Dabie Mountain Zen Canyon | Yuexi Sikong Grand Canyon 3-day 2-night detailed guide tested by travel bloggers. Travel for two | Budget under 1,200 yuan per person
Dabie Mountain Zen Canyon | Yuexi Sikong Grand Canyon 3-day 2-night detailed guide ✨ tested by travel bloggers
Travel for two | Budget under 1,200 yuan per person
Located in Bailu Village, Dianqian Town, Yuexi County, Anqing, backed by the famous Zen mountain Sikong Mountain, also known as Bailu Grand Canyon. Red rock cliffs, multi-level waterfalls, emerald pools, and suspended plank roads blend together. The forest coverage rate is 96%, with an average summer temperature of 24℃. The mountain and water scenery combined with thousand-year Zen culture offers both canyon hiking and water play, as well as quiet ancient temples for meditation. Few visitors and peaceful atmosphere make it ideal for summer retreats, slow travel, photography, and relaxation 🌿
📍Basic travel information
Address: Bailu Village, Dianqian Town, Yuexi County, Anqing, Anhui · Sikong Grand Canyon
⏰Operating hours: 8:00 AM–5:30 PM (ticket sales stop at 4:00 PM)
🎫Ticket reference (online advance purchase offers better prices)
Main ticket: 55 yuan per person; 60 yuan on site
Package (ticket + shuttle + glass suspension bridge) online 98 yuan
Discounts: Half price for students and seniors aged 60–69; free main ticket for seniors 70 and older and children under 1.2 meters
Additional costs: No charge for playing in the canyon shallows; no rafting available; limited cultural products and tea drinks at own expense inside the scenic area
🅿Parking: free parking available
💡Seasonal tips
April–May: wildflowers everywhere; June–September: best for summer fun and water play, waterfalls are full after rain;
Morning valley fog is common; avoid cliff edges and valley bottoms after heavy rain due to rockfall risk; large temperature differences between morning and evening, bring a light jacket.
🌟Key spots to check in
Core area of Sikong Grand Canyon
✅Entrance fish scale dam | shallow water play, clear creek, ideal for family leisure
✅Lover’s suspension bridge | spans the canyon, perfect spot for double waterfall photos
✅Bailu Pool | emerald deep pool, waterfall drops directly into the pool, mist creates a strong atmosphere
✅Cliffside suspended plank road | built along red rock cliffs, close-up views of multiple canyon waterfalls
✅One-line sky | narrow rock crevice with slanting sunlight creating beautiful light and shadow
✅Second Patriarch platform | said to be the resting place of the second Zen patriarch Huike, cliff inscriptions, Zen viewing platform
Nearby attractions within 20 minutes by car
✅Sikong Mountain (Second Patriarch Zen Temple) [free mountain access, small attractions charge separately] Zen holy site, thousand-year-old temple, climb for panoramic mountain views
✅Dianqian Riverside Wetland | pastoral streams, countryside scenery, good for walking
✅Miaodao Mountain (optional) high mountain forest, streams, waterfalls
🚗Transportation guide
1. Self-driving [recommended]
2. 5 hours from Hefei, 1.5 hours from Anqing, 50 minutes from Yuexi County seat; navigate to "Sikong Grand Canyon Visitor Center"
Exit at Sikong Mountain on the highway; the last section has many winding mountain roads, slow down and do not stop for photos on curves.
2. Public transport
Take high-speed rail to Anqing West Station → Yuexi Bus Station, then take the Yuexi–Dianqian Town shuttle bus, get off at Bailu Village intersection, walk 20 minutes to the scenic area; shuttle frequency is low, self-driving or carpooling from the county seat is recommended.
💡Essentials: non-slip creek shoes, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, drinking water (few shops in the canyon); bring a towel if you want to step in the water.
🏠Two accommodation options (stay two nights)
1. [Budget | Bailu Village guesthouse/farm stay] 180 yuan/night
5-minute walk to the scenic area, free parking, complete farmhouse breakfast, authentic home cooking, best value
2. [Comfort | Sikong Mountain Zen guesthouse/Qianfo Mountain Villa] 260 yuan/night
Quiet mountain residence, window views of Dabie Mountain range; some rooms have terraces with mountain sunset views, 10 minutes by car to the canyon
🍲Authentic Yuexi Dabie Mountain cuisine
✔Must-try main dishes
Dianqian hanging pot free-range chicken, poria chicken soup, deep-fried small river fish, dried bamboo shoots with pork, Guanyin tofu
✔Special snacks
Yuexi bean cake, wormwood cake, farmhouse rice dumplings, wild mushroom stew
💡Blogger tip: restaurants at the scenic area entrance are overpriced; village farm stays offer generous portions and affordable prices; seasonal wild vegetables available, order as needed.
📸Photo outfit & best shooting times
1. Outfits: white, light blue, red long dresses, outdoor casual wear; red rock, green mountains, and clear water create stunning contrasts
2. Best shooting times
9:00 AM–11:30 AM | sunlight slants on canyon waterfalls, mist often forms rainbows, fewer visitors
5:30 PM–7:00 PM | sunset colors red rock cliffs, valley dusk is soothing
7:00 AM–8:30 AM | mountain mist, empty ink-wash canyon scenes
3. Top photo spots: fish scale dam, lover’s suspension bridge, Bailu Pool waterfall, suspended plank road, Second Patriarch viewing platform
📅Relaxed 3-day 2-night itinerary
Day 1: Arrive at Sikong Grand Canyon | explore the canyon, play in water, watch sunset
Check in at noon, lunch with hanging pot free-range chicken and Guanyin tofu
Afternoon deep tour of the park
Route: fish scale dam → lover’s suspension bridge → Bailu Pool waterfall → suspended cliff plank road → one-line sky → Second Patriarch platform
Walk and shoot photos along the way, cool off by stepping in the shallows
Wait for mountain sunset at the valley viewing platform in the evening
Cool off in the guesthouse courtyard at night, stargaze
Stay: budget farmhouse guesthouse in Bailu Village
Day 2: Zen day | visit ancient temple on Sikong Mountain + circular hike
Early morning second visit to the canyon to catch morning mist and empty canyon
Breakfast with wormwood cake and farmhouse porridge
Morning self-drive to Sikong Mountain Second Patriarch Zen Temple, visit thousand-year-old Zen site, quiet temple tour
Afternoon mountain trail hike, climb for distant views of Dabie Mountain peaks
Evening stroll in nearby villages, experience rural mountain life
Stay: same guesthouse
Day 3: Mountain leisure, buy local specialties, return trip
Two options to choose from
①Mountain exploration: self-drive to Miaodao Mountain, forest hike, explore secret streams
②Relaxation: sleep in, stroll in the village, buy dried bamboo shoots, poria, high mountain tea, and other local specialties
Lunch with farmhouse dishes to end the trip, pack and return
💰Budget list for two sharing a room (excluding round-trip major transport | max 1,200 yuan per person)
Option 1 | budget saver (total: 1,070 yuan)
1. Accommodation: two nights at 180 yuan/night, split between two = 180 yuan
2. Activities: canyon main ticket 55 yuan, no glass suspension bridge package = 55 yuan
3. Three days of meals + snacks and drinks = 480 yuan
4. Parking and short-distance transport fees = 85 yuan
5. Reserve for mountain specialty purchases = 270 yuan
✅Total: 180+55+480+85+270=1,070 yuan
Option 2 | comfortable experience (total: 1,430 yuan)
1. Accommodation: two nights at mountain Zen guesthouse 260 yuan/night, split = 260 yuan
2. Full activity package: canyon package (ticket + shuttle + glass suspension bridge) + mountain leisure experience = 290 yuan
3. Specialty farmhouse meals and afternoon tea snacks = 430 yuan
4. Local transport fees = 70 yuan
5. Dabie Mountain specialty purchases = 380 yuan
Total: 260+290+430+70+380=1,430 yuan
⚠️Blogger-tested tips to avoid pitfalls
1. Don’t trust scalpers selling cheap tickets roadside; official online channels are safest.
2. Plank roads and waterfall stone steps are often wet and mossy; do not climb over railings for photos, watch your step to avoid slipping or falling.
3. Depth of pools at the canyon bottom is unknown; swimming is prohibited; protect water sources and carry out all trash.
4. Mountain weather changes quickly; always carry rain gear; avoid staying under cliffs after rain due to rockfall risk.
5. Keep quiet at Sikong Mountain ancient temple; respect religious customs and avoid loud noise.
6. The scenic area gets crowded on weekend afternoons; for quiet photos, enter in the morning; strong UV at noon in summer, use sun protection.
7. Few supply points inside the canyon; bring enough drinking water and snacks before entering.
🎨9:16 vertical AI grid drawing keywords (copy to generate)
1. Yuexi Sikong Grand Canyon, red rock cliffs, Bailu Pool waterfall, emerald creek, suspended wooden plank road, Dabie Mountain canyon scenery, 9:16 vertical
2. Canyon lover’s suspension bridge, double waterfalls in one frame, forest mist, blue sky and white clouds
3. Entrance fish scale dam, shallow creek, summer water play scene
4. One-line sky canyon crevice, sunlight beams through rock walls
5. Second Patriarch viewing platform, overlooking the deep canyon
6. Girl in white long dress at canyon waterfall photo shoot, healing mountain and water atmosphere portrait
7. Misty valley after rain, ink-wash canyon hazy scenery
8. Sikong Mountain Second Patriarch Zen Temple, remote ancient temple, surrounded by mountains
9. Dabie Mountain cuisine: hanging pot free-range chicken, Guanyin tofu, deep-fried small river fish, wormwood cake real shot