National park · China
Danxiashan丹霞山
Give Danxiashan one full day and one night: sunrise at Shaoyin Pavilion, then Zhang Lao Feng's caves and slot canyon, or Yang Yuan Shi's sunset ridge if you only have a half day. Skip it as a day trip from Guangzhou.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
292 km² (113 sq mi)113 sq mi (292 km²)
approximate
Established
2004
Best months
Apr, Oct–Nov
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 7
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
- China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
- China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
- China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
- China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.
At a glance
- Country
- China
- Area
- 292 km² (113 sq mi)113 sq mi (292 km²)
- The geopark covers about 292 km² across several scenic areas; figures for the core scenic zones vary by source (check).
- Established
- 2004
- Best months
- Apr, Oct–Nov
- Permits
- For some areas
Danxiashan is the type locality of the danxia landform: red sandstone and conglomerate cliffs, slot canyons, caves and forested valleys in rural Shaoguan, northern Guangdong. The geopark is split into two scenic areas either side of a village strip — the smaller, busier Yang Yuan Shi with its namesake pillar and sunset ridge, and the much larger Zhang Lao Feng with the main peak, cliff temple, caves, Xianglong Lake and a cable car. A free shuttle links them, and since 2010 the site has been part of the serial China Danxia World Heritage listing. It is still little visited by foreign travellers, and the practical constraint is time: one day covers one area, two days covers most of both.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 2010Part of the China Danxia serial World Heritage site.
Size and age
292 km² (113 sq mi)113 sq mi (292 km²) · national park since 2004
The geopark covers about 292 km² across several scenic areas; figures for the core scenic zones vary by source (check).
Why go
- The type locality of the danxia landform: red sandstone and conglomerate cliffs, slot canyons and forested valleys in one compact park.
- Zhang Lao Feng holds the park's best panoramic ridge, a lit pre-dawn path and a cable car for the sunrise run.
- Yang Yuan Shi is smaller and quicker: a short, steep loop with the park's two classic sunset viewpoints.
- Two scenic areas, one free shuttle, and lodging inside the gate — you can walk to a trailhead before the tour buses arrive.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayGo
- JunCaution
- JulAvoid
- AugAvoid
- SepCaution
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecGo
- JanCold, damp; short daylight
- FebCold; Chinese New Year crowds
- MarMild, misty mornings
- AprWarm, green, clear ridges
- MayWarm; rain builds
- JunWet season; slick steps
- JulHot and humid; typhoon tails
- AugHottest, wettest; storms
- SepStill wet; clearing late
- OctDry, clear; best walking
- NovDry and cool; good light
- DecCold, often clear
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subtropical forest birds and butterfliesMar–May, Sep–Oct · Trailside signs explain the geology and plants, most with English. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
| Wet-season leeches and slick rockMay–Aug · Not wildlife to seek out — a reason to watch your footing. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
| Crowds at sunrise and holidaysFeb, May, Jul–Aug, Oct · Chinese New Year, May holiday and October holiday fill the shuttle and the cable car. | no | yes | no | no | yes | no | yes | yes | no | yes | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Guangzhou
High-speed rail to Shaoguan, then a tourist bus or taxi to the gate.
2.5–3.5 h
Open the page →
From Shenzhen
High-speed rail to Shaoguan, then bus or taxi onward.
3–4 h
Open the page →
From Shaoguan Station
Tourist buses run to the park but less often than from the old station; first departure around 09:00. Taxi about 60–90 min.Tourist buses run to the park but less often than from the old station; first departure around 9:00 AM. Taxi about 60–90 min.
1–1.5 h
From Shaoguan East Station
The old downtown station; the most frequent tourist buses to Danxiashan leave from here.
1–1.5 h
From Northern Guangdong plan
Where Danxiashan sits among the region's other stops.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Yang Yuan Shi (Male Stone) | The smaller, busier scenic area: the namesake pillar, a steep ridge loop and the park's sunset viewpoints. | Open with a park ticket; shuttle stop across the river, then a short walk. |
| Zhang Lao Feng | The larger area: the main peak, cliff temple, caves, slot canyon, Xianglong Lake and the cable car. | Open with a park ticket; shuttle to the cable car station or the scenic-area stop. |
| Visitor centre and village strip | Ticket desks, geological museum, restaurants and most lodging, between the two areas. | Open; free shuttle stop. |
| Jinjiang River corridor | The river between the scenic areas, with boat trips from near the Yang Yuan Shi entrance. | Boats run seasonally; ask at the entrance (check). |
Sketch map
- 1Main gate (Wai Shan Men) · Gate≈25.047, 113.752Map ↗
- 2Visitor centre · Headquarters≈25.038, 113.743Map ↗
- 3Yang Yuan Shi shuttle stop · Ranger station≈25.043, 113.742Map ↗
- 4Yang Yuan Shan (Male Stone) · Viewpoint≈25.044, 113.733Map ↗
- 5Xi Mei Zhai sunset viewpoint · Viewpoint≈25.043, 113.727Map ↗
- 6Cable car station · Ranger station≈25.035, 113.741Map ↗
- 7Shaoyin Pavilion · Viewpoint≈25.029, 113.745Map ↗
- 8Zhang Lao Feng / Sungazing Pavilion · Summit≈25.026, 113.738Map ↗
- 9Tongtian Cave · Cave≈25.027, 113.736Map ↗
- 10Xianglong Lake dock · Beach≈25.023, 113.734Map ↗
- 11Village strip lodging · Sleep≈25.043, 113.741Map ↗
Take the points offline
11 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions from the gate to Xianglong Lake, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entrance (both scenic areas) | CNY 100–150 (≈ US$14–25) | person | 2026 estimate; multi-day tickets are the norm — check the current window at the gate. |
| Cable car, one way | CNY 40–60 (≈ US$6–9) | person | 2026 estimate; child fares lower. Round-trip costs a little less than two singles. |
| Xianglong Lake boat, one way | CNY 20–30 (≈ US$3–5) | person | 2026 estimate; the lakeside trail is a free alternative. |
| Taxi from Shaoguan Station to the gate | CNY 150–200 (≈ US$25–30) | car | 2026 estimate; agree the fare first, or use a ride-hailing app. |
| Shuttle bus inside the park | Free | person | Free; runs roughly 04:00–23:00, every 30 min and more often at peak times. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entrance ticket permit or guide
Cable car and boat tickets no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- CN¥100–150≈ US$14–25
- CN¥40–60≈ US$6–9
- CN¥20–30≈ US$3–5
- CN¥150–200≈ US$25–30
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on UNESCO World Heritage Centre — China Danxia before you go.
Park rules
- Stay behind railings
- Cliff edges are unfenced in places; the steep stair sections are where injuries happen.
- No open fires
- Camping is possible by renting a tent, but fires are not part of it.
- Carry out rubbish
- Trailside kiosks are irregular; long stretches have no bins or shops.
- Drones
- Permission rules for drones inside a World Heritage geopark are not published clearly — check at the visitor centre before flying.check
Where to stay
In the park
Village strip inside the gate
Family-run lodges and small hotels between the two scenic areas; walkable to the Yang Yuan Shi entrance and the shuttle.
In the park
Near the visitor centre
The widest choice of rooms and restaurants; the practical base for a sunrise start.
Near the park
Shaoguan
City hotels about 1–1.5 h away; only worth it if you arrive late or leave early by train.
Safety
Steep, wet stone steps medium
Heat and humidity in summer medium
Getting caught out after sunset low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The visitor centre, museum, village strip and shuttle are step-free and usable with a wheelchair.
- The cable car removes most of the climb to Shaoyin Pavilion, but the upper paths still include steps.
- Zhang Lao Feng summit, Tongtian Cave and the Yang Yuan Shi ridge are stair-only and not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Stay inside the park and eat in the village strip so the gateway community keeps the income.
- Use the free shuttle instead of driving between scenic areas.
- Take your water bottle and snack wrappers out; kiosk waste collection is thin on the longer trails.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Danxiashan?
Expect roughly ¥100–150 per person for the park ticket (2026 estimate), which covers both scenic areas and is normally valid for more than one day — confirm the current window at the gate. Add ¥40–60 one way for the cable car and ¥20–30 one way for the Xianglong Lake boat if you use them. The shuttle bus inside the park is free.
What are the best hikes in Danxiashan?
For panoramas, the stone-step climb to Zhang Lao Feng and Sungazing Pavilion in the larger scenic area. For caves, the Tongtian Cave and A Strip of Sky Valley loop, with the Jinshiyan Temple side trail if you have time. For sunset, the steep ridge to Xi Mei Zhai or Xuan Ji Tai in Yang Yuan Shi. All are stair-heavy; none need a guide.
When is the best time to visit Danxiashan?
October and November for dry, clear walking weather, then April and May. July and August are hot, humid and storm-prone, and the stone steps stay slick through the June wet season. Winter is cold but often clear, and the pre-dawn sunrise run is at its most atmospheric in misty spring and autumn mornings.
Can I see Danxiashan in one day?
Only one scenic area, and only if you arrive early. Two days is enough to cover most of both areas at a steady pace; the park is large and the shuttle ride between the two areas eats time. Sleeping inside the gate is what makes a sunrise start realistic.
Do I need a guide or a permit for Danxiashan?
No. Buy the park ticket at the gate and walk; trails are paved, signed and mostly bilingual. Cable car and boat tickets are bought separately on the spot.
How do I get to Danxiashan from Guangzhou?
High-speed rail to Shaoguan, then a tourist bus or a taxi of about 60–90 minutes to the park gate. Total door-to-door is roughly 2.5–3.5 hours. Tourist buses also run from the older Shaoguan East Station, more frequently than from the high-speed station.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go