[2025 Yiliang Attraction] Travel Guide for Jiuxiang Karst Cave (Updated Mar)

Yunnan Yiliang Jiuxiang Cave Scenic Area, themed around 'caves', boasts hundreds of caves of various sizes. Its vast scale and numerous caves make it the largest cave museum in China. Above ground, admire the Stone Forest; underground, explore Jiuxiang. The beauty of the Stone Forest lies in its peaks, while the beauty of the caves lies in their valleys. After marveling at the Stone Forest, naturally, you should visit the caves. Originating from ancient dolomite formed 600 million years ago, the karst limestone landscapes of the caves and the Stone Forest are distinctly different. Upon entering the Jiuxiang Scenic Area, you first take a sightseeing elevator down to the bottom of the Yin Cui Gorge, a 35-meter drop that is both thrilling and breathtaking. Then, you board a boat to navigate the narrow gorge, where the diverse stalactites and stalagmites on both sides are mesmerizing. The layered stalactite formations resemble terraces, and under the colorful lights, they are stunningly beautiful. The scenic area is lush with vegetation. In addition to the magnificent underground caves, there are also majestic mountains and gorges. Must-see attractions include Yin Cui Gorge, Jing Hun Gorge, Xiong Shi Hall, Male and Female Waterfalls, and Shen Tian. It is undoubtedly a must-visit spot around Kunming.

Jiuxiang Scenic Area in Kunming, also called the Karst Cave Museum, is not far from Stone Forest, Kunming. Except for the different-shaped karst caves, there are wooden bridge and stone steps that let one to explore more on the part . There are cable facility that can bring one to visit the limestone caves #bucketlistreboot

#jiuxiang Karst Caves Very good place to see the different geological features. I thought this place would be so boring and less convenient because of the way to get there seemed like heading to a village. But a moment later, I realized that this place is full of my interests. We can also buy some foods (even burger) and drinks in the half way going on the caves. #tripaway

Located in Yiliang County, Kunming City, Chaishitan Reservoir is a comprehensive scenic area integrating water conservancy projects, natural scenery, and emerging cultural tourism projects. 📍Recommended reasons: Situated on the banks of the Nanpan River, Chaishitan Reservoir primarily serves as a water conservancy and irrigation facility, while also holding value for ecological conservation and tourism development. In recent years, with the opening of the FUN·Lang Mingyue Lake Water Theme Park (February 2025), new public water recreation projects have been added, making it a summer getaway for tourists in and around Kunming. The Mingyue Lake Scenic Area, where the reservoir is located, is also adjacent to the Jiuxiang Caves, forming a unique landscape linking "mountains, water, and caves." 🚗Transportation: - **Self-driving**: From downtown Kunming, take the Kunming-Shilin Expressway to Yiliang County, then transfer to Chaishitan Reservoir. The entire journey takes approximately 1.5 hrs. - **Public transportation**: Take a bus from Kunming East Bus Station to Yiliang County (approx. 1 hr), then transfer to a local taxi or chartered car to the scenic area (approx. 30 mins). - **Suggested combined tours**: Plan a one- or two-day tour in combination with Jiuxiang Scenic Area and the Stone Forest (approx. 1 hr drive). 👍️Must-see attractions: 1. **FUN·Lang Mingyue Lake Water Theme Park** - **Highlights**: As Yunnan's first water park themed around "public water recreation," it offers activities such as rafting, kayaking, and water sports training, suitable for families and outdoor enthusiasts. The park also plans to build a camping base for future lakeside camping experiences. - **Location**: Mingyue Lake Scenic Area, Chaishitan Reservoir, Yiliang County. Self-driving or chartered cars are recommended. 2. **Jiuxiang Caves (Mingyue Lake Scenic Area)** - **Features**: Jiuxiang Scenic Area is famous for its spectacular caves, and the Mingyue Lake Scenic Area (Chaishitan Reservoir) is one of its five main tourist areas. Visitors can take a boat tour of the reservoir, admiring the scenery of karst landforms and turquoise waters, and then explore the geological wonders within the caves, such as stalactites and underground rivers. - **Tips**: The cave floor is slippery, so wear non-slip athletic shoes. Some areas are still under development; it is recommended to follow the guided tour route. 3. **Natural scenery and ecological hiking** - The reservoir is surrounded by lush mountains, suitable for hiking or cycling. Walking along the Nanpan River or climbing to overlook the entire reservoir is recommended. - **Note**: Camping, picnics, and littering are prohibited in the first-level water source protection area. Please comply with environmental regulations. 🎟️Itinerary: - **One-day tour**: Depart from Kunming → Chaishitan Water Park (morning) → Jiuxiang Caves (afternoon) → Return. - **Two-day tour**: Day 1: Water Park + Reservoir Hike; Day 2: Jiuxiang Caves + Stone Forest. 💗Other tips: 1. **Safety first**: Wear life-saving equipment for water activities; do not deviate from the tour route inside the caves. 2. **Environmental regulations**: Camping, picnics, and littering are prohibited in the water source protection area. 3. **Seasonal choices**: - Summer (June–August) is suitable for water activities, but pay attention to sun protection. - Autumn (September–November) offers a cool climate, suitable for hiking. 4. **Tickets and fees**: - Water park tickets are subject to official announcements (reference price: approx. CNY 150/person). - Jiuxiang Caves combined tickets are approx. CNY 90 (cable car not included). Chaishitan Reservoir Scenic Area, with its blend of nature and culture, has become a new highlight for excursions near Kunming. Whether you seek thrilling water activities or the tranquility of the landscape, this place can meet your expectations.

📍Attraction Address: Jiuxiang Scenic Area 🏝️Reservation Guide: Buy tickets at the ticket office 🚗Transportation Guide: Driving is more convenient. There are no charging piles in the parking lot. The nearest charging piles are in the county, but there are few and slow. It is best to drive to Yiliang County to charge. 💗Other Tips: The glass slide in the karst cave is charged separately, and non-slip pants and gloves 🧤 are provided. You can use a sedan chair on the last 336 steps. It costs 80 per person. The sedan chair carriers work hard, so I gave them more tips. There are three places for free photos, but the small photos are pitifully small 😭. I finally chose a few framed photos 🖼 to take home for 30 each. Brown sugar baba is delicious and can be bought at the entrance and exit. In the evening, I went to Kunming Old Street in the city center. It is not very long, and I took a photo at the corner.

I bought the itinerary from Trip.com. The scenery is beautiful. It happened to be a holiday and there were not many tourists. I was very lucky. I will go there again if I have the opportunity.

The area is located within the Jiuxiang Yi and Hui Ethnic Township of Yiliang County, Kunming City. It is a comprehensive scenic spot that features karst cave landscapes as the main attraction, complemented by natural scenery outside the caves, cultural landscapes, and ethnic customs. The scenic area is about 90 kilometers from Kunming and about 34 kilometers south of the Stone Forest, situated in the middle of the Kunming-Stone Forest golden tourist route. It is a national AAAA-level tourist area and a national scenic spot. The Jiuxiang Karst Cave Scenic Area is famous for its large scale, numerous caves, and unique landscapes. It has hundreds of large and small karst caves, making it one of the largest and most numerous cave cluster systems in China, and is known as the 'Karst Cave Museum'. The caves here were formed during the Sinian period 600 million years ago and developed in carbonate rock strata, resulting from the dissolution of carbonate rocks by surface water and groundwater. The cave interiors are rich in landscapes, including stalactites. Jiuxiang Scenic Area is located within the Jiuxiang Yi and Hui Ethnic Autonomous Township of Yiliang County, Kunming City. It is world-famous for having hundreds of large and small karst caves and is referred to by experts as the 'Karst Cave Museum'. Within the scenic area, the cave landscapes are the main attraction, known for six extraordinary sights. First, there are terraced fields with layers upon layers of clear, sparkling water; second, a male and female waterfall in the cave with a drop of more than 30 meters; third, a natural bridge spanning over 200 meters high on a sheer cliff; fourth, the Lion Hall, a hall-type karst cave; fifth, the Thrilling Gorge with cliffs over 80 meters high; and sixth, the 'Yincui Gorge', known as the 'First Secluded Gorge in Central Yunnan'.

Jiuxiang Scenic Area is located in a place called Jiuxiang in Yiliang County, Kunming City, about 90 kilometers from Kunming City. It is a national 4A-level scenic spot. Jiuxiang is most famous for its karst caves, which are formed by a special geological formation called karst. Inside these caves, there are even smaller caves where you can actually farm, creating a world of its own. Address: Jiuxiang Scenic Area, Yiliang, Yunnan Ticket: 60 RMB per person, Cableway: 30 RMB per person Opening hours: 08:00-18:00 Transportation: Bus from the Eastern Bus Station to Yiliang 25 RMB per person, self-driving to Jiuxiang Scenic Area parking lot Travel Tips 👀 Yincui Gorge is really a beautiful place. Nature has crafted it so magically, with tall and green trees on both sides of the river, and many natural rock beauties. You can take a free boat tour, which is about one kilometer long. 👀 Mythical Jiuxiang is a place that costs money to enter. Inside, the lights are bright and colorful, like a world from a fairy tale. Butterflies are even affixed to the ceiling, looking very realistic. There is also a place that resembles the furnace where the Supreme Old Lord is said to have made elixirs. 👀 The Male and Female Waterfalls are another masterpiece of nature, super spectacular. It is said that a very famous TV drama was filmed here, where the male protagonist was saved by the female protagonist. 👀 The Goddess Palace is also very beautiful, crystal clear, and a typical underground beauty of karst topography. 👀 Shentian is a large stone lake group, more than 10 meters deep, with a very layered look, a rare spectacle in the world. 👀 The Jiuxiang Tourist Cableway is also cool, about one kilometer long, like a rainbow stretching across the mountains. Riding the cableway, you can see the beautiful scenery of Jiuxiang in different seasons, especially spectacular. Jiuxiang, a great place hidden in the mountains, has magical caves, tall water curtain caves, and especially clear rivers. As soon as you enter the cave, it's like coming to a mysterious fairyland, with various kinds of stones like flowers, some hanging like bells, some growing like bamboo shoots, and others blooming like flowers... dazzling to see.

Recommended reason: Visiting the Stone Forest in Kunming is a standard activity. The 'Number One Wonder of the World,' the Kunming Stone Forest, allows one to experience the natural marvels crafted by the forces of nature, and to feel the traces of time flowing through the rocks. Within the Jiuxiang Yi and Hui ethnic township, about 35 kilometers from Kunming in Yiliang County, lies an 'underground Stone Forest'—the Yiliang Jiuxiang Scenic Area, a site dominated by a group of karst caves. The area is rich in dense forests and abundant in flora and fauna, featuring both magnificent mountain gorges and exquisite underground caves, and is a typical karst landscape. The main attractions include: Yincui Gorge, Jingshen Gorge, Male Lion Hall, Male and Female Waterfalls, Shentian, and other sites. Among them, the Male Lion Hall was the filming location for the flying scenes of Jackie Chan and Kim Hee-sun in the movie 'The Myth,' and Shentian is a rare 'limestone dam cluster' (similar to 'Cotton Castle'), a wonder formed by billions of years of sedimentation. Address: Jiuxiang Yi and Hui Ethnic Township, Yiliang County, Kunming City, Yunnan Province. Ticket price: Adult ticket 60 yuan, cable car ticket 30 yuan (optional). Touring time: 3-4 hours. Best seasons to visit: Spring, summer, and autumn, with spring and summer being the most suitable seasons. Touring route: Enter the scenic area → dock, take a boat tour through Yincui Gorge → walk through Jingshen Gorge → visit the four caves in sequence: Male Lion Hall, Goddess Palace, Male and Female Waterfalls, Shentian (limestone dam), Yi Family Village, Underground Inverted Stone Forest, and other attractions Precautions: 1) The scenic area mainly features cave tours, so if you visit in spring or autumn, be sure to wear thicker clothes like a windbreaker to avoid catching a cold. 2) There is climbing up and down in the scenic area, so it is recommended to wear light and comfortable shoes, and women should avoid wearing skirts if possible. 3) There are few food supply points in the scenic area, so it is advisable to bring some bottled water, bread, and other snacks. Be careful not to litter water bottles, food packaging bags, and other trash in the scenic area, and protect the environment.

1. There are ninety-nine karst caves in Jiuxiang, which is known as the hometown of karst caves. The natural caves here are warm in winter and cool in summer, maintaining a constant temperature of 19 degrees Celsius all year round, especially comfortable in summer. The scenery is tranquil and charming, known as the Valley of Lovers. The grand and spacious Lion Hall, with its majestic appearance, is like two silver dragons hanging down from the sky, forming a male and female double waterfall. The entire scenic area possesses a unique and exquisite landscape, essentially a massive cave museum, which is truly breathtaking. 2. After visiting the attractions, right next to it is the Azalea Garden, where you can enjoy flowers, cute pets, and it's especially not to be missed by families with children. You can take beautiful photos and interact with small animals. When you're tired, it's just the right time to enjoy a sumptuous self-service barbecue. These two full cabinets, with dozens of meat dishes, are all you can eat, including scallops, beef, oysters, and more. There are also many alcoholic beverages and soft drinks available for self-service, and they are all branded products. 3. In such an environment, it's really comfortable for a family to eat barbecue and have hot pot at the same time. If you don't want barbecue, you can also take away a Yiliang roasted duck. In a day's tour, not only do you experience the perfect blend of mountains, water, and caves, and marvel at the wonders of nature, but it's also not exhausting.