[2025 Handan Attraction] Travel guide for Xiangtangshan Grottoes (North Area) (updated Dec)

🇨🇳A must-visit in Handan! A walking guide to the millennia-old grotto miracle✨Listen to the echoes of history told by the stones! ✨Recommended Reasons Xiangtangshan Grottoes! A 1,500-year-old treasure trove of art📿 The moment sunlight penetrates the cave, Buddha light resonates with history 📍Transportation Information Address: Northwest of Zhifang Village, Linshui Town, Fengfeng Mining District, Handan City Recommended to drive or charter a car (about 1 hour from downtown) 🗺️Route Planning 1️⃣ North Entrance ➡️ Cave 3 A stunning start! China’s earliest "pagoda-shaped cave," look up to see the breathtaking lotus caisson ceiling 📸Tips: Best sunlight slanting into the cave at 10 AM 2️⃣ Cave 6 ➡️ Cave 4 Cave 6 Buddha Wall: Over 1,300 small Buddha statues densely packed Must-see in Cave 4: The best-preserved flying apsara relief group 🍜 Food Recommendations Handan Zhuaimian: Highly recommended by locals! Handmade noodles with great chewiness Yongnian Donkey Meat Huoshao: Crispy outside, tender inside, a 20-year-old neighborhood favorite Guangfu Crispy Fish: Intangible cultural heritage delicacy with edible bones 💡Real Experience Tips 1. Bring a flashlight! Some caves have insufficient lighting 2. Wear non-slip shoes! The grotto steps are very smooth from wear 3. Off-peak secret: Fewest visitors on weekday afternoons

Let's go! 🚄 15:37–20:45 Qingdao North → Handan East 🏨 Check-in: Campanile Hotel Handan East Station (No. 599 Beihuan Road, Congtai District, Handan) Nightlife begins! ✨ First stop: Military Strategist's Residence Night Market for food Recommended because: Authentic Handan specialty snacks all in one place! Grilled gluten, stewed fire-baked bread, donkey meat fire-baked bread... bring it all on 🥩 After eating, obediently return to the hotel to rest and recharge for tomorrow 💤 Saturday full of energy! 🌈 7:30 Ctrip car rental arrives at the hotel on time 🚗 Drive 1.5 hours to Dongtaihang Scenic Area (ticket 80 RMB/person) 🎢 Itinerary: 1️⃣ VIP cable car access up the mountain → Nantianmen 2️⃣ Challenge the popular glass plank road (thrilling at 380 meters high!) 3️⃣ Zhongtianmen → Beigaofeng (take photos along the way 📸) 4️⃣ Slide down the mountain, perfect for lazybones (kids absolutely love it) Review: Kid-friendly rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ At 16:00 depart for Changzhi Licheng! 📍 Hushan Hot Spring Hotel (Huguan Town, Licheng County, Changzhi City) The scenery along the way is incredibly healing 🌄 Vast walnut fields + villagers cracking walnuts, a fun scene Evening hot spring time ♨️ 1️⃣ Children's play area (great for parent-child bonding) 2️⃣ Special medicinal bath area (health benefits get √) 3️⃣ Outdoor pools (soaking in the rain has a unique charm) Sunday deep tour time! 🕶️ 7:30 After breakfast, 10 minutes to Huangyadong Scenic Area 🌟 Highlights: 1️⃣ Natural oxygen bar with fresh air 2️⃣ Few people, beautiful scenery, great for photos 3️⃣ Easy canyon stroll 14:30 Return to Handan Must-visit: Beixiangtang Mountain Grottoes (ticket 60 RMB) For culture lovers: 1️⃣ Digital exhibition center (high-tech experience) 2️⃣ National treasure-level Buddhist grottoes 3️⃣ Thousand-year-old Changle Temple 18:30 City landmark check-in 🌟 Kangde Night Market (north side of Handan Train Station, Handan District) Must-eat list: 1️⃣ Time-honored Jianbing Guozi (Chinese crepes) 2️⃣ Specialty grilled cold noodles 3️⃣ Handan street food stalls 21:00 Sleeper train back to Qingdao 🚂 Arrive Monday 5:15 A perfect end to a joyful trip!

The Xiangtangshan Grottoes are located in Handan, Hebei, in Fengfeng Mining District, one of the most adorable place names in China. · The Xiangtangshan Grottoes are divided into North and South. Northern Xiangtangshan engraves the grand Buddhist scenes with a royal demeanor, while Southern Xiangtangshan interprets folk beliefs with ingenuity. · The North and South are 15 km apart, but they are like temporal and spatial twin flowers, jointly building the "Northern Qi Model" of Chinese grotto art. --------------- ✨Northern Xiangtangshan · 📍 Address: Xiangtangshan Scenic Area, Hecun Town, Fengfeng Mining District, Handan City 🕒 Opening Hours: 08:00–17:30 (ticket sales stop at 16:30) 🎫 Ticket Price: CNY 60 (CNY 100 for a combo ticket including the shuttle bus) --------------- ✨Highlights · 1️⃣Digital Display Center of Northern Xiangtangshan Digital technology gives new life to Buddhist statues. Here, you can not only see the Buddhist statues that are still at home, but also the statues that are scattered overseas. In the exhibition hall, there is a Northern Qi statue with an "Oriental Smile," which attracts many tourists to take photos. · In order to reproduce the "former glory" of the Xiangtangshan Grottoes a thousand years ago, the Xiangtangshan Grottoes Digital Display Center uses imaging technology to digitally restore the grotto statues, allowing the traditional grotto art to regain its brilliance. · Under many restored Buddhist statues, there are introductory signs thanking foreign XXX museums for providing digital data. These words are always touching. This sad past is certainly sad, but what is even more gratifying is that they are still there. · 2️⃣Great Buddha Cave The core cave is the Great Buddha Cave, the main royal cave of the Northern Qi Dynasty. The central pillar has niches on three sides. The main Buddha, Sakyamuni, has a full face and a smile. Even if partially damaged, the charm remains undiminished, and it is known as the "No. 1 Buddha of the Northern Qi Dynasty." The pagoda-shaped niches on the cave walls and the religious paintings on the base are in the style of Han Dynasty stone carvings, simple and heavy. · 3️⃣Sakyamuni Cave In the Sakyamuni Cave, the flying apsaras on the top of the cave flutter their sleeves, holding the konghou and pipa. The sound of the millennium is frozen on the stone wall. · 4️⃣Sutra Cave The corridors of the Sutra Cave are covered with the Vimalakirti Sutra. The "swallowtail brushstrokes" transitioning from official script to regular script are like swords unsheathed, a "stone library" in the history of calligraphy. · After visiting the Sutra Cave, it is the way down the mountain. The ridges in the distance are rugged, and new leaves cover the hillside. It is another year of spring. Cold and heat come and go, winter goes and spring comes, this mountain accompanies these grottoes year after year. · The grottoes are silent, but there is an echo. From the royal majesty of Northern Xiangtang to the folk fireworks of Southern Xiangtang, Xiangtangshan uses 16 grottoes and 5,000 statues to seal the Buddha's light and ingenuity of the Northern Qi Dynasty for thousands of years. When you lightly touch the cool rock wall with your fingertips, you seem to hear the sound of Sanskrit echoing in your ears—that is the roar of chisels and rocks colliding 1,500 years ago, the rustling sound of the Northern Qi craftsmen's carving knives, and the password that history has left for today.

Hidden in Handan, Hebei Province, lies a severely underrated tourist treasure. While the Yungang Grottoes and Longmen Grottoes have gained widespread fame amidst the tourism boom, the equally remarkable Xiangtangshan Grottoes remain relatively unknown and unassuming. This treasure, listed as a National Key Cultural Relic Site, is nestled in 📍Handan, Hebei Province, quietly waiting for people to unveil its mystique. The Xiangtangshan Grottoes were first carved during the Northern Qi Dynasty, a short-lived dynasty that lasted only 28 years, yet devoted a third of the nation's resources to this national project. Whether you consider it niche or simply understated, it deserves to be seen and understood by more people. Its historical significance and artistic value should not be overlooked. 🚩A well-planned itinerary to help you experience the charm of the Xiangtangshan Grottoes: Northern Xiangtangshan Grottoes—Big Buddha Cave—Sakyamuni Cave—Sutra Inscription Cave—Chang Le Temple Ruins—Digital Museum—Southern Xiangtangshan Grottoes 📸Practical travel tips for a smooth trip: 1. Area distribution: The entire Xiangtangshan Grottoes are divided into the Northern Grottoes and Southern Grottoes, about 15 km apart. If you have enough time, I highly recommend visiting both. They each have unique characteristics and won't disappoint. 2. Key points for visiting the Northern Grottoes: The Northern Grottoes are grand in scale, with awe-inspiring Buddha statues. The grottoes are located on the mountain. To save energy and improve your touring efficiency, it is recommended to take the shuttle bus directly and tour from top to bottom, taking in all the highlights of the Northern Grottoes. 3. Recommended attractions in the Northern Grottoes: The main attractions in the Northern Xiangtangshan Grottoes include the Big Buddha Cave, Sakyamuni Cave, and Sutra Inscription Cave, each bearing profound historical and cultural significance. After visiting the grottoes, don't miss the Chang Le Temple and the Northern Xiangtangshan Digital Museum at the foot of the mountain. Chang Le Temple has a long history and exudes an ancient charm; the Digital Museum uses modern technology to give you a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the past and present of the Xiangtangshan Grottoes. 4. Characteristics of the Southern Grottoes: Although smaller in scale, the Southern Grottoes are known for their exquisite details. The Thousand Buddha Cave, the lotus relief on the cave ceiling, and the eight Apsaras playing musical instruments are all examples of superb craftsmanship. Every detail is lifelike, leaving visitors in awe of the ancient artisans' skills. 📍Location: Xiangtangshan Grottoes 🚗Transportation: Driving is the most convenient way to get there. There is a parking lot 🅿️ at the entrance of the scenic area, so parking is hassle-free. 🎫Tickets: Northern Xiangtangshan Grottoes: CNY 60, sightseeing bus: CNY 40, Southern Xiangtangshan Grottoes: CNY 15. It's definitely worth it to experience such stunning historical and cultural treasures at such a great value.