Things to do in Ningyuan

Shundi Temple Archaeological Site Park

The Shundi Temple Archaeological Site Park is divided into three parts: the Shundi Temple Site Museum, the Garden Leisure Area, and the Site Protection Area (including Yuguan Rock). The Shundi Temple Site Museum is a theme museum with Emperor Shun, the Shundi Mausoleum, and Shun worship as its main contents. Based on large-capacity historical information and high-standard cultural relics unearthed from the Shundi Temple site, it confirms the historical fact that "Shun was buried in Jiuyi". It uses high-tech means such as three-dimensional images and physical restoration to give the audience a strong visual impact. It can not only understand the regulations and rituals of worshiping Emperor Shun in the Song Dynasty and before the Song Dynasty, but also is a convenient way to understand Emperor Shun and Shun culture. The garden leisure area covers an area of ​​20,000 square meters and has cultural landscapes and cultural relics such as leisure squares, landscape canals, and Song Dynasty altars. The garden has winding paths and is fragrant all year round. It is planted with dozens of precious flowers and trees such as golden osmanthus, magnolia, black plum, and Podocarpus. The site is the core area of ​​the Shundi Temple Archaeological Site Park. It consists of the Song Dynasty Shundi Temple Site and Yuguan Rock. The site was discovered in 2000, and a trial excavation was carried out in 2002. The official excavation was carried out from 2004 to 2005, revealing an area of ​​5,000 square meters including the remains of two large palaces and pavilions. It was announced as a national key cultural relic protection unit in May 2006. The Shundi Temple Site was the main place for worshiping Emperor Shun in the Song Dynasty and before the Song Dynasty. It lasted for more than 1,600 years from the Qin and Han Dynasties to the fourth year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1371). A large number of high-standard architectural ceramics and sacrificial ceramics were unearthed in the site. Yuguan Rock stands alone in the fields, small and exquisite, like a natural bonsai, and is the tomb of Emperor Shun. The mountain is covered with green shade and towering ancient trees. Yuguan Rock is famous because Emperor Shun was buried in Jiuyi Mountain. Literati and poets of all dynasties admired the merits of the former emperor and left poems on the cliff. Cai Yong, Sima Qian, Li Bai, Du Fu, Li Shangyin, Yuan Jie, Xu Xiake, He Shaoji and others have all visited here, leaving immortal poems and essays, making Yuguan Rock fragrant for thousands of years. There are 24 well-preserved cliff carvings from the Southern and Northern Dynasties to the Qing Dynasty on the mountain, among which the six types of fonts in the inscriptions are complete, namely regular script, running script, seal script, official script, cursive script and running script, which is a rare treasure house of calligraphy art.

No. 15 of Best Things to Do in Hunan

Dongjiang Lake Scenic Area

Located in Dongjiang Town, Zixing City, the Dongjiang Lake Scenic Area holds several major attractions, including Mist Over Little Dongjiang, the Dongjiang Reservoir Dam, and Longjing Gorge. Visitors can enjoy a wide variety of activities here, including rafting on the Dong river, parasailing, taking a scenic over-water flight, jet skiing, sliding down water slides, fishing, and watching Yao cultural performances. Guests can stroll along the lake to enjoy the natural beauty of blue skies and water. They can also choose to participate in an exciting water sport for an experience more unique to the developed tourist area.

No. 16 of Best Things to Do in Guangxi

Silver Cave

The Silver Cave attraction is located in Maling Town, Lipu City, and is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction. Silver Cave is a typical karst cave that runs through twelve mountain peaks. The cave features sparkling and dazzling stalactites, earning it the reputation of being a wonder among the world's karst caves. In 2026, the attraction completed an upgrade of its cave lighting technology, comprehensively refreshing the illumination of its 18 major scenic spots with a "dual-zone integration" concept for visual experiences. The geological rock zone employs museum-grade lighting control to restore the silver luster of stalactites, while the magnificent terrain area utilizes 3D mapping technology in the "vicissitudes of time" hall to showcase geological evolution from the Devonian period to karst formation, creating China's first 360-degree immersive karst lightscape. Pioneering biophilic lighting, contactless interaction, and AR scene integration, the design achieves symbiosis between nature and technology with "visible light, invisible fixtures." Core attractions like the musical stone screen, Yaochi fairyland, silver diamond, Buddha's discourse, money tree, and primordial pearl umbrella gain enhanced depth and dimensionality. Multiple social media photo spots along the route blend natural wonders with digital innovation through AR interactions, bringing 100-million-year-old karst marvels to vibrant, interactive life. This upgrade preserves the core advantage of the cave's natural views while infusing new cultural significance and communication value through innovative experiences, transforming the attraction from "sightseeing-oriented" to "immersive experience-focused," successfully creating a unique tourism model for Guilin's karst caves. The attraction deeply integrates high-quality surrounding resources to create a diverse cultural tourism experience matrix: the earth memory meteorite wonder museum combines meteorite collections, paleontological fossils, geological science education and 4D interactive experiences, enriching study tour content; Yinlong ancient village preserves complete traditional northern Guangxi residential architecture with profound historical heritage, serving as an ideal destination for exploring ancient village culture and experiencing folk customs; the Xiaogingshan Lipu taro planting base, leveraging the nationally protected geographical indication product Lipu taro, has developed a distinctive agricultural sightseeing area integrating standardized planting, rural scenery viewing and farming experiences; Xiangshang Guixu centers on Lipu taro culture to create an immersive cultural experience space featuring taro culture exhibitions, farming activities, specialty cuisine, creative markets and folk interaction, making Lipu taro culture tangible, appreciable, experiential and consumable. The attraction is built upon natural landscapes, centered around cultural experiences, and supported by distinctive agriculture. It connects diverse formats including cave sightseeing, science education, ancient village exploration, taro field leisure, cultural experiences and flower viewing, striving to create a new pattern of comprehensive tourism development that deeply integrates agriculture, culture and tourism. Through attraction-driven development, industrial synergy and cultural empowerment, it effectively promotes industrial growth in surrounding villages, increases employment and income for residents, and strengthens village collective economies. This achieves coordinated progress in ecotourism, ancient village culture, specialty agriculture and rural revitalization, establishing a high-quality development model for the integrated growth of agriculture, culture and tourism in Maling town. Next, the attraction will implement a three-phase agricultural-cultural-tourism integration upgrade project. Focusing on key areas including the Silver Cave core landscape, earth memory science education, Yinlong ancient village cultural preservation, Xiaogingshan Lipu taro planting base improvement, and Xiangshang Guixu Lipu taro cultural experience enhancement, the project will further improve touring facilities, diversify offerings and elevate service quality. It aims to strengthen the integrated industrial chain encompassing cave sightseeing, science education, ancient village leisure, farming experiences, taro culture displays and distinctive homestays. Through this construction, the project will comprehensively promote deep integration between the attraction and surrounding villages, specialty agriculture and cultural resources, continuously expanding brand influence and industrial driving force. It strives to build a high-quality development model for agricultural-cultural-tourism integration in southern Guilin, injecting stronger momentum into rural revitalization.

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.

No. 1 of Global Traveller-Picked Attractions in Guilin

Ruyi Peak Cableway Scenic Area

I. Basic information Ruyi Peak Cableway Scenic AreaA high-altitude sightseeing and leisure tourism project jointly invested in and developed by Shaanxi Junjing Ropeway Investment and Construction Co., Ltd. under Shaanxi Tourism Group Corporation and Guilin Ruisheng Tourism Development Co., Ltd. The total investment of the project is CNY 260 million. The attraction is located in Meng Village, Gaotian Town, Yangshuo County, adjacent to National Highway 321, 5 km from the Gaotian entrance/exit of the Baomao (Guiwu) Expressway, and approximately 5 km from core attractions such as Yangshuo Yulong River, Moon Hill, and Ten-Mile Gallery, as well as Lipu Silver Cave attraction. II. Project construction status The project aims to create the Yangshuo Mountain Top Nature Park, composed of the natural karst views "Three Peaks and Two Valleys" (Yuanbao Peak, Ruyi Peak, Necklace Peak, Caixi Valley, and Baihua Valley) as well as creative views such as the cableway, Ruyi Cloud Top viewing platform, Ruyi Suspension Bridge, forest promenade, glass walkway, and digital experience hall. Travelers can overlook Yangshuo's unique karst peak-forest landscape from the air in all directions, walk through the forest, admire Guilin's mountain and water scenery, and enjoy the pleasure of strolling among the trees! The Ruyi Peak ropeway has a total length of 2012 m. The lower station is located within the Xingtianle International Tourism Resort, and the upper station directly reaches Yuanbao Peak, with a vertical height difference of 242 m, a one-way capacity of up to 2000 people/hr, and a speed of 0.5-6 m/s (adjustable). The ropeway uses equipment from the French company POMA, and its type is a monocable circulating detachable-grip 8-passenger gondola ropeway. The overall operation and safety system adopts advanced passenger ropeway technology and a full-process digital automatic control system, with technical indicators reaching world standards. III. Business operations and main achievements Since opening on January 6, 2020,Ruyi Peak Cableway Scenic AreaThe business is in good condition. Achieved the goal of zero safety production responsibility accidents during the operation period, with no major traveler complaints or breakdown parking incidents, and no fire or other personal injury safety accidents. November 2020,Ruyi Peak Cableway Scenic AreaIt was awarded the honor of "Top Ten Attractions of the Year in Guilin" by the Guilin Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism. On December 24, 2021, it was rated by the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Market Regulation Administration as a 2020 Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region "'Contract-Abiding and Credit-Worthy' Publicly Announced Enterprise." December 28, 2021Ruyi Peak Cableway Scenic AreaIt was awarded certificates of "Work Safety Standardization Enterprise" and "5S Service Quality Enterprise" by the China Cableway Association. In 2022, it was rated as one of the "Top Ten Internet-Famous Attraction Check-in Spots in Guilin" and one of the "Top Ten Meteorological and Climate View Check-in Spots in Guangxi," and was selected as a "World Karst Scientific Research and Study Tour Route." IV. Travel route Take the cableway up the mountain---admire Yuanbao Peak---experience the Ruyi Suspension Bridge---overlook Yangshuo from Ruyi Cloud Top---admire the peak-forest views along the forest promenade---experience the glass walkway---tourSinging tour Guilin metaverse digital experience hall——Back down the mountain 1. Ruyi Peak cableway Horizontal distance2012m, elevation difference241m, one-way capacity2000person(s)/hours, the cableway system equipment is from FrancePOMAThe company designs and manufactures it. The overall operation and safety system adopts advanced passenger ropeway technology and a full-process digital automatic control system, with technical indicators reaching the world level. 2. Ruyi suspension bridge The bridge is 142.4 m long, with a deck 2 m wide and 58 m above the valley floor. Standing on it, you can take in the panoramic view of the Yangshuo peaks and forests, while the gentle swaying in the air offers a thrilling and wondrous experience. 3. Ruyi Cloud Top Ruyi Peak is named for its ridge, which resembles the ruyi, a traditional Chinese auspicious object. Ruyi Cloud Top is a 360° viewing platform at the highest point of Ruyi Peak and a place to gaze at the wonder of the karst peak forest from afar. 4. Forest trail The forest walkway winds through peaks and valleys, with a total length of 246 m and a central height of 32.5 m. It is composed of a grid structure inlaid with tempered glass and steel grating. Viewed from afar, it looks like a graceful "rainbow" among the peak forests, and also like an aerial ribbon left atop the jungle. Strolling along it, you can take in the beautiful scenery of the peak forests and fully enjoy the fun of soaring through the pristine forest. 5. Glass skywalk The glass walkway is built suspended along the cliff face, 138 m long and 1.8 m wide. Walking on it is thrilling and highly challenging. Looking into the distance, you can see layered green peaks and forests, curling cooking smoke, and picturesque countryside. 6. Singing tour Guilin metaverse digital experience hall Located at the upper station of the Ruyi Peak cableway, it is an immersive digital experience space that uses digital technology and environmental art to showcase spatial creativity and intelligent interactive experiences, creatively integrating karst landscapes with ethnic customs, allowing visitors to feel as if they are walking through a dynamic scroll of Guilin's mountains and waters, creating the wondrous sensation of "traveling within a painting."

No. 2 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Guizhou

Zhaoxing Dong Village

Zhaoxing Dong Village has a Dong village recorded in the Guinness World RecordsDrum tower cluster of Dong village,Drum towerEach has its own distinctive features. Zhaoxing, originally named "Zhaodong," is a long, narrow east-west valley where two small streams converge into a river that flows through the village, spanned by severalWind and rain bridge,Wind and rain bridgeIt is named after the long corridor-style bridge house built on it, which provides shelter from wind and rain. Zhaoxing Dong Village has fiveDrum tower, distributed among five regiments in the village, in the order of "Ren tuan drum tower", "Yi tuan drum tower", "Li tuan drum tower", "Zhi tuan drum tower", "Xin tuan drum tower", hence collectively known asDrum towerArts and culture village.Drum towerIt is the landmark of the Dong village, resembling a pagoda in appearance with an imposing grandeur, standing out prominently even before entering the settlement.Drum towerA drum was usually hung above, and in the past, when the village faced invasion, fire, or needed to discuss matters, someone would climb up to beat the drum, summoning the villagers.Drum towerHence the name.Drum towerIt is the venue for village meetings, establishing regulations, and addressing issues, as well as a place for villagers to rest and engage in activities after work. Ren tuan drum towerIs one of the shorter ones in the villageDrum tower, next toWind and rain bridge, behind which is the opera stage, the drum tower, opera stage, andWind and rain bridgeCan all be displayed on the same platform. Behind the Yituan drum tower is also an opera stage, and in front of the stage is a large platform. This platform is an open space in Zhaoxing, so many Dong song performances take place here. Behind the Litian drum tower is a Sasui altar. Climb up the grain-drying field next to the Sasui altar, and you'll see another perspective ofDrum tower. Zhituan drum tower is a Xieshan-style drum tower in Zhaoxing. Following the river downstream from Zhituan drum tower leads to Xintuan drum tower, which is closer to the main street. The village houses are stilted wooden structures built with fir wood, featuring flush gable roofs covered with small black tiles—simple, practical, and neatly tiered. For a panoramic view of the village, head to the viewing platform near Zhaoxing Middle School on the hillside behind the village, where you can take in the overlapping black-tiled roofs and the pointed tops of drum towers. At night, the drum towers and flower bridges light up, their reflections shimmering on the river. The main street is dotted with small shops and bars, and villagers often gather by the drum towers to sing Dong grand songs spontaneously. During festivals like Spring Festival, Grain Rain Festival, June 6th, and Dong New Year, the village comes alive with grand song performances, dance circles, and long-table feasts. Highlights include eating black rice and face-painting during Grain Rain Festival, as well as the Sa worship and "carrying the official" rituals during Dong New Year. The riverside path from Yi Group Drum Tower to Ren Group Drum Tower is the best-preserved core area of stilted houses, lined with shops perfect for leisurely exploration. Drum towers, grand songs, and wind-and-rain bridges are known as the "three treasures of Dong culture," all of which can be fully experienced in Zhaoxing.

Xiaguan Village

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 Family-friendly Attractions in Hunan

Mangshan Wuzhifeng Scenic Area

Mangshan Wuzhifeng Scenic Area is located in Rongjiadong, Yizhang County, Chenzhou City, Hunan Province. It boasts the most spectacular landscapes at the heart of Mangshan, featuring dozens of attractions including Wuzhifeng Peak, Golden Whip Grand Canyon, Golden Whip Divine Pillar, Skyscraping Ridge, Cliffside Walkway, Guangdong Viewing Platform, Yaotai Terrace, and Wuzhifeng Scenic Area's Marvelous Brushwork. The area is abundant with peculiar pines, bizarre rocks, and perilous peaks; sea of clouds, cascading waterfalls, and hot springs offer breathtaking views; while exotic flowers, rare plants, and adorable wildlife can occasionally be spotted. With sightseeing cable cars and sky-high walkways, every step brings new wonders and unforgettable experiences. Wuzhifeng Scenic Area in Mangshan is renowned as "one mountain spanning two provinces - Hunan and Guangdong meet here," preserving the most intact primeval forest at this latitude on Earth. It's also home to the critically endangered Mangshan pit viper, often called the "panda of snakes." The attraction boasts the most spectacular views of Damang Mountain, featuring countless peculiar pines and bizarre rocks. The sea of clouds is a breathtaking sight, with famous scenic spots including Finger Peak Crossing, Cloud Walkway Stroll, Golden Whip Panorama, East Gate Welcome, Heavenly Ladder Sea View, Seven Stars Battling the Sun, and Sky Tower Gazing at Guangdong. Wuzhifeng Scenic Area In Mangshan is known as "a mountain you don't need to climb." It features one of China's longest single-line sightseeing cable cars, the longest elevated walkway in southern China (8 km), and a cliff elevator at 1,600m above sea level, making it a barrier-free mountain resort.

No. 5 of Family-friendly Attractions in Guangdong

Qingyuan Chimelong Forest Kingdom

Qingyuan Chimelong Forest Kingdom is nestled at the northern foot of Prince Mountain at the border of Guangzhou and Qingyuan, surrounded by forests. It is a wilderness-themed park integrating forest adventures, animal interactions, themed entertainment, cultural performances, and educational conservation. Centered around a large central lawn, it extends into 12 themed zones including parrot rainforest, ape and monkey island, bear valley, twin treasures theater, tiny bug world, giraffe savanna, aerial exploration, lion king mountain, and steam train crossing through Greater Africa. Visitors can experience the thrill of jungle climbing,Lion King Ferris wheelIn addition to the magnificent scenery, you can ride 11 themed amusement rides such as the giraffe teacups, flower roller coaster and ladybug planes for endless fun. The distinctive steam train traverses Greater Africa, offering opportunities to observe up close the relocated conservation populations of African elephants, white rhino families and other rare animal groups, experiencing the wonders of nature. In addition, there are four major animal behavior shows, three themed science experience halls, six exploration journeys, and six discovery workshops, offering a rich variety of science education experiences. While having fun, visitors can gain in-depth knowledge about animals, participate in animal conservation work firsthand, and appreciate the unique charm of ecological culture.