In the karst heart of Anshun, Guizhou, China, Longgong Cave hides one of the most theatrical underground landscapes in the southwest. This Longgong Cave guide explains the best time to visit Longgong Cave, how to get to Longgong Cave from Guiyang and Anshun, the top things to do at Longgong Cave, the Longgong Cave entrance fee, and a list of Longgong Cave travel tips that help you make the most of the boat rides and the glowing galleries. The name means “Dragon Palace,” and once you drift through the flooded chambers by boat, you will see why.
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- The best time to visit Longgong Cave for comfortable weather and fewer crowds
- How to get to Longgong Cave from Guiyang and Anshun, and its link to Huangguoshu
- The top things to do at Longgong Cave, including the underground boat cruise
- The Longgong Cave entrance fee and combined tickets with nearby sights
- Practical Longgong Cave travel tips for footwear, light, and photography
Best Time to Visit Longgong Cave
The best time to visit Longgong Cave is spring and autumn, from April to June and September to November, when Guizhou’s temperatures sit in a comfortable 18 to 26°C range and the roads are clear. Because the cave stays a steady 16 to 18°C all year, the main variable is the surface weather and the crowd level rather than the chamber itself. Summer, from July to August, is warm and lush but busy, and the rainy season can make the above-ground karst ponds swell impressively. Winter is cold and quiet, ideal for travelers who want the boat to themselves.
If you want the calmest experience, visit on a weekday in May or October and arrive at opening. For a regional overview, the China Highlights Guizhou travel guide covers the climate and the high-speed rail lines that converge on the province.
How to Get to Longgong Cave
Knowing how to get to Longgong Cave starts with Anshun, the same gateway city used for Huangguoshu Waterfall. From Guiyang, the provincial capital, high-speed trains reach Anshun West in about 30 to 40 minutes; from there a bus or taxi covers the roughly 30 kilometers to the Longgong scenic area in under an hour. Many travelers combine the cave with Huangguoshu on a single Anshun-based loop, since the two are only about an hour apart by road. Our Guiyang travel guide details flights and the station you need, and the Anshun travel guide explains the local transfer options in full.
If you are building a wider Guizhou trip, the cave pairs naturally with the Guizhou Huangguoshu Waterfall guide, and culture lovers can extend north to the Kaili travel guide or the Guizhou Xijiang Miao Village guide for Miao heritage. Within the scenic area, electric shuttles link the parking area, the boat dock, and the upper galleries, so little walking is required between stages.
Things to Do at Longgong Cave
The things to do at Longgong Cave begin with the signature experience: a short boat that carries you through a series of flooded chambers lit in shifting colors, past stalactites that drip from ceilings lost in the dark. This is the “Dragon Palace” proper, and the reflections on the still water make it feel larger than it is. Above ground, a network of walkways loops past karst ponds, a small waterfall, and a temple built into the cliff, giving the visit a calm garden feel before you descend again.
Beyond the boat ride, the things to do at Longgong Cave include exploring the dry galleries with their bizarre limestone sculptures, climbing to a viewpoint over the sinkhole, and walking the seasonal flower fields that ring the entrance in spring. The site is less massive than some of Guizhou’s other caverns, which is precisely its charm: you get the drama of an underground river cruise without a full day of marching through concrete tunnels. Photographers should bring a low-light capable phone or camera, because tripods are usually not permitted on the moving boats.
Where to Stay Near Longgong Cave
Most visitors stay in Anshun city or near Huangguoshu and visit Longgong as a half-day trip, which keeps logistics simple and hotels cheaper than in Guiyang. Anshun has a range of mid-range hotels and a few international-standard options, all within an hour of the cave, while the Huangguoshu resort area offers hotter-spring hotels if you want to pair the cavern with a soak. Staying in Guiyang is also possible if you prefer a bigger-city base, though it adds an hour each way.
For a fuller Guizhou experience, consider two nights in Anshun for the cave and the waterfall, then a night in Kaili or Xijiang to sample Miao culture before returning to Guiyang. Thispace keeps drives short and lets you see both the underground and the highland sides of the province. Book ahead in summer and on holidays, when Anshun’s rooms fill with domestic tour groups.
Want Longgong Cave and Huangguoshu on one smooth Anshun loop? Our specialists can book the trains from Guiyang, a private car between the cave and the falls, and an English-speaking driver for the day. Share your dates and we will build the route.
Sample Itinerary
A tight one-day sample itinerary works well: take a morning train from Guiyang to Anshun West, transfer to Longgong for the boat cruise and galleries before lunch, then drive to Huangguoshu for the late-afternoon falls and water-curtain cave. If you have two days, give Huangguoshu a full day and keep Longgong as a relaxed half-day, with an evening in an Anshun hot-spring hotel. Travelers with three or more days can add Kaili or Xijiang to the north for cultural depth.
The sample itinerary above is easiest with a private car, since public buses between the cave and the waterfall are infrequent. If you rely on buses, start at Longgong, return to Anshun, and continue to Huangguoshu from there; the extra transfer is manageable but eats time. Either way, begin at opening to enjoy the boat with the fewest people.
Longgong Cave Entrance Fee
The Longgong Cave entrance fee covers the boat cruise, the galleries, and the shuttle buses within the scenic area, and most visitors buy the combined pass rather than separate tickets. At the time of writing, the standard combined ticket is around 120 to 150 RMB, with lower rates for children, students, and seniors holding valid ID. Because the cave is a state-managed scenic area, prices are posted at the gate and rarely include hidden extras, though parking and an optional elevator may cost a little extra.
Confirm the current Longgong Cave entrance fee at your hotel or the official gate before paying, and keep your receipt, since attendants check it when you board the boat and re-enter the shuttle. The ticket is typically valid for the day, which is plenty for the boat, the galleries, and a slow walk around the ponds. Avoid touts near the parking lot who sell “discount” passes that may not include the cruise.
Longgong Cave Travel Tips
A few Longgong Cave travel tips make the visit more comfortable. First, wear grippy shoes, because the walkways near the water can be damp and the steps to the upper gallery are polished. Second, bring a light layer even in summer, since the constant 17°C chamber feels cool after a humid Guizhou afternoon. Third, charge your phone before the boat, because the underground river is the photo highlight and you will want video.
Other Longgong Cave travel tips: arrive at opening to beat tour groups, carry cash for small stalls, and pair the cave with Huangguoshu on the same Anshun base to save transit time. If you are sensitive to enclosed spaces, note that the boat passes through narrow lit sections but never in complete darkness, and the crew keeps the trip short and reassuring. With these basics covered, Longgong delivers one of the most memorable underground boat rides in Guizhou, China.
Prefer a private driver for the Guiyang to Anshun caves route? Contact us and we will arrange a licensed car, the Longgong and Huangguoshu tickets, and a flexible schedule that follows the weather rather than a fixed tour bus.
FAQ
Is Longgong Cave worth it if I am already seeing Huangguoshu?
Yes. The underground boat cruise is a completely different experience from the waterfall, and the two together make a balanced Anshun day without much extra driving.
How long does a Longgong Cave visit take?
Most visitors spend two to three hours, including the boat, the galleries, and the above-ground ponds, which fits neatly into a half-day slot.
What is the Longgong Cave entrance fee for children?
Children under about 1.2 meters are usually free, and older children or students pay a reduced rate with valid ID; confirm the exact height at the gate.
When is the best time to visit Longgong Cave for photos?
April to June and September to November give the clearest surface weather, while the cave’s lit chambers photograph well year-round thanks to constant temperature and artificial light.
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This Longgong Cave guide was last reviewed and updated on 21 August 2026 by the chinatravelplaces.com editorial team. Prices and schedules change, so confirm details with your hotel before you travel.
Curious about Guizhou’s underground wonders beyond the famous falls? Tell us your pace and we will pair Longgong with Huangguoshu on a single calm Anshun day built around your schedule.