Things to do in Wushan
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Top 10 attractions in Wushan
Shuiliandong Caves
Wushan Shuilian Cave is located in Wushan County on the west side of Tianshui City. The Shuiliandong Grottoes were built in the post-Qin period of the Sixteen Kingdoms, and were built in the Northern Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties, Song, Yuan and other dynasties. Shuilian Cave is a very famous landscape in the scenic area. It is a huge cave about 50 meters long and 30 meters high. The entrance of the cave is often sheltered by streamlined water flow, so it is named Shuilian Cave. There is now a Taoist temple in Shuilian Cave, which is built between the caves and is very delicately combined with the mountains. The main landscape in the cave is the murals of Buddha statues on the walls, which are very similar to the murals in Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, Maijishan Grottoes and other places, and the murals of each period have their own characteristics, which is a treasure house of Buddhist art. In addition to the grotto historical sites, the natural scenery of the scenic spot is also a highlight that cannot be missed. The landforms in the scenic area are very strange, with continuous giant stone pillars, stalagmites, etc., which are very spectacular.Wushan · 13.4km from downtown
Lashao Temple
Wushan · 13.5km from downtown
Jiuzhaigou National Park
Jiuzhaigou National Park is located in Jiuzhaigou County of Ngawa Prefecture. With its towering snow-capped peaks, dense forests, and vibrantly colored pools and shoals, crystal-clear streams meander through the forests and shallows. Combined with Tibetan wooden houses, prayer flags, and the unique traditional customs of the Tibetan and Qiang ethnic groups, Jiuzhaigou National Park is often referred to as a "beautiful fairyland". Jiuzhaigou National Park features a Y-shaped layout, consisting of three main valleys: Shuzheng Valley, Rize Valley, and Jiuzhaigou-Zechawa Valley, with a total length of over 50 km.The attraction is equipped with eco-friendly sightseeing vehicles that stop at designated stations. Visitors can wait at each station and conveniently tour various attractions within the site by taking the sightseeing vehicles.China · Jiuzhaigou
Mutisi
Muti Temple is a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit. It is located on the mountainside of Maliberlin Mountain, about 30 kilometers southwest of the county seat. On the cliff, only a mountain gate on the north side can enter the temple. There is no way to go to the temple, so a wooden ladder is placed on the cliff at the entrance of the mountain. People climb the ladder to enter the temple, hence the name "Wooden Ladder Temple". According to the preface of the reconstruction of the Muti Temple in the past, there is a famous mountain in the northeast of Longchuan, the Muti Temple, which was first built in the Han Dynasty and has been operated in successive dynasties since the Tang Dynasty. There is no trace of the two pagodas to test, and there is a stone Buddha in the west, which is slightly smaller than the Fuqiang Buddha. There are 18 caves, more than 80 statues, and 234 murals covering an area of 2,100 square meters. It has a wide range of contents and a variety of watch decorations, and has a very high artistic value. Especially the fifth, seventh and sixteenth caves are larger in scale and maintain the original style. The statues have the legacy of the Wei and Tang Dynasties, among which, the works of the Song Dynasty are the essence of the whole temple. However, such a group of grottoes with historical and cultural research value is currently suffering from various damages from nature and birds. The statues have traces of rain soaking.Wushan · 18.4km from downtown
Huanglong National Scenic Area
Huanglong National Scenic Area is a Attraction famous for its fantastic and beautiful calcified pools. The water in the numerous calcified pools in the Attraction is crystal clear and colorful and very beautiful. There are also many natural landscapes such as forests, canyons, snow-capped mountains and waterfalls in the Attraction. It is known as the "Fairyland on Earth". Huanglong National Scenic Area is mainly divided into two parts, Huanglong Headquarters and Munigou. Huanglong Main Gou in Huanglong Headquarters is the main Attraction of Huanglong National Scenic Area, and is also the place generally referred to when talking about Attraction. The Attraction is located in Songpan County. The best time to visit here is in summer and autumn, when the lake is in its flood season, with a large pool area and beautiful scenery. In winter and early spring, the water volume is smaller, but the scenery is still good.China · Songpan
Lanzhou Danxia Geological Park
Lanzhou Danxia Geological Park is a key cultural tourism project in Gansu Province and a comprehensive cultural tourism initiative prioritized by the Lanzhou Municipal Committee and Government. Located by the Yellow River, the park is just 13 km from downtown Lanzhou and 30 km from Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport, making it one of the closest Danxia landform clusters to a major urban center in China. With a total planned area of 400 sq km and a core visiting area of 25 sq km in its first phase, it ranks among the largest discovered landscapes of its kind in the country. The park primarily features red mountain bay formations, along with spectacular Danxia cliffs, isolated peaks, secluded valleys, narrow gorges, and balancing rocks. Its colorful mountains set against winding waterways create a masterpiece of Danxia landform scenery. The attraction features seven viewing platforms showcasing the Danxia landforms: Silk Road Glow, Silk Road Eagle, Flying Apsaras Exploration, Nine-Colored Danxia, Danxia Reflecting Sky, Emerald Peaks Rippling Sky, and Danxia Summit Scenic View. It also includes the Ancient Silk Road Gateway, Shajing Tribe Cultural Square, Desert Bells Scenic Boulevard, and a 2,550m Danxia boardwalk viewing area. As a key cultural tourism project in the province, Lanzhou Danxia Geological Park adheres to the principles of "ecological protection, green development, preserving original features, and moderate development." Leveraging Lanzhou's unique resource advantages and focusing on the domestic tourism market, it aims to cultivate new growth drivers for Lanzhou's cultural tourism industry and establish a new highland for cultural tourism in the city.China · Yongdeng
Jianmen Pass
The Jianmen Pass is located in Jiange County between Dajian Mountain and Xiaojian Mountain. It has been famous throughout history, holding an important position militarily due to its precipitous topography and ease of defense. Visitors to the scenic area can take the easier “Bird Path” of the mountain, or the “Ape Route,” which requires renting professional mountain climbing equipment.China · Jiange
Zha Ga Na
Zhagana, also known as Zhagala, is located in Diebu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. It is a small Tibetan village surrounded by a circle of pretty cliffs. It has beautiful and magical scenery and is one of the most beautiful places in the entire Gannan Tibetan area. The ancient wooden Tibetan houses in the village are built along the mountain, and the locals work quietly and simply between the hillsides and rivers, forming a beautiful pastoral scenery. Whether you want to sightsee, take photos, or visit the traditional life of the simple Tibetan people, this is a wonderful place that you cannot miss. Zhagana is located in the valley of Yiwa Township, Diebu County. It takes about 1 hour to drive from Diebu County and about 2 hours from Langmusi. Zhagana is suitable for visiting in July and August, when the grassland is green and the scenery is beautiful. Most tourists come from Langmusi when they take the Gannan-Sichuanbei route. The usual time to visit is to arrive in the afternoon of the same day and take a leisurely stroll in the village to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Stay in a Tibetan homestay for one night, and leave the next morning after taking pictures of the early morning clouds and sunrise. In addition, there is a two-day hiking route in the back mountain of Zhagana, where you can rent a horse in the village or walk there. Zhagana Village is divided into four small villages, from bottom to top, they are Dongwa Village, Yeri Village, Dari Village and Daiba Village. Dongwa Village and Daiba Village are about 5 kilometers apart, and there is a winding road connecting the four villages. You can walk or drive to visit and take photos one by one. It takes about 1 hour to walk from the bottom to the top. Driving in from the entrance of the village, the first place you arrive at is Dongwa Village at the foot of the mountain. There is a big stone here called Dashimen. The small hillside next to Dashimen is a good place for taking photos. Here you can look up and take pictures of the beautiful scenery of the village built along the mountain. The back of the village is wrapped by cliffs, and there is a Tibetan Buddhist temple on the top of the village. The scenery is fantastic and beautiful. Dongwa Village has a large population and is also a good place to stay. You can book a stay at a farmhouse here, and then walk or drive to several higher villages to play. It takes about 1 hour to walk to the higher place. Going up the mountain along the road, you will reach Yeri Village. Next to Yeri Village is a vast barley field where you can often see Tibetans busy in the fields. The scene is peaceful and simple. In addition, there is a house in Yeri Village where the famous traveler Joseph Locke once lived for more than a year, but now it can only be visited from the outside. Continue to go up, after passing Dari Village, there is a viewing platform with a wide view, suitable for taking bird's-eye views of the whole village. You can see the whole village and the fantastic rock wall behind. All the houses are old wooden roofs and earthen walls, which look simple and peaceful. Under the cliff, they form a beautiful picture scroll, which is also a wonderful place to take good photos. After taking the panoramic view, you can go back to Dongwa Village for accommodation. Daiba Village is relatively remote and there are fewer scenery to see, so you can skip it. In addition to taking photos in the afternoon, there are many other things to look forward to in Zhagana. Every morning, there are almost clouds and mists between the rock walls on the mountain, and the starry sky is beautiful and brilliant at night when the lights are off, which are good opportunities for taking photos. If you have enough time, you can also take 1-2 hours to climb the back mountain of Dongwa Village to see the temple on the top of the mountain. The houses you pass by along the way are all ancient buildings, and the wooden wedge-rivet structure is even more ancient and peculiar. If you are lucky, you can meet kind locals and be invited to their homes to taste traditional food such as tsampa butter tea and experience the simple enthusiasm of the locals. In addition, there is a two-day hiking route behind the village, which leads to the rarely visited lakes and stone forests with pristine and beautiful scenery. However, this route is only suitable for outdoor enthusiasts and requires camping for one night. When walking this route, you can rent a horse in the village and find a horseman to lead the way. Generally, a horse costs about 150 yuan a day.China · Diebu
Qingmuchuan Ancient Town
Picturesque Qingmuchuan Ancient Town has a long history. The Qiang and Han people intermingled and lived peaceably together here. The area gradually prospered during the Ming dynasty, and most of the residences here were built during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1912). A river cuts through the ancient town, and the people here live a carefree and leisurely life. The town's Wei Family Mansion was built during the Republican Era (1912-1949), and the Qu, Wei, Zhao, and Tu ancestral halls were built during the Ming and Qing dynasties.China · Ningqiang
Maijishan Cave-Temple Complex
The Maijishan Cave-Temple Complex is carved into the cliff face of an isolated peak resembling a farmer's wheat stack in the Xiaolong Mountains. Alongside the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, the Yungang Grottoes, and the Longmen Grottoes, it is renowned as one of China's four great cave-temple complexes and serves as the core attraction of the Maijishan scenic area. The caves were first excavated during the Later Qin period of the Sixteen Kingdoms and underwent continuous construction for over 1,600 years through the Northern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang, and up to the Ming and Qing dynasties. The site preserves over 200 caves and niches, more than 10,000 clay and stone sculptures, and nearly 1,000 square meters of murals. Featuring predominantly clay sculptures with an unbroken lineage across dynasties, the complex showcases a complete and clear stylistic evolution, earning it the title "Oriental Sculpture Gallery." In 2014, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor." Maiji Mountain stands alone amidst surrounding peaks, with most of its grottoes carved into sheer cliffs dozens of meters above ground, connected solely by tiered aerial walkways spanning over ten levels. The visit itself becomes a cliffside adventure: at the base, gaze up at the exposed rock face and the colossal cliff-carved Buddha over ten meters tall, then ascend via winding walkways suspended dozens of meters high—both thrilling and offering panoramic views of lush forests. Grottoes along the path vary in size, with smaller ones protected by nets, while larger ones dominate the upper sections. The upper eastern cliff's Sanhua Tower (Upper Seven-Buddha Pavilion) is an unmissable highlight. This seven-bay, eight-pillared hall with a single-eaved hip roof replicates wooden architecture carved directly into the cliff, featuring a grand front corridor and rear chamber. Its ceiling showcases the unique "thin relief" flying apsaras—faces and limbs rendered in shallow sculpture while flowing robes are painted, creating a distinctive fusion of painting and sculpture unparalleled in ancient Chinese murals. As you walk and observe, the stylistic evolution of clay sculptures becomes distinctly visible: the elegant and slender figures of the late Northern Wei, the refined and serene style of the Western Wei, the plump and graceful forms of the Northern Zhou, and the full and rounded shapes of the Sui and Tang dynasties—like flipping through a three-dimensional history of sculpture. On overcast or freshly cleared days after rain, when mist swirls around the peaks and drizzle veils the landscape, the solitary haystack-shaped peaks emerge and fade in the clouds, creating the famous "Maji misty rain" scenery. The plank road is narrow, and visitors may need to queue and proceed slowly when crowded. Travelers with acrophobia should proceed with caution. Flash photography is prohibited in the grotto area, and touching the statues is not allowed. A few classic grottoes are designated as special grottoes and are not included in the regular tour route, such as Cave 133, famous for the "Oriental Smile" novice monk, and Cave 127, known for its large-scale sutra illustration murals. Travelers with a strong interest in statue art can check the special grotto visiting arrangements in advance. Most of the other caves and niches can be viewed in sequence along the plank road.China · Tianshui
Free things to do in Wushan
Shuiliandong Caves
Wushan · 13.4km from downtownLashao Temple
Wushan · 13.5km from downtownJiuzhaigou National Park
China · JiuzhaigouBook now for tomorrowMutisi
Wushan · 18.4km from downtownHuanglong National Scenic Area
China · SongpanBook now for tomorrowLanzhou Danxia Geological Park
China · YongdengBook now for tomorrow, Cancel anytimeJianmen Pass
China · JiangeBook now for tomorrow, Cancel anytimeZha Ga Na
China · Diebu
Jiuzhai Songcheng Show Park
China · JiuzhaigouBook now for tomorrowQingmuchuan Ancient Town
China · Ningqiang
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What travellers say about Wushan
Anonymous user8 November 2024
5.0
The sightseeing bus is the most worthwhile ride. The world's first cliff relief Buddha is very shocking. It would be nice if there was a voice guide. The Water Curtain Cave is very quiet. When the breeze blows the wind chimes, people feel purified. I also envy the Taoist's hair volume.
Shuiliandong Caves
M2b***y27 September 2025
1.0
There is a cave but no water, it is not worthy of its name. I went there today but there was no water.
Lashao Temple
M65***5917 October 2026
5.0
Jiuzhaigou is a fairyland left behind by the heavens on earth. It is so beautiful that it makes you want to cry. The Pearl Shoal Waterfall, the filming location of the 1986 TV series Journey to the West, is even more unforgettable. Its water either cascades down in thousands of strands with a graceful posture that makes people linger, or it gallops like ten thousand horses with a huge momentum that makes people feel awe. "After visiting Jiuzhaigou, you will not see any water again." It is indeed well-deserved!
Jiuzhaigou National Park
M42***7518 October 2026
4.0
It was raining when I went! The weather wasn't great! The queue for the cable car was really crowded! Lots of people cut in line! I didn't see the Five-Colored Pool; all I saw was a patch of yellow travertine pools! The sky was kind enough to capture some snow-capped mountains, and thankfully, the Competing-for-Beauty Pool was impressive! Everyone says that in Huanglong, just go and leave the rest to the weather, and it's so true! If you go to Huanglong, be prepared! I recommend going early! I arrived at Huanglong after 1 PM! It was a rushed trip! Those with poor stamina should be cautious! There was a minor mishap along the way! Fortunately, the景区 staff resolved it promptly; kudos to them for that! Traveling in our country is truly reassuring and worry-free! It's so reassuring!
Huanglong National Scenic Area
kiu先生13 October 2026
5.0
The scenic area is large and clean, with a refreshing atmosphere. There are so many animals, the shows are fantastic, the kids had a blast, and the visit was very comfortable. The staff were very welcoming, and the routes were well-designed – it was so convenient! I'll definitely come back next time.
Lanzhou Danxia Geological Park
170***9717 October 2026
5.0
The road to Shu is difficult, more difficult than ascending to heaven. Every step we take has profound meaning: it's good exercise, we see beautiful scenery, and we also see the mountains and rivers of our great motherland. The first hour was very tiring, but we climbed the narrow, winding path.
Jianmen Pass
139***4515 October 2026
5.0
Zhagana, meaning "stone box" in Tibetan, is a cloud-shrouded stone city located in Diebu County, Gannan Prefecture, Gansu Province. The several interconnected small villages are beautiful, truly deserving of the title "Zhagana of the World."
Zha Ga Na
爬山🐯13 September 2026
4.0
Qingmuchuan Ancient Town is located at the junction of Shaanxi, Sichuan and Gansu provinces. The ancient buildings are well preserved. Must-see attractions include the Wei Family Residence, Rongshengkui, and the opium den. You must also stroll along Huilongchang Old Street and climb Huilong Pavilion to overlook the entire ancient town.
Qingmuchuan Ancient Town
M27***628 October 2026
5.0
Maijishan was even better than I expected, with exquisite murals and beautiful sculptures. However, many of the caves are special grottoes that require separate reservations (there is a daily limit on the number of visitors), and the fees are not cheap.
Maijishan Cave-Temple Complex
