menyuan
Qinghai Province Museum
Qinghai Provincial Museum is located at Xinning Square in Xining City. Although it is not large among provincial museums, it is also a good place to learn about Qinghai's history and cultures of various ethnic groups. In addition, there are exhibitions and explanations of Tibetan Buddhism and Islamic cultural systems in the museum, which are very helpful for later tours in Qinghai. Visit Overview The museum mainly has two floors, but the first floor is now rented by some units, and there are also some shops selling handicrafts and other souvenirs. Occasionally there will be temporary exhibitions on the first floor, if you encounter them, you can visit them. The permanent exhibition area is located on the second floor and is mainly divided into two parts, the Qinghai Historical Relics Exhibition and the Qinghai Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition. It takes about an hour and a half to browse the two exhibition halls. Historical and Cultural Relics Exhibition Qinghai Historical and Cultural Relics Exhibition is an exhibition of the history of Qinghai in a chronological manner. Follow the indicated passages to visit, and you can watch the Qinghai cultural relics from ancient times to the present. The exhibition is divided into two parts: prehistoric civilization and historical relics. The Zasak silver seal of the Qing Dynasty, the largest bronze weapon unearthed in China - the large bronze spear, etc. are all treasures in the collection. There are also many quiet and beautiful pottery from the Majiayao culture in the northwest region. You can follow the instructions to find out the stories behind them. Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Qinghai Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition showcases the culture and customs of many ethnic groups in Qinghai. There are many models and sand tables showing Qinghai's many festivals, etiquette, singing and dancing and other artistic cultures. In addition, there are many cultural relics of Tibetan Buddhism in the museum, such as thangkas, mandala, etc. Among them, the bronze gilt-gold Guanyin statue bestowed by Emperor Yongle in the Ming Dynasty is the treasure of the whole museum, you can take a good look at it. Learn about the connotation and art of Tibetan Buddhism here, and you can also provide help for your later travel to religious attractions. Interpretation service The museum now provides interpretive services, but most of the interpreters read the text under the exhibition, and do not have a deeper introduction. The level of manual explanation is also mostly limited. Generally, the explanation words are memorized by rote. The questions about the extended knowledge of tourists are often unable to be answered, and it is not recommended.China · Xining
Qinghai Lake Heima River
Qinghai Lake Heima River is located in Qinghai Province, China, and is a tourist destination with beautiful natural scenery. The altitude here is over 3,000m, and the lakeshore is open and flat, with vast grasslands and pastures stretching out behind it. In midsummer, the sunrise usually occurs around 6:00 AM. As the sun slowly rises from the end of the lake, the water is dyed golden red. Prayer flags flutter in the morning breeze along the shore, and occasionally, water birds like bar-headed geese skim across the surface. Many people stay overnight specifically to wait for these few minutes of morning light over the lake. It is also an important stop for cycling around the lake, and the West Lake Road heading north from here stretches along the lakeshore, which is considered by many cycling enthusiasts to be a section with outstanding lake views on the route around the lake.Here, visitors can enjoy the magnificent lake and mountain scenery and experience the tranquility and beauty of nature.China · Gonghe
Wushao Mountain Range
Wushao Mountain Range is a high-altitude natural landscape with distinct regional characteristics. The mountain range stretches about 17 km from east to west, with the ridge altitude mostly around 3,000 m, and the main peak reaching an altitude of 3,562 m. The undulating mountains form a natural barrier, with a majestic and open terrain. Standing on the ridge and looking into the distance, you can see layers of mountains and a vast expanse of sky and earth, feeling the boundless and magnificent natural atmosphere of the high-altitude regions in the Northwest. The east of the ridge belongs to the Longzhong Plateau, and after crossing the mountain pass, you gradually enter the Hexi Corridor. With changes in terrain and climatic conditions, this is also an important transition area from semi-arid to arid regions, and the natural boundary between the monsoon and non-monsoon zones also roughly follows the mountain ridge. The landforms, vegetation, and air humidity on both sides of the mountain range present different characteristics with changes in altitude and region, forming a unique and rich natural landscape here.China · Tianzhu
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Free things to do in Shandan
Shandan Big Buddha Temple
Shandan · 5.7km from downtownZhangye Giant Buddha Temple
Zhangye · 57.1km from ShandanBook now for tomorrow, Cancel anytimeHanmingchangcheng Ruins
Shandan · 19.3km from downtownQilian Mountain Grassland
Qilian · 92.1km from ShandanShengquan Bay Scenic Area of Qinghai Lake
China · GangcaWuwei Confucius Temple
China · WuweiBook now for tomorrow, Cancel anytimeMt. Gangshika Scenic Area
China · MenyuanQinghai Province Museum
China · XiningQinghai Lake Heima River
China · GongheWushao Mountain Range
China · Tianzhu
What travellers say about Shandan
cparissh13 January 2022
4.0
The Big Buddha Temple is located in the city center. During the break between the morning and afternoon group tours, I came here to take a walk after lunch. The area is not very large and I can see it all in half an hour.
Shandan Big Buddha Temple
慢步地球19 October 2026
5.0
A pair of discerning eyes, seeing through a thousand years.
Neither defiled nor pure, neither increasing nor decreasing.
Marco Polo visited me,
King Shah Rukh also came,
Emperors of all dynasties rebuilt me,
burning incense, bowing, and making vows to me,
Let the world be noisy,
neither sad nor happy, neither born nor dying.
I have attained Nirvana.
Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple
lyn99092924 September 2021
5.0
"The bright moon in the Qin Dynasty and the pass in the Han Dynasty, the people have not returned from the long march of thousands of miles". For thousands of years, countless soldiers and literati have written about the majesty and desolation of the Great Wall. Standing at the foot of the Great Wall, the mottled walls eroded by the sun, the moon and the wind, the towering and isolated beacon towers, the quietness contains depth and calmness, the mottled highlights the heaviness and magic, all of which leave unforgettable marks in people's hearts. In Shandan County, Zhangye City, Gansu Province, the Han and Ming Great Walls are intermittently winding for nearly 365 kilometers, including the trench-style Han Great Wall and the earth-built and rammed Ming Great Wall. The two Great Walls start from Yongchang County, winding parallel to each other, all the way west, and disappear in the vast yellow sand Gobi of Yumen Pass. Today we walk into the Great Wall, touch history, and feel the oriental dragon that has protected us for thousands of years.
Hanmingchangcheng Ruins
boy***ao5 July 2025
5.0
From Zhangye, go directly to Zhuoer Mountain via Erga Highway via Sunan. The first picture is the scene of the road construction. In fact, the whole mountain collapsed. No wonder it took so long to repair.
The road is not difficult to drive, but there are falling rocks along the way. When you reach the top of the mountain, you can see the snow-capped mountains. The entire Qilian Mountains, except Zhuoer Mountain, seem to be immersed in white snow, which is quite amazing.
Finally, we went to Menyuan, took a few photos of rapeseed flowers, and then stayed in Xining.
After walking for 16 hours a day, I was really tired.
Qilian Mountain Grassland
Anonymous user22 August 2026
5.0
The cliff should be a fantastic attraction. We went on a sunny day, and the lake water was a vibrant blue. The sunlight reflecting off it created different colors depending on the direction from which it shone. Later, some clouds appeared, so we quickly left. However, as we walked, we noticed sunlight shining through the clouds, creating a Tyndall effect that actually made the lake even more beautiful – definitely worth the trip!
Shengquan Bay Scenic Area of Qinghai Lake
Anonymous user18 October 2026
5.0
There was a student activity going on at Wenchang Palace, so it was a bit chaotic. The 44 plaques here are quite interesting. The statues in Dacheng Hall are all new. The exhibition at the Printing Museum is quite good.
Wuwei Confucius Temple
M25***997 July 2026
5.0
This place is incredibly expensive, and the 20 RMB shuttle bus is such a great deal; I'd probably pay around 40 RMB myself. On the way up, you can see snow-capped mountains from around the world and their corresponding altitudes. The ride takes about 15 to 25 minutes.
Once you're up, you'll see 3-4 interconnected lakes, but there are 7-8 in total. The first 2-3 lakes have a very deep blue color, and the later lakes gradually change to a grayish-yellow hue. I recommend bringing a drone to capture distant views of the lakes, mountains, sky, clouds, grasslands, etc. If it's cold, the scenic area provides a small heated room to wait for the shuttle.
Overall, it's excellent value, beautiful scenery, and the service is excellent.
Mt. Gangshika Scenic Area
GKC8816 May 2026
5.0
対華夏文化要更深入瞭解4千年前的演變和西寧的扮演重要角色，這博物院有很多的資料。近年來考古隊伍在西北這塊地域也交出漂亮的成績。信息量高。陳列很條里。值得一游。
Qinghai Province Museum
爱旅行的熊搭子20 April 2025
5.0
Heimahe is a scenic spot beside Qinghai Lake, with magnificent sunrises and sunsets, bright starry sky, rich Tibetan folk customs, and convenient transportation and accommodation. It is a good place for sightseeing, photography and experience.
Qinghai Lake Heima River
Jeanwestran29 June 2026
4.0
I stopped here while driving by. The hike was fairly easy, with wooden boardwalks throughout. The last platform had a sign indicating it was where three plateaus met. However, the snow on the opposite mountain had already melted at this time of year. The scenic area is great because it's free, so stopping by was no problem at all; you can finish in about an hour if you're quick. Later, while driving, I also saw several sections of the Great Wall, supposedly ruins of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall. Those interested can check them out.
Wushao Mountain Range
