[2025 Zhashui Attraction] Travel Guide for Zhashui Karst Cave (Updated May)

Yangquan Self-driving Guide to Southern Shaanxi: A Poetic Journey through the Qinba Mountains Driving from Yangquan, Shanxi, all the way to southern Shaanxi, this self-driving tour will take you through a splendid scroll of history and nature. Here is a carefully prepared self-driving guide to southern Shaanxi for an unforgettable journey. I. Preparation 1. Vehicle Inspection: Conduct a comprehensive inspection of your vehicle's tires, brakes, engine oil, coolant, etc., to ensure it is in optimal condition. Check the locations of auto repair shops along the way in advance in case of emergencies. 2. Documents and Materials: Be sure to bring your ID card, driver's license, vehicle registration certificate, vehicle insurance policy, and other necessary documents. Prepare a moderate amount of cash for unexpected expenses. 3. Packing List: Pack clothes according to the weather in southern Shaanxi. Bring toiletries, skincare products, sunscreen, sunglasses, an umbrella, and other daily necessities. Prepare common medications such as cold medicine, antipyretics, gastrointestinal medicine, and motion sickness medicine. Bring your camera, mobile phone, charger, and power bank to capture beautiful moments. II. Itinerary Planning The entire journey from Yangquan to southern Shaanxi is approximately 680 km. It is recommended to travel over two days to avoid driving fatigue and enjoy the scenery along the way. 1. Day 1: Yangquan - Linfen - Xi'an - Itinerary: Depart from Yangquan in the morning and drive along the G5 Jingkun Expressway for about 300 km. Arrive in Linfen in approximately 3.5 hours. Visit the Yao Temple and experience the ancient sacrificial culture and historical heritage. In the afternoon, continue along the G5 Jingkun Expressway to Xi'an, approximately 300 km, which takes about 4 hours. After arriving in Xi'an, visit the Bell and Drum Tower Square to admire the unique charm of Ming and Qing Dynasty architecture and experience the ancient city's charm. - Food Recommendations: In Linfen, try the beef ball noodles, where chewy noodles are paired with spicy beef balls, a truly irresistible dish. Xi'an offers a wide variety of cuisine. Rou Jia Mo (meat sandwich), Yang Rou Pao Mo (mutton stew), and Liang Pi (cold noodles) are all must-try delicacies. - Accommodation Recommendations: It is recommended to stay in a hotel near the Bell Tower for convenient transportation, abundant food options, and easy access to attractions and dining. 2. Day 2: Xi'an - Hanzhong (Southern Shaanxi) - Itinerary: After breakfast, depart from Xi'an and drive along the G5 Jingkun Expressway for about 280 km. Arrive in Hanzhong in approximately 3.5 hours. Visit the Gu Han Tai, the palace of Liu Bang when he was the King of Han in Hanzhong, and experience the rich historical and cultural heritage. In the evening, visit Yinma Pond to enjoy the lake scenery under the sunset glow. - Food Recommendations: In Hanzhong, try Re Mi Pi (hot rice noodles), where soft and glutinous rice noodles are paired with spicy seasonings, a refreshing and delicious dish. Cai Doufu (vegetable tofu) has a delicate texture and is rich in nutrients, making it a local specialty. - Accommodation Recommendations: It is recommended to stay in a hotel or homestay in Hantai District for convenient travel and a better experience of local life. III. Southern Shaanxi Attractions Guide Southern Shaanxi has beautiful scenery and numerous attractions. Here's a 3-4 day self-driving itinerary to explore the essence of southern Shaanxi. 1. Day 1: Hanzhong - Qingmuchuan Ancient Town - Morning: After breakfast in Hanzhong, drive to Qingmuchuan Ancient Town, enjoying the magnificent scenery of the Qinling Mountains along the way. Located at the junction of Shaanxi, Gansu, and Sichuan provinces, Qingmuchuan Ancient Town is known as the "place where one foot steps into three provinces" and preserves many Ming and Qing Dynasty buildings. Stroll along Huilongchang Ancient Street and experience the ancient town's simplicity and tranquility. - Noon: Enjoy local cuisine in the ancient town, such as Mu Tong Yu (fish cooked in a wooden bucket), where the fish is tender and the soup is delicious. He Tao Mo (walnut cake) is a crispy and delicious local snack. - Afternoon: Visit the Wei Family Courtyard, a grand and exquisitely structured building that blends Chinese and Western architectural styles, and learn about its historical stories. Ascend Huilong Pavilion for a panoramic view of the ancient town and the beautiful countryside. - Evening: Stay in a homestay within the ancient town to experience the local atmosphere. The ancient town is beautifully lit at night, offering a unique charm. 2. Day 2: Qingmuchuan Ancient Town - Liping National Forest Park - Morning: Wake up early to enjoy the tranquility of the ancient town again, then drive to Liping National Forest Park, which integrates mountain, forest, water, rock, climate, and rural landscapes. After entering the scenic area, take a sightseeing bus to Jianxia Gorge to admire the steep cliffs and unique rock formations. - Noon: Enjoy local farmhouse dishes at the restaurant in the scenic area, such as Tu Ji Tang (free-range chicken soup) and La Rou Chao Sun (stir-fried bacon with bamboo shoots), made with fresh, local ingredients. - Afternoon: Head to Yunvfeng Peak, enjoying the dense forests and clear streams along the way. Ascend Yunvfeng Peak for a panoramic view of the park. Afterward, visit Fenglin Waterfall and experience its majestic momentum. Take photos under the waterfall as a souvenir. - Evening: Stay in a hotel or farmhouse near the scenic area. Take an evening stroll outdoors, breathe in the fresh air, and admire the starry sky. 3. Day 3: Liping National Forest Park - Ankang - Yinghu Scenic Area - Morning: After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Ankang, enjoying the scenery of southern Shaanxi along the way. Upon arrival in Ankang, visit Yinghu Scenic Area, known for its vast waters, numerous islands, and clear lake water. Take a boat tour to admire the lake and mountain scenery and experience the tranquility and beauty of nature. - Noon: Enjoy the Yinghu fish feast at a restaurant near Yinghu. The fish is tender and cooked in various ways, such as steaming, braising, and stewing. - Afternoon: Visit Cuiping Island, a lush and scenic island with many recreational facilities where you can relax. Afterward, visit Jinluo Island, where you can climb the Luofeng Pagoda for a panoramic view of Yinghu and its beautiful lake scenery. - Evening: Stay in a hotel in Ankang city. Visit the Ankang night market and try local snacks such as Zheng Mian (steamed noodles) and Kang Kang Mo (baked flatbread). 4. Day 4: Ankang - Zhashui Cave - Return Trip - Morning: After breakfast, drive to Zhashui Cave, a natural scenic area featuring cave landscapes. The cave is filled with a dazzling array of stalactites. Visit Foyedong Cave and Tiandong Cave to admire the wonders of nature. - Noon: Enjoy local cuisine in Zhashui County, such as Zhashui Jiao Tuan (stirred noodles), which has a smooth texture and is served with a sour and spicy soup. Yangyu Ciba (potato cake) is another local specialty. - Afternoon: Depending on your schedule, embark on your return journey, concluding your pleasant self-driving tour of southern Shaanxi. If time permits, take a break at a service area along the way and enjoy the scenery. IV. Precautions 1. Traffic Rules: Strictly observe traffic rules, pay attention to speed limits and road conditions, especially when driving on mountain roads. Reduce speed and be cautious of curves and steep slopes. 2. Weather Changes: The climate in southern Shaanxi is changeable. Check the weather forecast before traveling and bring rain gear and appropriate clothing. In case of inclement weather, find a safe place to park and wait it out. 3. Visiting Scenic Areas: Follow the rules in scenic areas, protect the environment, and do not litter. Pay attention to the opening hours and ticket policies of scenic areas and plan accordingly. During peak tourist seasons, book tickets and accommodation in advance. 4. Parking: Parking conditions vary in different scenic areas and towns in southern Shaanxi. Park in designated parking lots or spaces to avoid fines or towing.

🌞|||Escape the heat of Xi'an in just 1 hour and find a quiet and beautiful summer paradise, completely free! Although the cave is not as grand as the Zhashui Cave, the scenery inside is breathtaking! 📍Zuoshui Cave 💸Free entry 🚗Only 1 hour by car 🅿️Parking fee: CNY 10/time ⛰Wangchuan Cave is divided into two areas: Xishui Cave and Lingyun Cave. Both are not too difficult to climb and take about 20 minutes to walk through. We walked slowly because we had kids with us! ⛰Xishui Cave Xishui Cave is taller and more magnificent. Inside the cave, there are dozens of colorful clay sculptures and a plank road with ancient poems from Wang Wei's "Wangchuan Collection," allowing you to admire the wonders of nature while appreciating ancient poetry! ⛰Lingyun Cave Lingyun Cave is longer, narrower, and deeper underground. You have to bend over with every step, and only one person can pass through at a time, making you feel like you're in the "narrow passage" of the "Peach Blossom Spring." 🎢You can choose to take the slide down the mountain, 💸CNY 25/person. It's actually easier to go down than up, so you can decide whether to take the slide or not. It's not recommended for those who are timid (some people screamed on the spot, which was hilarious)! 👗The cave is very cool, in stark contrast to the high temperatures outside, making it a summer paradise. The temperature inside the cave is only about 15 degrees, and you may even feel a little chilly. The staff wear sweaters, so if you're afraid of the cold, remember to bring a jacket. 🥣There are many local snacks inside and outside the scenic area, such as cold noodles, heluo, shenxian noodles, pancakes, etc., all at affordable prices! 🔫There are also many stalls in the scenic area selling water guns, ceramic whistles, root carvings, or wooden crafts. ❤️This place is perfect for a weekend with kids, but not suitable for older people, as there are steps throughout the journey. Although not steep, climbing can be tiring (walking sticks are sold in the scenic area)!

🚉Transportation Guide: Zhashui Karst Cave Scenic Area (Qinling Cave Heaven Blessed Land Scenic Area) is located at the intersection of 102 Provincial Road and 307 Provincial Road, 13 kilometers south of Zhashui County, Shangluo City, Shaanxi Province. It is a one and a half hour drive from Xi'an, and there is also a Zhashui Karst Cave tourism dedicated line. 🌟Highlights: The scenic area is divided into two parts: Zhashui Karst Cave and Ancient Trail Ridge ❤️Stepping into the karst cave, one cannot help but admire the natural wonders of nature. Inside an ordinary cave, there is such a natural beauty! The bizarre stalactites, various shapes of stalagmites, stone mantles, stone curtains, stone waterfalls... The colorful colors, it really seems like you've entered the 'Underground Dragon Palace' in a second! It is truly worthy of being called the 'Northern Spectacle' and 'The Best in the Northwest' - Zhashui Karst Cave. ❤️The fun activities are all on the top of Ancient Trail Ridge. If you are mainly here for fun, you can go to Ancient Trail Ridge first. The package ticket activities are basically at Ancient Trail Ridge, walking on the glass plank road, glass suspension bridge, riding the time train, taking the center of the earth elevator (included in the package ticket, the elevator costs 10 yuan/person if purchased separately), passing by the Ancient Trail Ridge Station, there are some snacks along the way, and further inside is the children's playground, with swings, wooden horses, bumper cars, slides, roller coasters, etc., and then there is the Ice and Snow World, Feiyue Zhongnan Extreme Sports Park, where there are many very exciting high-altitude projects, such as riding the cloud ship, admiring the beauty of Shi Weng; thrilling step by step, playing is all about the heartbeat; swinging the 'devil's swing', experiencing 'the soul chasing the flying person'; there are also zip lines, cloud ships... 🚩Tour Route and Time: ▶️1. Full walking route (about 4 hours for the whole tour) 🚶Zhashui Karst Cave (about 1.5 hours): Ticket checkpoint—Entrance to the karst cave (about 15 minutes)—Tour inside the karst cave (about 1 hour)—Walk down the mountain (about 15 minutes) 🚶Ancient Trail Ridge (about 2.5 hours): Glass plank road—Hanging plank road—Glass sky bridge—Center of the earth elevator—Ancient Trail Ridge Station—Swing park—Eighteen bends—Hanging plank road—Glass plank road—Scenic area exit. ▶️2. Time-saving and labor-saving route (about 2.5 hours for the whole tour) 🚶Zhashui Karst Cave (about 1 hour): Ticket checkpoint—Scenic elevator to the entrance of the karst cave (about 30 seconds)—Tour inside the karst cave (about 1 hour)—Slide (the whole journey takes 3 minutes) 🚶Ancient Trail Ridge (about 1.5 hours): Time train—Glass sky bridge—Center of the earth elevator—Ancient Trail Ridge Station—Swing park—Extreme zip line/Glass slide (choose one)—Time train—Scenic area exit. ▶️3. Feiyue Zhongnan Extreme Sports Park: Selective projects about 1.5 hours. 💰Cost of visiting the scenic area: Ticket 90 yuan/person, sightseeing elevator 40/person, stone slide 30/person, Ancient Trail Ridge glass bridge 3/person, Inspiration Garden 48/person, Feiyue Zhongnan Extreme Sports Park ticket 98/person (11 projects to play at will). 🕙Opening hours: 8:30-18:00 📝Tour tips: 1. Zhashui Karst Cave + Ancient Trail Ridge package ticket is relatively cheap, and you can also just buy a ticket to walk and visit the karst cave and Ancient Trail Ridge. There is a ticket hall at the entrance of the scenic area, and you can go to the karst cave first. There is also a ticket point at the entrance to Ancient Trail Ridge after coming down from the karst cave (the entrances to the karst cave and Ancient Trail Ridge are together, one on the left and one on the right). 2. Elderly people and children can choose to take the elevator directly up the mountain to visit the karst cave, but the climbing difficulty is not high, and it takes only a dozen minutes to reach the entrance of the karst cave. You can also choose the slide when going down the mountain. 3. It is recommended to bring a thin jacket, as it is hot when climbing the mountain but cool inside the karst cave, and remember to wear flat shoes. 4. Zhashui is famous for its wood ear mushrooms and cured meat, and those in need can go to the county town to buy them.

Zhashui Karst Cave: It is a 2-hour drive from Xi'an to reach the Zhashui Karst Cave National Geopark. Zhashui Karst Cave is a national 4A-level scenic spot, with an admission ticket priced at 102 yuan. Visitors have the option to enter the karst cave via an elevator or by foot! The rafting is also fantastic. We chose to walk up the mountain, first heading towards the ancient trail. The staircase, made of stone steps and wooden steps, leads to the middle section where you'll encounter a glass skywalk. Continuing forward, you'll reach a glass bridge with a section covered with green mats, which is suitable for those who are afraid of heights. Upon reaching the ancient trail post, there are amusement facilities (aerial spaceship, zip line, etc.), and at 12:30 there is a performance, including an aerial bicycle and tightrope walking. For descending the mountain, you can choose the glass slide for 30 yuan per person (about 3-5 minutes), or after walking a distance, take the children for a small train ride down the mountain (about 8 minutes). The train ride features short segments from the Spring and Autumn Warring States period, which are quite interesting and enjoyable. The train goes directly to the foot of the mountain. Before climbing the mountain towards the cave entrance (about 15 minutes), it is relatively more tiring to climb the stairs due to the uneven heights and the slight slipperiness after the rain (remember to be safe). The scenery inside the cave is beautiful, with stalactites in various shapes and the lighting design adds a colorful and dazzling effect. PS: ⚠️ (Remember to bring clothes for children, as the temperature difference inside and outside the cave is significant, to prevent catching a cold). After exiting the cave, there is a slide that goes directly to the foot of the mountain, and tired friends can choose this option for 30 yuan per person. Zhashui Karst Cave is surrounded by lush mountains and clear waters, with pleasant scenery and fresh air, making it a very relaxing destination.

Do not want to go to the hot weather of the Dragon Boat Festival, drive to the waters around Xi'an to avoid the heat. It took only one and a half hours to drive in. I ate a meat crumb and a cool skin in Surabaya, and I was satisfied with the cave. The cave is spectacular and large. Especially in the second half of the trip, the trip is spectacular. Many stalactites pour down from the top of a tens of meters high like a waterfall. With the colorful lights, the effect is very good. The temperature inside the cave is only about a dozen degrees, which is particularly cool and comfortable. When the baby entered the hole, she began to sleep, which led me to transform the photographer from the portrait mode to the landscape mode. You said that it is so difficult to be a traveler baby, can't you sleep well in the car? The place to look good is to start sleeping. Your old father is very helpless.