If you’re looking to experience the gentle charm of a Jiangnan water town during a long holiday without the crowds, the small city of Jiande, just an hour and a half’s drive from Hangzhou, won’t disappoint you!
Here, you’ll find the historic Yanzhou Ancient Town, the Lingqi Cave featured in “Journey to the West,” a stunning 200-meter-tall waterfall, jungle rafting, and the real-life scenery from the painting “Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains.”
Some say that Jiande is like a hidden paradise in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai region, hiding the “Dali Ancient Town of Zhejiang.” Once you arrive, you’ll know that this description is spot on!
Today, we’ve compiled a Jiande travel guide for you, including transportation recommendations, ticket information for attractions, food, and more. This one article is all you need for your Jiande trip!
Without further ado, let’s dive in!
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Jiande Transportation Guide
Jiande is an excellent place for a self-driving tour. If you don’t drive, don’t want to self-drive, or are traveling from a distance, you can choose to take the high-speed rail and then a taxi. With a well-planned itinerary, it’s very convenient.
Local ride-hailing services are easy to use. In terms of cost, here’s an example for your reference: for a three-day itinerary, excluding the high-speed rail, the total taxi fare is around 450 yuan, which is relatively low compared to other places.
Must-Visit Attractions Guide
📌 Yanzhou Ancient Town
Yanzhou Ancient Town, also known as Mei Town, has a history of more than 1,700 years and is a true thousand-year-old town. A poem says, “In the world, there are two and a half plum blossoms, and half of them are in Mei Town.” The town got its name because the ancient city walls were built in the shape of a plum blossom. Some even say that this is the “Dali Ancient Town of Zhejiang.”
Mei Town has a long history and a deep cultural heritage. The ancient streets and buildings are filled with the charm of a Jiangnan ancient town, the quaintness of cultural atmosphere, and the aroma of daily life. Beautifully carved old archways stand in the alleys.
Standing on the city wall of Mei Town, you can see clear river water outside the city and leisurely crowds and prosperous ancient town streets inside the city.
📍Address: Meicheng Town, Jiande City, Zhejiang Province
🎫Ticket: Free
⏰Opening Hours: Open all day
🚇Transportation: Take the high-speed rail or drive for about 2 hours from Hangzhou
📌 Yuquan Temple
On the halfway up Wulong Mountain, not far from Yanzhou Ancient Town, there is an ancient temple with a history of more than 1,200 years—Yuquan Temple. Yuquan Temple is backed by Wulong Mountain and faces the junction of three rivers, only 4 km away from Yanzhou Ancient Town.
The scenery here is beautiful, and the architectural style is unique, simple, and elegant. Perhaps due to the lack of creative cultural products and promotion to attract young people, there are very few tourists. However, the incense burning is unceasing, and from time to time, devout worshippers walk by. The temple is filled with the fragrance of incense, making it a great place for quieting the mind and spirit.
If you encounter a rainy or foggy day, the mist floats around the mountains like a white belt, adding an ethereal atmosphere and a unique flavor.
📍Address: Yuquan Temple, Yuquan Road, Meicheng Town, Jiande City, Zhejiang Province
🎫Ticket: Free
⏰Opening Hours: Closes at 4:00 pm
📌 Daci Cliff
Daci Cliff is located 24 kilometers south of Jiande City. It is a perfect combination of Buddhist culture and beautiful mountain scenery, known as the “Little Jiuhua Mountain in Western Zhejiang.” It is famous for its “Hanging Temple of Jiangnan, Changgu Stream, and the largest natural standing Buddha in China.” It is one of the “Outstanding Scenic Spots of Zhejiang Province.”
The unique feature of Daci Cliff is its high-altitude cave architecture on the cliff. The Dizang Hall of the temple is built in a high cave, with half of it suspended in the air and the other half embedded in the rock, similar to the Hanging Temple of Hengshan in Shanxi, hence the name “Hanging Temple of Jiangnan”!
The main peak of Daci Cliff is a standing statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, commonly known as the “Double-faced Buddha.” After being identified by tourism experts, it has been named the “Largest Natural Standing Buddha in China” and is known as a “Wonder of China.” It is recorded in “The Best of China” because “the mountain is a Buddha, and the Buddha is a mountain.”
📍Address: Daci Cliff Scenic Area, Jiande, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province
🎫Ticket: Adult ticket 80 yuan/person; One adult and one child 110 yuan; Adult ticket + uphill cable car ticket 150 yuan/set
⏰Opening Hours: 8:00-16:00 (latest entry at 16:00)
🚇Transportation: Self-driving or Jiande Digital Tourism Special Line (6 yuan)
📌 Lingqi Cave
This is the filming location of the 1986 version of “Journey to the West,” where you can get the same shots. It is divided into three caves: Lingquan, Qingfeng, and Aiyun. The temperature inside the caves is constant at 17°C, just like walking in an air-conditioned room.
The stalactites of various shapes, coupled with the colorful lights, are eye-opening. When visiting, remember to wear a pair of comfortable shoes because you need to climb the mountain the whole way. You can take the slide when going down the mountain, which is a bit like a roller coaster and quite thrilling.
📍Address: Lingqi Cave, Jiande County, Zhejiang Province
🎫Ticket: Ticket + Magic Carpet + Slide 240 yuan/set; Flying Magic Carpet 50 yuan/person; Slide 80 yuan/person; Children over 1.2m half price
⏰Opening Hours: 7:30-16:00, last entry at 16:00
📌 Qiliyangfan Scenic Area
When traveling to Jiande, Hangzhou, how can you miss the real-life scenery of “Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains”—Qiliyangfan? With the characteristics of “green mountains, clear water, long history, and secluded environment,” you can experience the landscape poetry of the Xin’an River, the upper reaches of the Qiantang River. Many literary giants have left their famous works here!
Don’t miss the rafting in Hulu Gorge inside the scenic area! Super exciting, with a total length of 3 kilometers and a drop of nearly 100 meters. Summer is the time to play in the water!
Suggested tour route: Qiliyangfan Pier – Take a boat to enjoy the scenery of Xin’an River – Zixu Wild Ferry – Hulu Flying Waterfall – Hulu Gorge Rafting
📍Address: Qiliyangfan Scenic Area, Jiande City, Zhejiang Province
🎫Ticket: Boat ticket 115 yuan/person; Ticket + Boat ticket + Rafting 198 yuan/set
⏰Boat departure time: 10:30 (only one boat per day)
Jiande Food Guide
Some people always say that Hangzhou is a “food desert,” but those who say this must have never been to Jiande. The snacks in Jiande are cheap and delicious, and coming here to play is a real treat for your taste buds!
Jiande tofu buns with thin skin and plenty of filling; Yanzhou baked cakes with crispy outer skin and preserved vegetable and meat filling inside; sweet and sticky Sandu mochi; salted glutinous rice balls that are hard to find elsewhere; red bean soup that is sweet to the heart with just one sip…
Delicious food, fun activities, and fewer people
Are you tempted by such a Jiande?
