Monkey Ear Tiankeng, Take You Into the Pulse of the Earth
Guizhou Monkey Ear Tiankeng One-Day Family Tour Guide, specially designed for family trips, focusing on geological wonders, light adventure, parent-child interaction, and a safe and comfortable experience. The budget is controlled within 800 yuan (for a family of three), suitable for families with children aged 5-12, easy and not tiring, full of fun!
📍 Destination Introduction
Monkey Ear Tiankeng, located in Pingtang County, Qiannan Prefecture, Guizhou Province, is a recently popular karst geological secret spot. It features a giant tiankeng with a vertical drop of 170 meters, underground rivers, caves, and a skylight forest, known as the "breathing hole of the Earth." The scenic area is well developed, offering family-friendly projects such as cliff swings, tiankeng zip lines, glass walkways, and cave exploration. It combines science education and fun, making it a "real-life Jurassic Park" in the eyes of children.
💰 Budget Overview (Family of three, economical and comfortable)
| Item | Cost (CNY) |
|------|------------|
| Round-trip transportation (self-driving/carpool) | 300 (fuel + tolls or carpool) |
| Tickets + experience package (family set) | 400 (3 people) |
| Meals (lunch + snacks) | 150 |
| Others (insurance, souvenirs, water) | 50 |
| Total | About 900 yuan |
✅ Can be optimized to under 800 yuan: bring your own lunch, carpool
🗓 Itinerary Overview (One-day tour, relaxed pace)
| Time | Activity |
|------|----------|
| 08:00 | Depart from Guiyang (self-driving or carpool) |
| 10:30 | Arrive at Monkey Ear Tiankeng Scenic Area, enter park |
| 11:00-14:00 | Explore the core area of the tiankeng + parent-child activities |
| 14:30 | Lunch + rest |
| 15:00-16:30 | Cave exploration + glass viewing platform |
| 17:00 | Return to Guiyang |
| 19:30 | Arrive home |
> ✅ Suitable for families with children aged 5-12, parent-child interaction, nature education, light adventure
📅 Detailed Itinerary
✅ Morning: Departure → Arrival → Explore the Tiankeng Wonder
Transportation suggestions:
- Self-driving (most recommended):
- Guiyang → Monkey Ear Tiankeng: about 140 km, 2.5 hours
- Route: Guiyang → Hukun Expressway → Pingluo Expressway → Kapu/Zhangbu exit → county road to destination
- Fuel + tolls about 300 yuan (round trip)
- Carpool/charter:
- Guiyang Tourist Distribution Center offers carpool groups (about 120 yuan/person, children half price)
- Suitable for families without cars, worry-free and convenient
Park entry time: Recommended to arrive before 10:30 to avoid heat and crowds
Ticket policy:
- Adult ticket: 80 yuan/person
- Child ticket (1.2-1.5 meters): 40 yuan/person
- Under 1.2 meters: free
- Recommended to buy the "Parent-Child Adventure Package" 120 yuan/person (includes: zip line, cliff swing, cave guide)
First stop: Tiankeng Viewing Platform (stunning first experience)
- Walk down the trail to the main viewing platform
- 🌋 Overlook the 170-meter deep tiankeng, with lush trees at the bottom, like the "Eye of the Earth"
- 📚 Parent-child mini class:
- Explain to children: "How is a tiankeng formed?" (karst collapse)
- Find the "monkey ear" shape (origin of the scenic area's name)
✅ Noon: Parent-child activity experience (kids’ favorite part)
1. Tiankeng Zip Line (recommended!)
- 280 meters long, spanning over the tiankeng
- High safety, with professional coaches assisting
- Kids’ scream rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Cost: included in the package
2. Cliff Swing (exciting but safe)
- Sit on a swing at the cliff edge, swinging out over the tiankeng edge
- Recommended for parents to accompany children to boost courage
- Height limit: over 1.2 meters, not recommended for those afraid of heights
3. Glass Walkway + Skylight Forest Trail
- Transparent glass suspended in the air, with a deep abyss below
- Gentle trail, suitable for family strolls
- Fresh forest air, rich in negative oxygen ions
✅ Afternoon: Cave Exploration + Lunch Break
Lunch arrangements:
- There are simple meal points in the scenic area:
- Instant noodles 15 yuan, grilled sausage 10 yuan, bottled water 5 yuan
- Recommended to bring your own lunch (picnic saves money):
- Sandwiches, rice balls, fruit, yogurt, small cookies
- Picnic on the viewing platform, eating while watching the tiankeng
Afternoon activity: Underground cave exploration (science time)
- Led by professional guides (included in the package)
- Constant temperature inside the cave is 18°C, cool and refreshing
- See stalactites, stalagmites, stone curtains, and hear the story of "dripping water wears through stone"
- Safety tip: hold children’s hands well, the cave floor is slippery
Optional: Tiankeng Plant Recognition Card (20 yuan/set)
- Distribute task cards for children to find "ferns," "moss," and "vines"
- Enhances nature observation skills, educational and fun
🍱 Parent-child Meal Suggestions
| Meal | Recommended Items | Tips |
|-------|------------------|------|
| Breakfast | Eat well at home before departure: milk + eggs + bread | Avoid queues at the scenic area |
| Lunch | Bring simple meals or buy at the scenic area | Better to bring an insulated bag |
| Snacks | Fruit, nuts, small cookies | Energy boost |
| Drinks | Bottled water + electrolyte water | Prevent dehydration from sweating |
🎒 Pre-trip Preparation Checklist (Parent-child exclusive)
- ID cards, household registration book (for children’s tickets)
- Comfortable sports shoes (non-slip preferred)
- Children’s sunscreen, hats, sunglasses
- Raincoat/light umbrella (cave floor slippery)
- Small backpack (for children to carry their own water and snacks)
- Wet wipes, tissues, hand sanitizer
- Camera/phone waterproof bag (for cave photos)
- Small toys or picture books (to soothe kids on the return trip)
📸 Photo Tips (Parent-child photo guide)
- 📷 Tiankeng Viewing Platform: family back view + panoramic abyss (inside safety railings)
- 🛝 Zip line moment: capture kids spreading arms "flying" over the tiankeng
- 🎢 Cliff swing: close-up of smiling faces while swinging
- 🧑🤝🧑 Inside the cave: flashlight shining on stalactites, parent-child group photo
- 🌿 Skylight Forest: kids looking up at the "sky well"
✅ Why recommend Monkey Ear Tiankeng for parent-child families?
- 🌍 Real geological wonder, a more vivid natural classroom than books
- 🎢 Safe and mature projects, designed for families, exciting but not dangerous
- 🌲 Over 90% forest coverage, fresh air, good for children’s respiratory systems
- 🚗 2.5 hours direct from Guiyang, suitable for weekend short trips
- 💰 About 250 yuan per person for a high-quality parent-child adventure, very cost-effective
- 🎒 Rich activities: adventure + science + interaction, kids won’t be bored
- 📚 Can be combined with "Pingtang Sky Eye" for a 2-day tour (next guide preview)
—— Your parent-child travel blogger ✈️👨👩👧👦🌿