National park · China
Mount Longhu龙虎山
Come for one full day: ride the shuttle to Xianshui Rock for the cliff coffins and the even-hour show, walk the Fairy Pool–Elephant Trunk Hill boardwalk, and add the ¥80 river raft if the light is good; skip the rebuilt Shangqing old town unless you want the Taoist sites.
- 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
200 km² (77 sq mi)77 sq mi (200 km²)
approximate
Established
1983
Best months
Apr–May, 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
- 200 km² (77 sq mi)77 sq mi (200 km²)
- The scenic area is usually quoted at roughly 200 km², but figures vary by source and by which boundary is meant (check).
- Established
- 1983
- Best months
- Apr–May, Oct–Nov
- Permits
- For some areas
Mount Longhu is a line of Danxia sandstone cliffs along the Luxi River outside Yingtan in Jiangxi, part of the China Danxia World Heritage serial site and a UNESCO Global Geopark. It is one of China's four sacred Taoist mountains, and its cliff hollows hold wooden coffins placed there by the Guyue people about 2,500 years ago. The park is long and narrow: a shuttle network runs the valley from the visitor centre in the north to Shangqing in the south, a boardwalk is cut partway up the cliff between Fairy Pool and Elephant Trunk Hill, and a motorised raft covers the river in under an hour. Most buildings at the Taoist sites are concrete reconstruction, so the draw is the rock, the river and the burial cliffs rather than old architecture. One full day covers the cliffs, the boardwalk and the raft; a second day adds Shangqing town and the evening show.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 2010Part of the China Danxia serial site.
- Special national siteUNESCO Global Geopark and a national scenic area (check).
Size and age
200 km² (77 sq mi)77 sq mi (200 km²) · national park since 1983
The scenic area is usually quoted at roughly 200 km², but figures vary by source and by which boundary is meant (check).
Why go
- Cliff hollows holding wooden coffins placed there about 2,500 years ago by the Guyue people, seen from the river and from a cliff trail.
- A boardwalk cut partway up the cliff between Fairy Pool and Elephant Trunk Hill, about 4 km (2.5 mi) of flat walking with the river below.A boardwalk cut partway up the cliff between Fairy Pool and Elephant Trunk Hill, about 2.5 mi (4 km) of flat walking with the river below.
- One of China's four sacred Taoist mountains: Zhengyiguan, the Tianshi mansion and the Shangqing temple site are all inside the park.
- The raft down the Luxi River is the cheapest way to see the whole rock line in under an hour.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepGo
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecGo
- JanCold, damp, grey; rafts may not run
- FebCold and wet; quiet
- MarMild, misty; rain most days
- AprWarm, green, clear spells
- MayWarm; heavy rain possible
- JunRainy season; river can rise
- JulHot and humid; school holidays
- AugHottest month; typhoon tails
- SepCooling; still wet early
- OctDry, clear, comfortable
- NovDry and mild; good light
- DecCold, often clear; few visitors
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cormorant fishermen on the river (show and working birds)All year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Forest birds and insects along the boardwalkApr–Jun, Sep–Oct | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
| Mosquitoes along the riverMay–Sep · No Mosquito village is named for a local claim, not a guarantee. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | 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 Yingtan North (high-speed rail)
Bus 23 to Yingtan railway station (¥2 (≈ under US$1)), then bus K2 to the park visitor centre.
1–1.5 h
From Yingtan railway station
Bus K2 from the small bus terminal in front of the station to the visitor centre, roughly every 20 minutes (¥4 (≈ under US$1)).
30 min
From Nanchang
High-speed train to Yingtan North, then bus 23 and K2.
1.5–2 h
Open the page →
From Yingtan bus terminal
Long-distance buses arrive here; K2 stops in front on its way to the park.
35 min
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Xianshui Rock and the burial cliffs | The cliff over the river with the Guyue coffins in its hollows, a small cliff temple and the raft dock. | Open with a ticket; shuttle stop. |
| Elephant Trunk Hill and Fairy Pool | The rock arch and the cliff boardwalk running north along the river. | Open; walk it from Fairy Pool down to Elephant Trunk Hill. |
| Shangqing town | Tianshi mansion, the Shangqing temple archaeological site and a rebuilt old-style shopping street. | Open; shuttle reaches Shangqing, transfer at Zhengyiguan may be needed. |
| Zhengyiguan and the central river | Rebuilt Taoist temple under a rock outcrop, the well beside the main hall, and the raft route. | Open; shuttle transfer point. |
Sketch map
- 1Park visitor centre · Headquarters≈28.121, 116.976Ticket gate and shuttle start.Map ↗
- 2Xianshui Rock · Viewpoint≈28.095, 116.959Burial cliffs, cliff temple and the show.Map ↗
- 3Elephant Trunk Hill · Viewpoint≈28.096, 116.969Map ↗
- 4Fairy Pool · Trail≈28.108, 116.974North end of the boardwalk.Map ↗
- 5No Mosquito village · Village≈28.084, 116.962Restaurants; raft dock nearby.Map ↗
- 6Shangqing town and Tianshi mansion · Town≈28.047, 117.033Map ↗
- 7Yingtan railway station · Ranger station≈28.239, 117.023Bus K2 to the park.Map ↗
Take the points offline
7 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 along the Luxi River valley, from the visitor centre in the north to Shangqing in the south, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scenic area entry (includes the shuttle bus network) | CNY 180–260 (≈ US$30–40) | person | 2026 estimate; the ticket is sold as a package with the shuttle and the price moves with the season (check). |
| River raft (Luxi River) | CNY 80 (≈ US$12) | person | Paid separately from entry; 2026 estimate. |
| Dream of Tao evening performance | CNY 150–300 (≈ US$25–45) | person | Ticketed separately and includes shuttle access; price depends on seat class (check). |
| Coffin-lifting show at Xianshui Rock | Free | person | Included with entry; runs on the even hours. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Scenic area entry ticket permit or guide
Raft and evening show no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- CN¥180–260≈ US$30–40
- CN¥80≈ US$12
- CN¥150–300≈ US$25–45
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
- Camping
- Not allowed anywhere in the park; sleep in the hotel village outside the north entrance or in Yingtan.
- Cliff coffins
- Do not touch, climb to or remove anything from the burial hollows; they are protected archaeological material.
- Shuttle buses
- Stay on the shuttle network rather than walking the roads; the park is long and the stops are far apart.
- Drones
- Not allowed without permission from the scenic area authorities (check).check
- Litter and fires
- No fires; carry out all rubbish.
Where to stay
Near the park
Hotel village outside the north entrance
The closest beds to the gate; prices are higher than in town but below what similar park entrances charge elsewhere in China.
Near the park
Shangqing town
Guesthouses at the far end of the shuttle line, handy for the Taoist sites and the evening show.
Near the park
Yingtan
City hotels of every level, 30 minutes away by bus K2.
Safety
Wet rock and steps medium
Heat and humidity in July–August medium
River levels medium
Crowds at the show and on holidays 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 shuttle buses, the visitor centre and the Xianshui Rock area involve only short walks.
- The Fairy Pool–Elephant Trunk Hill boardwalk is flat but narrow in places and has long drop-offs; check with staff before taking a wheelchair or stroller.
- The rough trail south to Xianshui Rock has steps, squeezes and uneven rock; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Buy the combined entry and shuttle ticket rather than hiring a car; the park roads are narrow and the buses already run the length of the valley.
- Do not join any tour that offers to take you up to the coffin hollows; the cliffs are the reason the site is protected.
- Eat in No Mosquito village or Shangqing rather than bringing everything in, so the villages around the park keep a share of the day.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Mount Longhu?
Entry is sold as a package with the shuttle bus network, roughly ¥180–260 per person in 2026 (about US$25–36), and the price moves with the season, so treat it as a band rather than a fixed number. The river raft is a separate ¥80, and the Dream of Tao evening show is ticketed separately again.
What are the best hikes in Mount Longhu?
The Fairy Pool to Elephant Trunk Hill boardwalk, about 4 km of flat cliff-side walking, is the one most people do. The rougher 2–3 km trail from Elephant Trunk Hill south to the Xianshui Rock bus stop adds viewpoints and squeezes through gaps in the rock, and is almost empty. There is no long-distance hiking here; the park is seen mostly from the shuttle, the boardwalk and the raft.
When is the best time to visit Mount Longhu?
April, May, October and November: warm or mild, with the best chance of dry days and clear light on the cliffs. July and August are hot and humid with holiday crowds, and June is the wettest month, when the river can rise and the raft may stop.
Do I need a guide?
No. The shuttle network, the boardwalk and the raft are all signed and ticketed, and English signage is limited but the routes are hard to get wrong. A guide only helps if you want the Taoist history explained.
How do I get to Mount Longhu from Yingtan or Nanchang?
From Yingtan railway station, bus K2 runs to the park visitor centre in about 30 minutes for ¥4. From Yingtan North high-speed station, take bus 23 to Yingtan station first (¥2, 15–20 minutes). From Nanchang it is a high-speed train to Yingtan North and then the two buses, about 1.5–2 hours in total.
Can I see the cliff coffins without the raft?
Yes. The Xianshui Rock area has a cliff temple and a trail that reaches an eye-level viewpoint of the coffin hollows, and the coffin-lifting show runs there on the even hours. The raft gives the widest view of the cliff line but is not required.
Is Mount Longhu the same as Sanqingshan?
No. Sanqingshan is a separate granite pillar park in the same province, a few hours away by road and rail. Mount Longhu is Danxia sandstone along the Luxi River, with the Taoist sites and the coffins as its draw.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go